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Gujarat: 20 Muslim youths arrested for objectionable comments and obscene gestures during Eid Milad procession near Ambaji temple in Vadodara

OpIndia Staff
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Gujarat: 20 Muslim youths arrested for objectionable comments and obscene gestures during Eid Milad procession near Ambaji temple in Vadodara

On Saturday (30 September), the Vadodara Police arrested 20 individuals for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of the Hindu community while taking out a procession on the occasion of Eid Milad un Nabi in Padra in Gujarat’s Vadodara, PTI reported citing a police official.

Superintendent of Police (Vadodara Rural) Rohan Anand stated that some members of the procession made obscene gestures and uttered words hurting religious sentiments when it was passing by a temple on Friday night (29 September). He added that following the incident, a group of people from the Hindu community gathered outside Padra police station demanding strict action against the culprits. 

According to the SP, the crowd was dispersed, and based on the complaint of one Ajay Parmar, an FIR was lodged against 13 identified and other unknown accused who were part of the procession.

The accused have been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) including sections 143 (unlawful assembly), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups), 294B (obscene acts and songs), 298 (uttering words, etc., with deliberate intent to wound religious feelings) and 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), the SP noted. He added that further investigation into the incident was underway.

According to media reports, on Friday (29 September), clashes broke out between Hindu and Muslim communities during an Eid Milad procession organised in Padra, Vadodara. It is alleged that when the procession reached the Ambaji temple, some Muslim youths from the crowd clashed with Hindu youths and uttered offensive words that hurt the religious sentiments of the Hindu community. Following the incident, Hindus reached the police station in large numbers and lodged a complaint.

Notably, the Muslim community was taking out a procession in Padra on the occasion of Eid-e-Milad-Un-Nabi, the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad. At around 10 PM, the procession reached the Ambaji temple located in the city where some Hindu youths were distributing prasad in the temple. 

According to the complaint of Hindu organisations, the individuals who were part of the procession engaged in brawls with them. They added that Muslim youths used obscene gestures and verbal abuse at them which vitiated the atmosphere. 

However, when things started to escalate, youths from the Hindu community reached the Padra police station in large numbers and gave a petition demanding strict action against the Muslim youths who were making inciting remarks. Subsequently, the police reached the spot and dispersed the crowd to bring the situation under control.

The police officials have retrieved the CCTV footage and based on its analysis the identity of the accused will be established and further action will be taken.

According to SP Rohan Anand, the presence of some of the youths who were making inciting remarks has already been established at the place of inquiry regarding their whereabouts at the time of the incident. Meanwhile, investigations are ongoing for the others.

He stated that the preliminary investigation revealed that there was an altercation between the people who were part of the procession and those who were sitting in the temple which hurt the religious sentiments.

It was also alleged that the Muslim youths were carrying swords and sticks in Eid processions. Regarding this, the police noted that this has also come to their attention. They added that if the investigation finds the allegations to be true and the footage is found, then another complaint will be filed regarding the same.

The third incident in the last 48 hours

Apparently, three such incidents have taken place in the last 48 hours. Apart from this incident, stones were pelted on Hindu processions in the remaining two incidences. 

Notably, on Thursday (28 September), during Ganesh Visharan, stones were pelted on Ganesh Yatra in Manjusar of Savli Taluka of Vadodara. Later, on 29 September, a Muslim mob pelted stones on the ‘Shaurya Jagran Yatra’ which was organised by Bajrang Dal in Selamba of Narmada district.

A police complaint has been registered in all three incidents and the district police are currently investigating the matter. 

India Railways to clean Vande Bharat trains in just 14 minutes, to emulate rapid cleaning procedure of Japan’s bullet trains

ANI
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India Railways to clean Vande Bharat trains in just 14 minutes, to emulate rapid cleaning procedure of Japan’s bullet trains

Indian Railways is on the verge of a significant breakthrough as it is set to achieve a historical milestone- the 14-minute cleaning miracle for every Vande Bharat train, official sources said on Saturday.

