At least one Ukrainian missile has struck the headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea navy in the Crimean port of Sevastopol, setting it ablaze, Al Jazeera reported on Friday.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Canada on Thursday and will address the Canadian Parliament on Friday, Voice of America (VOA) reported.
He was greeted by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa late Thursday after he arrived following a whirlwind visit to Washington.Zelenskyy and Trudeau are also scheduled to sign an agreement designed to strengthen economic ties between the two countries, VOA reported.
Trudeau said in a statement before the Ukrainian leader’s arrival, “Canada remains unwavering in our support to the people of Ukraine as they fight for their sovereignty and their democracy, as well as our shared values, like respect for the rule of law, freedom, and self-determination”.
“The two leaders will also travel to Toronto, where they will meet with Canadians, including business leaders and members of the Ukrainian-Canadian community,” he added.Meanwhile, Zelenskyy met US President Joe Biden at the White House on Thursday. “The United States is going to continue to stand with you,” Biden told Zelenskyy at the White House.Biden also released another USD 325 million for weapons for Ukraine, which did not include the long-range missiles Ukraine has asked for, VOA reported.
Earlier on Thursday, Zelenskyy held a meeting with US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries and US House Representatives. He stated that Ukraine is extremely grateful to the House, both parties and all the Americans for their support.
Earlier on Tuesday, US President Joe Biden, during his address at the UNGA reaffirmed Washington’s support for Ukraine and said that the US, with its allies and partners around the world, will continue to stand with the “brave people of Ukraine” in defending their sovereignty and territorial integrity.
In a stern message to Russia, Biden called upon the world leaders at the UN General Assembly, “If we allow Ukraine to be carved up, is the independence of any nation secure? The answer is no. We must stand up to this naked aggression today to deter other would-be aggressors tomorrow.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also made his first in-person appearance at the UNGA, since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of his nation in February 2022.Zelenskyy, while accusing Moscow of being the aggressor and perpetrating “genocide” in his homeland claimed that Ukrainian children in Russia were being taught to “hate” their homeland, adding that all ties that Ukraine nationals have with their family members back home were being snapped.
In another scathing attack on Russia, he said that “terrorists have no right to hold nuclear weapons”. He also called upon the countries to “strip” Moscow of veto power at the UN Security Council.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
On Tuesday (September 19), Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun stirred the hornet’s nest after he threatened the Hindu community, staying in Canada, to return back to India.
“Indo-Canadian Hindus, you have repudiated the allegiance to Canada and the Canadian constitution. Your destination is India. Leave Canada, go to India.”
The development came shortly after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused the Indian government and its agencies of killing a Khalistani terrorist named Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil. He had also expelled a top Indian diplomat, thus prompting a full-fledged diplomatic standoff with India.
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who is now under fire for his anti-Hindu tirade, is the chief and legal advisor of the banned Khalistani terror outfit ‘Sikhs For Justice.’ A naturalised US citizen, Singh obtained his law degree from Touro Law Center in New York.
The Khalistani extremist runs a law firm called ‘Pannun Firm’ in the East Elmhurst neighbourhood of New York. He calls himself an ‘immigration attorney’ who has supposedly made his life’s mission to ‘help immigrants in need.’
Screengrab of the website of a law firm run by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun
The Facebook account and TitkTok account of ‘Pannun Firm’ are filled with testimonies of individuals, who were supposedly granted asylum in Canada and the United States due to the legal assistance of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
Screengrab of the TikTok account of a law firm run by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun
Involvement in fraud
In the name of ‘helping’ immigrants, the Khalistani terrorist had defrauded a Dalit boy from Punjab to the tune of $15000 (~₹12.44 lakhs) in 2019.
A Sikh man, based in California, named Surjit Singh had informed that Gurpatwant Singh Pannun solicited $7500 in two installments in the name of providing legal assistance to the Dalit boy, who was imprisoned in Georgia at that time.
“Pannun did not attend the court hearing in Georgia…Pannun is collecting money by fooling people and later he does not even receive their phone calls,” Singh lamented, adding that the boy was eventually deported back to India.
Screengrab of the tweet
Legal aid to Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun also served as the lawyer for Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was killed by unidentified gunmen in Surrey on June 18 this year.