The Vande-Bharat trains known for their indigenization are equipped with cutting-edge facilities for passengers to offer a swifter, comfortable and remarkably convenient travel experience.

According to the Ministry of Railways sources, these trains will be covered under the “14-minute miracle” scheme which is set to be launched on October 1 at Terminal Stations across Indian Railways as part of the ‘Swachhata-Hi-Seva’ campaign.

The scheme will be formally launched at the Delhi Cantt Railway Station.

Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw will inaugurate this groundbreaking initiative at the Delhi Cantonment Railway Station on Sunday. Simultaneously, more than 32 Vande Bharat trains across the nation will adopt this swift cleaning mechanism, making it a daily affair.

Emulating the rapid cleaning procedures witnessed in Japan’s Bullet Trains, where they achieve a cleaning time of 7 minutes, this new endeavour by Indian Railways is poised to redefine the standards for train cleanliness.

A process that once consumed 3-4 hours will now be executed within a mere 15 minutes, top sources of Ministry of Railways informed ANI.

The sources said that each coach of the Vande Bharat train will be cleaned by a dedicated team of four cleaning staff. Extensive training programs, spanning over a month, have equipped these staff members for the meticulously planned manual cleaning process. Multiple mock drills have further fine-tuned their skills, ensuring a seamless execution of the rapid cleaning operation.

It is notable that earlier this year in January, Railways Minister Vaishnaw had hinted at a transformation in the cleaning process of India’s premium trains. Now, with this initiative, the Railways plans to extend the same efficient cleaning mechanism to all trains once proven effective and fully functional.

It is pertinent to note that in light of the millions of passengers who travel daily, the initiative aims to elevate their travel experience to a world-class standard, where cleanliness plays a pivotal role.

The Vande Bharat Trains, known for their semi-high-speed service, initially commenced operations in February 2019 from Delhi to Varanasi. Presently, 68 Vande Bharat train services are operational throughout the country. This new leap in efficiency is expected to redefine passenger expectations and enhance the overall railway travel experience.

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

Almost all Armenians comprising 80% of the population leave Nagorno-Karabakh after Azerbaijan reclaimed the territory, UN to send mission

ANI
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Almost all Armenians comprising 80% of the population leave Nagorno-Karabakh after Azerbaijan reclaimed the territory, UN to send mission

In the aftermath of Azerbaijan’s victory over the Nagorno-Karabakh and thousands of people displaced from the territory, United Nations will send a mission to the territory, CNN reported on Saturday.

The American media outlet said the United Nations will send a mission to Nagorno-Karabakh this weekend, amid reports that about 80 per cent of the population have been displaced.

Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, Stephane Dujarric, said during a press briefing on Friday that the mission’s visit had been agreed by Azerbaijan and would go ahead over the weekend.

“We haven’t had access there in about 30 years. So it’s very important that we will be able to get in,” he said.

“While there, the team will seek to assess the situation on the ground and identify the humanitarian needs for both people remaining and the people that are on the move,” the spokesperson added.

Earlier it was reported that the self-declared republic of Nagorno-Karabakh will cease to exist from next year. This comes as the region’s president signed a decree dissolving state institutions following its defeat to Azerbaijan, according to CNN.

Further, as per CNN, the Azerbaijani victory last week triggered a huge exodus of ethnic Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh and marked the end of decades of conflict, and potentially the end of centuries of Armenian presence in the region.

After the defeat, President Samvel Shahramanyan issued a decree that calls for all institutions and organizations of the Republic of Artsakh, which is not recognized internationally, to dissolve from January 1, 2024.

“The Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) ceases its existence,” read the decree.

Nagorno-Karabakh lies within Azerbaijan’s borders but has for decades operated autonomously with a de facto government of its own. Last week, Azerbaijan reclaimed control of the breakaway region after an offensive lasting just 24 hours.