Nijjar was the head of Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara Sahib and his name was added to the list of designated terrorists by the Indian Government. When Canadian law enforcement authorities took Nijjar into custody in 2018, it was the ‘Sikhs for Justice’ chief Pannun who represented him in court.
The Khalistani terrorist was released within 24 hours. As per a report by The Washington Post, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun served as the lawyer of Nijjar even at the time of his death.
The slain terrorist was the leader of the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and was part of a conspiracy to kill a Hindu priest in Jalandhar city of Punjab.
Mr. Nijjar became a Canadian citizen on May 25, 2007, earlier than I stated below. The error in dates is my responsibility to assume. Again, nothing justifies the killing of Mr. Nijjar. https://t.co/d5mv69HScC
Interestingly, Nijjar used the fake identity of ‘Ravi Sharma’ in order to escape from Indian security in 1997 and immigrate to Canada. His concocted stories of torture and ‘marriage of convenience’ were dismissed by the Canadian immigration officials as “unreliable” and “untrustworthy”.
But the Khalistani terrorist somehow managed to become a citizen of the same country in 2007 as per Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller.
This was despite the fact that his appeals for asylum were turned down repeatedly by courts. Coincidentally, Pannun, an expert on immigration laws, was the lawyer of Nijjar prior to his death.
When Gurpatwant Singh Pannun sued PM Modi in 2014
In September 2014, the New York-based Khalistani filed a lawsuit against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi prior to his visit to the city to attend the United Nations General Assembly.
Although the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team gave PM Modi a clean chit in the 2002 Gujarat riots, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun sought “compensatory and punitive damages from Modi for crimes against humanity and extrajudicial killings.”
The Federal Court of the Southern District of New York had even issued summons to the Indian Prime Minister and sought his reply within 21 days. Pannun was representing a newly formed ‘human rights non-profit’ named ‘American Justice Center’.
Screengrab of the 2014 report
Despite all attempts to sour PM Modi’s address to the United Nations General Assembly by the Khalistani extremist, it had no bearing on the success of PM Modi’s US trip.
A year earlier in 2013, Pannun sued ex-Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh for his alleged involvement in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and funding counter-terror operations in Punjab. The Khalistani extremist was successful in securing summons against Singh as well as Congress supremo Sonia Gandhi.
He had informed that his quest to sue Indian politicians arbitrarily began in 2007 i.e. around the same time when Nijjar was granted citizenship by Canada.
On Friday, September 22, Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was released from house detention four years after he was initially ‘detained’. The Jammu and Kashmir separatist leader claimed that he was ‘detained’ following the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution in August 2019.
After the release, the 50-year-old religious leader headed towards the Jama Masjid for the Friday prayers, where he led the prayers and delivered a sermon. “The police siege around my house was lifted this morning. Last evening, the authorities informed me I was being released from house detention and am free to go anywhere. I would be leaving for Jama Masjid to discharge my responsibility as the Mirwaiz (chief priest). I was unjustly stopped from doing it for more than four years,” he was quoted as saying post-release.
#WATCH | Mirwaiz Umar Farooq arrives at Srinagar's Jamia Masjid to attend Friday prayers after four years of house arrest pic.twitter.com/j9dblw1T8X
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was released after he moved Jammu and Kashmir High Court on September 15, seeking release from detention. The court granted the Jammu and Kashmir administration a four-week period to provide a response to Mirwaiz’s petition.
“I was allowed to deliver the sermon at the Jamia Masjid after 212 consecutive Fridays. “People are aware that after August 4, 2019, I was kept under house detention and I was not being allowed to move out of my home due to which I couldn’t perform my duties as Mirwaiz,” he said in his address at the mosque. Mirwaiz also appealed for peace and appealed to Kashmir Pandits to return back to the Valley.
The mosque management, Anjuman-e-Auqaf Jama Masjid issued a statement saying, “Senior police officials visited the residence of the Mirwaiz on Thursday to inform him that the authorities have decided to release him from house detention and allow him to go to Jama Masjid for Friday prayers.”
Meanwhile, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah welcomed the decision of the Jammu and Kashmir administration to release Mirwaiz Umar Farooq from house arrest. “We welcome this step by the government. He should not have been held under house arrest for so long. Now that he has been released it means that the situation here is not so bad and elections can be conducted. We hope he will fulfil his socio-religious role now,” he said.
#WATCH | National Conference leader Omar Abdullah welcomes the decision of the J&K administration to release Mirwaiz Umar Farooq from house arrest
"We welcome this step by the government. He should not have been held under house arrest for so long. Now that he has been released… pic.twitter.com/IBZiRrvwgj
Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and Chairman of the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP), Ghulam Nabi Azad also welcomed the decision. “Welcome step! After 4 years of house arrest, it’s heartening to hear that Mirwaiz Umar Farooq will be allowed to offer Friday prayers at Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid. Religious freedom is a fundamental right, and clerics have an important role to play. This is a positive move towards reconciliation and unity!” he wrote on Twitter (X).
Welcome step! After 4 years of house arrest, it's heartening to hear that Mirwaiz Umar Farooq will be allowed to offer Friday prayers at Srinagar's Jamia Masjid. Religious freedom is a fundamental right, and clerics have an important role to play. This is a positive move towards…
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the Hurriyat separatist leader, was placed under house arrest at his Nigeen mansion on August 5, 2019, on the day Article 370 was revoked by the Modi government and the state of Jammu and Kashmmir was bifurcated into two union territories.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the leader of the separatist Hurriyat Conference was released soon after he filed a plea with the Jammu and Kashmir High Court. Previously, on September 15, the court gave the Jammu and Kashmir administration four weeks to respond to Mirwaiz’s appeal.
Reports mention that on August 18, Mirwaiz had issued a legal notice to the state of Jammu and Kashmir authorities regarding his “house detention.” According to a notice, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha emphatically rejected Mirwaiz Umar Farooq’s imprisonment, claiming that he was free to relocate to any location.
Mirwaiz Umar has repeatedly alleged that he has been put under house arrest by the police after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, and said that a large security force was deployed outside his house. However, Sinha in August 2023 had asserted that Hurriyat leader and cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was a free man and not under detention.
“He is not under detention. There are no restrictions on his movement. He can go anywhere,” Sinha was quoted as saying. The separatist leader was however released days after he filed a plea with the Jammu and Kashmir High Court.
On Friday, September 22, Moto GP apologised for showing a distorted map of India in a recent live broadcast of a practice session at Buddh International Circuit. The apology comes after netizens slammed the depiction of a distorted map of India in which the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh were missing.
Taking to X, Moto GP stated, “We’d like to apologise to our fans in India for the map shown earlier as part of the MotoGP broadcast. It is never our intent to make any statement other than that of support and appreciation for our host country. We’re excited to be able to enjoy the IndianOil Grand Prix of India with you and we’re loving our first taste of Buddh International Circuit,” MotoGP said.
MotoGP Bharat, presently known as the IndianOil Grand Prix of India, will make its Indian debut in the 13th round of the 2023 season. The event, which runs from today to Sunday, sees riders fighting on superbikes at speeds surpassing 300 km/h for the checkered flag.
Several netizens raised questions about the map shown during MotoGP’s live-streamed practice sessions, sparking an online debate. Users on social networking platforms including X questioned the usage of India’s distorted map and sought an explanation from MotoGP and the Indian promoters.
Journalist and author Ajeet Bharti questioned if it was a mistake on the part of the organisers or was the distorted map of India deliberately shown and wrote, “Hello @MotoGP, could you please clarify why your live-streaming of practice session had this map with Bharat’s head missing? @DirMktg_iocl. how was this allowed? @dornasport could you weigh in? I would request @CMOfficeUP to take cognisance of this stupidity and ask for reasons. If it is a mistake, it needs to be immediately corrected and not repeated again in qualifying and main race. If you think this image is ‘edited’, please provide a feed of the practice session, debunking this claim which is doing rounds on social media.”
Hello @MotoGP, could you please clarify why your live-streaming of practice session had this map with Bharat’s head missing? @DirMktg_iocl how was this allowed? @dornasport could you weigh in?
Notably, a total of 22 riders from 11 different teams will compete in a variety of sessions throughout the course of the three-day event. These sessions will involve practice, qualifying, a sprint race and the main Grand Prix event, which will be held next Sunday. These teams will ride motorcycles from prominent brands such as Honda, Yamaha, KTM, Ducati, and Aprilia, displaying a varied range of high-performance motorcycles.
A team of the Special Task Force arrested two active members of a gang run by jailed serial killer brothers Salim, Rustam and Sohrab on 21 September. The accused have been identified as Salman alias Aftab Malik of Khadra and Mohammed Arshad Siddiqui of Madeyganj. They also admitted to stabbing Mansi Yadav to death and dumping her body in the river during interrogation. She was killed on 4 September.
They were planning to loot a jeweller in the area and were apprehended following a tip-off. Authorities received information that they were in the Gudamba neighbourhood of Lucknow to rob a bullion dealer located on Kursi Road near Scorpio Club. The cops acted swiftly and captured them as well as seized two country-made pistols each of a different bore, five live cartridges, two mobile phones, and a car from them.
The two confessed to the kidnapping and murder of a young woman named Mansi Yadav who was the daughter of a farmer and revealed that her body was thrown in the Ghaghra River on Bahraich Road. Mohammed Arshad Siddiqui alleged that the victim had an affair with his married brother. Furthermore, neither of them relented and was adamant about tying the knot despite repeated attempts by the family to make the couple understand.
The 20-year-old was reportedly the source of conflict at his house and they were being defamed as a result of the love saga. He also disclosed that he planned her murder and included Salman alias Aftab Malik in the same. The two drove in a Swift car to her rented room close to Integral University on the fateful evening and took her along with them. The culprits attacked her with a knife after travelling five kilometres and put an end to her life. Afterwards, they tossed her corpse, mobile and murder weapon into the river. They discarded their blood-stained clothes in the Gomti river.
Bahraich Police was contacted to retrieve the deceased’s body. Deputy Superintendent of Police, Special Task Force, Dharmesh Kumar Shahi proclaimed that he learned that henchmen of serial killer brothers Salim, Rustam and Sohrab group were going to rob a bullion businessman on Kursi Road. “Both were nabbed and revealed their names as Salman alias Aftab Malik and Mohammed Arshad Siddiqui during questioning. The arrest solved a case of murder of a girl, Mansi, abducted on September 4 and was murdered later by them.”
The arrest of the two accused is a major breakthrough for the authorities. They are now investigating the involvement of the serial killer brothers in other crimes who gained notoriety in 2005 when they murdered three people in Hussainganj, Hasanganj and Madiaon within a 45-minute period, the day before Eid.
Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, is losing his popularity amid the ongoing tensions between India and Canada. According to a recent Ipsos poll, 40% of Canadians want Conservative opposition leader Pierre Poilievre to be Canada’s Prime Minister, while 30% prefer Justin Trudeau.
According to the reports, if an election were held today, Poilievre’s Conservatives would win 39% of the vote. This puts them clearly ahead of current Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party, which would receive barely 30% of the vote.
It demonstrates that the Conservative Party of Canada, led by Pierre Poilievre, now leads the Liberal Party of Canada, led by Justin Trudeau. Based on the poll survey, Poilievre is more popular than Trudeau. If polls are conducted now, the Conservatives will win a majority government, eliminating the Trudeau-led Liberal minority administration. Elections in Canada are set to take place in the autumn of 2025.
Meanwhile, another survey in July found that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is viewed as the worst Prime Minister in over a half-century by a segment of Canadian voters. This revelation stands in stark contrast to his father, Pierre Trudeau’s, legacy.
As per the reports, Pierre Trudeau, who served as Prime Minister from 1968 to 1979 and again from 1980 to 1984, was beloved by the Canadian people during his term. He won over both his constituents and his adversaries with dynamic leadership and a vision for a united Canada.
The recent polls are alarming for Trudeau, who is accused of being soft and hesitant to act against Khalistani groups, frequently dismissing it as “freedom of expression.” This is a delicate issue for both Canada and India. Canada has been criticized by India for harbouring Sikh separatists, while the country has maintained its right to free expression.
At the recent G20 Summit in Delhi, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi questioned Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about escalating “anti-India activities” in Canada linked to extremist groups. This encounter marked the end of a low-key chapter in Trudeau’s India tour, which had already been kept low-key due to Covid-19 regulations.
It’s hardly surprising that a so-called Khalistan referendum was held on the same day Trudeau met PM Modi in Surrey, British Columbia.
Trudeau’s Liberals currently hold power with the New Democratic Party (NDP), led by Indian-origin politician Jagmeet Singh, a known Khalistani sympathizer. The NDP has vowed to support the government until the next general election in autumn 2025.
While Trudeau’s comments about India’s involvement in Najjar’s death upset India, they appear to have struck a chord among Canadian Sikhs living in Surrey, British Columbia, which is recognized as a center of Khalistani activity. The Sikh community, Canada’s largest non-Indian community, has lauded Trudeau as a “hero” and said he is “vocalizing” their concerns.
In an unexpected assertion this week, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his country’s intelligence agencies were looking into a “potential link” between “agents of the Indian government” and Najjar’s death. Najjar was referred to as a “Canadian citizen” by Trudeau.
In retaliation for Ottawa’s removal of an Indian official over the case, New Delhi clearly rejected the charges as “absurd” and “motivated,” and expelled a senior Canadian ambassador.
Najjar, one of India’s most wanted terrorists with a Rs 10 lakh cash reward on his head, was shot dead on June 18 by two unidentified shooters outside a gurdwara in Surrey. He was the Khalistan Tiger Force’s (KTF) commander.
In a strongly worded statement on Thursday, India said that Canada’s claims appeared to be “politically motivated” and urged the Trudeau government to crack down hard on terrorists and anti-India elements operating on its soil.
As a result of the diplomatic blockade over Najjar’s murder, India has now suspended visa services for Canadians.
On 19th September, the Allahabad High Court granted bail to four individuals who were serving life sentences in connection with a terrorist attack that took place 18 years ago at the Ram Janmabhoomi site in Ayodhya. Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Syed Aftab Husain Rizvi, presiding over the bench, have issued an order for the appeals filed by the individuals, challenging their life sentences, to be scheduled for a hearing on December 4, 2023.
The convicts in this case Shakeel Ahmed, Mohammad Naseem, Asif Iqbal alias Faroq and Dr. Irfan were granted bail subject to conditions. They moved the high court seeking suspension of sentence and grant of bail.
All four individuals were convicted in the 2005 case under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) such as Sections 302/120B, 307/120B, 153A/120B, 153B/120B, 295/120B, 353/120B, as well as Sections 18, 19, and 20 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, in conjunction with Section 120B of the IPC, and Section 4 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984, along with Section 120B of the IPC. The most severe penalty imposed on them in this case was a life imprisonment sentence.
The terrorist attack on the Ram Janmabhoomi in 2005
In the case of the terror attack, on July 5, 2005, at approximately 9:15 in the morning, a marshal jeep came to a halt near the Jain Temple in Ayodhya, resulting in an explosion within the jeep. Subsequently, five heavily armed terrorists launched an assault on the premises of the ‘Ram Janmbhoomi Sthal,’ and security forces responded fiercely.
During the confrontation, all five terrorists were killed, along with one civilian. The deceased terrorists were discovered with an arsenal that included AK-47 rifles, live ammunition, rocket launchers, and other weaponry.
Conviction in the trial court
The prosecution’s case against the four accused individuals detailed their alleged role as conspirators in the attack. The prosecution’s key evidence hinged on the discovery of a Nokia mobile handset. Through surveillance of the phone and an examination of its call detail records, it was revealed that eight SIM cards had been used with the same handset, some of which were linked to the accused individuals.
The trial court, in its verdict, concluded that the prosecution had effectively proven its case beyond any reasonable doubt, primarily resting its judgment on the recovery of the Nokia mobile handset.
The defence argument
The legal representatives for the four convicts contended that there was insufficient evidence to establish the recovery of the Nokia mobile handset itself. Furthermore, they argued that the mobile calls presented by the prosecution were supported solely by Call Detail Records (CDRs), and there was no accompanying certificate provided in accordance with Section 65B of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, to substantiate their authenticity.
The bail plea
The defence contended that none of the convicted individuals had a prior criminal record, and they had already served more than eighteen years in incarceration. Therefore, given the potential extended duration of the appeals’ proceedings, they requested bail for their release.
The State respondent opposed the bail plea, with the Additional Advocate General presenting arguments against it. They pointed out that some of the accused individuals had been in contact with individuals from across the border. The high court observed that the paper book necessary for the appeals of the convicts was not prepared at the time. Consequently, the appeals could not be heard and concluded at present.
Furthermore, the court emphasised that in 2022, the Supreme Court had directed that the bail plea of the convicts be scheduled for consideration before the same bench assigned to hear their appeals.
The high court said, “A period of more than one year has expired since the order of the Supreme Court and therefore, we are of the view that the prayer made by the accused persons for consideration of their first bail applications is liable to be considered.”
The court added, “We are not required to return any definite finding on this aspect as a detailed appraisal of the evidence led during the trial, on such aspect, would be required at the time of hearing of the appeals. However, we do find that prima facie arguable points are raised in the appeal on the aspect relating to the factum of recovery of the mobile handset.”
The court further observed, “Other legal issues have also been raised including the evidentiary value of call detail records particularly as there is no certificate produced in terms of Section 65B of the Evidence Act. It is also admitted to the prosecution that none of the accused-appellants have any criminal history and they have languished in jail for the last more than 18 years.” The court then granted bail to the four accused in the Ayodhya terror attack case of 2005 subject to various conditions.
Even after the passage of the women’s reservation bill in the Lower and Upper House of the Parliament, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi made controversial remarks against the bill. He said the bill is a “distraction and diversion tactic from the demand for a caste census”.
The Gandhi scion said that the bill comes with two footnotes that the Census and Delimitation will have to be done for the implementation of the bill. He said, “Both of these will take years. The truth is that the Reservation can be implemented today…This is not a complicated matter but the Govt doesn’t want to do that. Govt has presented this before the country but it will be implemented 10 years from now. Nobody knows if this will even be implemented. This is a distraction tactic, diversion tactic.”
#WATCH | Congress MP Rahul Gandhi says, "Women's Reservation Bill is great but we received two footnotes that Census and Delimitation need to be done before that. Both of these will take years. The truth is that the Reservation can be implemented today…This is not a complicated… pic.twitter.com/BzLvKzOrL0
In a tone that seemed to pit women’s reservation against OBC reservation, Rahul Gandhi said, “What is it that you are being diverted from? From OBC Census. I spoke of one institution in Parliament, that which runs the Government of India – Cabinet secretary and secretaries…I asked why only three out of 90 people belong to the OBC community?… I don’t understand that PM Modi speaks of OBCs every day but what did he do for them?”
#WATCH | Women's Reservation Bill | Congress MP Rahul Gandhi says, "What is it that you are being diverted from? From OBC Census. I spoke of one institution in Parliament, that which runs the Government of India – Cabinet secretary and secretaries…I asked why only three out of… pic.twitter.com/6WVKGgYXb8
He further said that the reservation for OBC MPs and MLAs is not the question and asked why there are only 3 out of the 90 secretaries from the OBC category. The media also questioned Rahul Gandhi if he regrets that the OBC quota was not provided in the women’s reservation bill brought by the UPA. “100 per cent regret hai. This should have been done then. We will get this done,” the Congress MP said.
Demanding a caste census, Rahul Gandhi said that Lok Sabha is called the temple of democracy. Then he went on to say whether any BJP MP take any decision, do they make any law or participate in making a law? “Not at all. Neither Congress MP, BJP MP, nor any other MP. MPs have been turned into murtis in temples. OBC MPs have been filled like murtis (in the Parliament) but they don’t have any power. There is no contribution in running the country. This is a question I have raised.”
“Every OBC youth must understand that should you get a chance to run this country, yes or no? If yes, then is your population 5%. And this is what the BJP is trying to distract from”, he continued.
The Congress leader has demanded that the delimitation clause should be removed from the bill. “Are you going to make separate reservation provision for OBC and women in the government in future?” the Congress leader asked. He also claimed that it is very much possible to implement the law from today itself.
Notably, Congress MPs and its allies in the UPA had blocked the passage of the women’s reservation bill during the UPA regime. Opposition parties, including those who were members of the UPA, like SP, RJD, LJP, and JDU were some of the parties whose leaders in the Parliament vehemently opposed and stalled the passage of the Bill.
The Vajpayee government introduced the Bill in the Parliament at least six times but the same was blocked thanks to the Congress. Lacking a majority, the Vajpayee government was dependent on the Opposition for consensus.
Rahul Gandhi’s ‘murthi’ comment and why it is deeply Hinduphobic
In his desperation to deride the Modi government, Rahul Gandhi ended up making a statement which was deeply Hinduphobic. While trying to make the point that MPs were not contributing to any productive work in the parliament by way of formulation of laws, Rahul Gandhi compared them to Murthis in a Temple. He said, “Not at all. Neither Congress MP, BJP MP, nor any other MP. MPs have been turned into murtis in temples. OBC MPs have been filled like murtis (in the Parliament) but they don’t have any power. There is no contribution in running the country. This is a question I have raised.”
Rahul Gandhi essentially said that MPs in the parliament were powerless just as murthis in a Temple. This is the exact trope which is used by Islamists to negate and insult Murthi-puja – the very core of the Hindu faith. The argument made by the Islamists and extremist Christians is that the Murthis in the temple are merely stones and serve no purpose beyond perpatuating superstition. This line of argument is extended to denying legitimacy to Sanatan Dharma and the Hindu faith in general, insulting those who practise ritualistic Hinduism.
Rahul Gandhi made the argument that the Murthis, that Hindus worship, are powerless and ‘useless’, just as the MPs in the parliament – which is to say – they serve no purpose.
Hindus worship Murthis believing that they are the manifestation of the spirit of the divine. Every Murthi in a temple undergoes a ritual called Praan Pratishtha after which, is it essentially does not remain a ‘Murthi’ but an embodiment of the divine – with the divine infusing the spiritual essence in it.
For Rahul Gandhi to claim that Murthis are useless, essentially means that he believes Murthi puja – the very core of Sanatan Dharma – is merely a superstition and serves no purpose – essentially furthering the Hinduphobic narrative of the Islamists and Missionaries against Hindus.
This is not the first time that Rahul Gandhi has made Hinduphobic comments. In 2014, speaking about women’s safety, Rahul Gandhi had said that people go to the temple and worship to the Goddess, call women mothers and sisters, but the truth is that those very people molest women in a bus.
Rahul Gandhi seems to have an uncanny ability to connect every ill of the society to the Hindu community and shield every ill of any other community. One recalls how a Wikileaks document revealed how the Congress party played politics over the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. It did not escape the notice of even the then U.S. ambassador to India, David Mulford. The observation made was that the Congress party after the attack had chosen to pander to Muslim fears.
Further, there was another Wikileaks cable that revealed that Rahul Gandhi had travelled abroad and claimed that Hindu extremism is worse than Muslim extremism and terrorism. This comment was made in 2009.
It is, therefore, evident that Rahul Gandhi has a long history of making Hinduphobic comments that target the Hindu community and associating himself with elements who habitually pass Hinduphobic comments. In this instance as well, Rahul Gandhi, in his zeal to attack the Modi government, has ended up insulting the Hindu community and their faith.
The Janata Dal (Secular) formally joined the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Friday as Former Karnataka Chief Minister and JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi. BJP President JP Nadda and Goa CM Pramod Sawant were also present during the meeting.
BJP President Jagt Prasad Nadda confirmed the development with a tweet, sharing photos of the meeting. He posted: Met Former Chief Minister of Karnataka and JD(S) leader Shri H.D. Kumaraswamy in the presence of our senior leader and Home Minister Shri @AmitShah Ji. I am happy that JD(S) has decided to be the part of National Democratic Alliance. We wholeheartedly welcome them in the NDA. This will further strengthen NDA and vision of Hon PM @narendramodi Ji for “New India, Strong India”.
Met Former Chief Minister of Karnataka and JD(S) leader Shri H.D. Kumaraswamy in the presence of our senior leader and Home Minister Shri @AmitShah Ji. I am happy that JD(S) has decided to be the part of National Democratic Alliance. We wholeheartedly welcome them in the NDA.… pic.twitter.com/eRDUdCwLJc
Talking to the media after the meeting, HD Kumaraswamy said, “Today formally we discussed about joining hands with the BJP as an NDA partner. We’ve discussed the preliminary issues formally, all the outcomes will be announced at a proper time. When asked, he said that his party has not made any demand in exchange for joining the ruling alliance.
This came after former Prime Minister and JD(S) patriarch HD Deve Gowda and his son Kumaraswamy met BJP President JP Nadda and Amit Shah in the Parliament on Thursday.
There were speculations in Karnataka’s political circles for the past few months that the JD(S) could ally with the BJP for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
The JD(S) had aligned with the Congress in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, however, the parties faced a drubbing as the BJP swept 25 out of the 28 seats in Karnataka and even an independent candidate supported by the BJP won from the Mandya constituency.
The JD(S) has allied with both the BJP and the Congress in Karnataka in the past. The United Front government of H. D. Deve Gowda at the centre was supported by Congress.
Though the JD(S) won 19 seats in the recent Assembly polls that were held in May, it was the party’s worst performance in history. Notably, the party was not invited either to the NDA meeting in Delhi or to the meeting of the Opposition- INDIA bloc in Bengaluru in July.
The Supreme Court on Friday, September 22 declined to order a scientific survey of the disputed Shahi Idgah mosque located at the Krishna Janmabhoomi site in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.
– Matura Civil Court's order rejecting the application filed by Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Mukti Nirman Trust for a scientific survey of the Shahi Eidgah mosque was passed with jurisdiction. Because it was passed before the suits… https://t.co/c1i3rC5ogb
A bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia noted that the High Court was yet to rule on the plea under Order 26 Rule 11 of the Civil Procedure Code, which pertains to the appointment of commissioners.
The apex court stated, “It cannot be said that the trial court did not have jurisdiction to pass the order. That being the position it cannot be urged that the High Court alone should have exercised revisionary jurisdiction after transfer… Therefore, we do not find it a case to exercise our jurisdiction under Article 136, more so for an interim order. No prejudice to the rights and contentions of parties in other SLPs. The petition is disposed of.”
Plea filed in SC seeking Gyanvapi-like scientific survey of disputed Shahi Idgah site in Mathura
The bench was addressing a petition filed by the Shri Krishna Janambhoomi Mukti Nirman Trust on the 14th of last month, which sought a Gyanvapi-like scientific survey of the Shahi Idgah site in Mathura.
In their plea, the petitioners have argued that the Hindu community has the right over the disputed Shahi Idgah site. They have stressed that the disputed structure was constructed after demolishing Hindu temples and such construction cannot be a mosque.
The petitioner has further stated that to validate the claims made by the Krishna Janambhoomi Trust and the Masjid Committee regarding the disputed land, it has become imperative to carry out a thorough scientific survey.
The petitioners also noted that it is important to understand the religious history and the significance of the site and it can be achieved through proper scientific survey.
Earlier this year, in January, the Krishna Janmabhoomi Trust filed a suit before the civil judge, Mathura. They attached a map along with a request to protect their interest and constitutional rights. Additionally, they also requested the court to restore the Krishna Janmbhoomi at the place where the disputed structure also known as Shahi Masjid Idgah exists.
However, this was objected to by the management committee of Shahi Masjid Idgah and UP Sunni Central Waqf Board.
Later, in July, the Shahi Idgah Trust moved to the Supreme Court challenging an Allahabad High Court order in this case. The High Court, through an order dated May 26, transferred all the petitions relating to Mathura’s Krishna Janambhoomi land dispute from Uttar Pradeh’s District Court Mathura to itself.
The Krishna Janmabhoomi case
The dispute over Kashi and Mathura is similar to the one over Ayodhya. The Shahi Idgah Mosque stands at the Krishna Janmabhoomi in the city of Mathura. The Islamic invader Aurangzeb destroyed the ancient Keshavnath temple and built the Shahi Idgah Mosque on its plinth in 1669. Following that, the Shahi Eidgah Mosque in Mathura was built. The conflict in Mathura is over ownership rights to a total of 13.37 acres of land which belongs to Thakur Keshav Ji Maharaj and Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi is situated on his land. The Hindu side is calling for the removal of the Shahi Eidgah Mosque and the transfer of this land to the Shri Krishna Janmasthan.