Azerbaijan has long been clear about the choice of confronting Karabakh Armenians: Stay and accept Azerbaijani citizenship, or leave. The majority of the population has already voted on its feet and tens of thousands have fled their ancestral home rather than submitting to rule by Baku, CNN reported.

Azerbaijan launched its offensive on September 19, firing missiles and drones at the regional capital of Stepanakert in what marked the start of a third war fought for control of the region in as many decades. Under the Soviet Union, of which Azerbaijan and Armenia are both former members, Nagorno-Karabakh became an autonomous region within the Republic of Azerbaijan.

According to CNN, Karabakh officials passed a resolution in 1988 declaring its intention to join the Republic of Armenia, causing fighting to break out as the Soviet Union began to crumble, in what became the First Karabakh War.

About 30,000 people were killed in over six years of violence, which ended in 1994 when the Armenian side gained control of the region. The Second Karabakh War began in 2020 after years of sporadic clashes.

Azerbaijan, backed by its historic ally Turkey, reclaimed a third of the territory of Karabakh in just 44 days before both sides agreed to lay down their weapons in a Russia-brokered ceasefire. 

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

Myanmar and Bangladesh based terror groups conspiring with militants to exploit ethnic conflicts: NIA arrests one in Manipur in Transnational Conspiracy Case

OpIndia Staff
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Myanmar and Bangladesh based terror groups conspiring with militants to exploit ethnic conflicts: NIA arrests one in Manipur in Transnational Conspiracy Case

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has said that Myanmar and Bangladesh-based militant groups have entered into a conspiracy with a section of militant leaders in India to indulge in incidents of violence with the intention to drive a wedge between different ethnic groups and to wage war against the Government of India. The NIA said this while informing about the arrest of one person related to this transnational conspiracy by terror groups.

The probe agency today arrested one person named Seiminlun Gangte from Churachandpur District in Manipur, the epicentre of ethnic violence that has been griping the northeastern state for several months. As per NIA, Gangte is related to a transnational conspiracy by Myanmar and Bangladesh-based leadership of terror outfits to wage war against the Govt. of India by exploiting the current ethnic unrest in the State of Manipur.

Investigation of the case has revealed that Myanmar and Bangladesh-based militant groups have entered into a conspiracy with a section of militant leaders in India to exploit existing fault lines to trigger unrest in the country.

NIA said that for this purpose, the foreign terror groups have been providing funds to the local militant groups to procure arms, ammunition and other types of terrorist hardware. Using this fund, the militant groups are procuring such items both from across the border as well as from other terrorist outfits active in the North Eastern States of India. The purpose of this conspiracy is to stoke the current ethnic strife in Manipur.

Seiminlun Gangte has been shifted to New Delhi after his arrest and will be produced before the Jurisdictional Court. Further Investigations in the case are in progress, NIA added.

The case was registered suo moto by the NIA on July 19, 2023, in New Delhi, and the investigation of case no 24/2023/NIA/DLI by NIA revealed the international conspiracy behind the Manipur violence.

A few days ago NIA arrested one Moirangthem Anand Singh in the same case related to transnational conspiracy. He along with four others was arrested by NIA earlier in Imphal for carrying sophisticated weapons and ammunition and travelling in police camouflaged vehicle. They were later released on bail, but NIA re-arrested Moirangthem Anand Singh on 23 September. It has been alleged that Singh was working as an overground worker of the People’s Liberation Army, a banned Manipuri insurgent outfit, and had obtained basic military training in Chandel.

Indore: Event manager Sana Khan pressurises Hindu girls to embrace Islam, lures them with tempting offers to marry Muslim guys; arrested

OpIndia Staff
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Indore: Event manager Sana Khan pressurises Hindu girls to embrace Islam, lures them with tempting offers to marry Muslim guys; arrested

In Madhya Pradesh’s Indore, police arrested an event manager named Sana Khan alias Rafiqunisha Khan alias Payal Khan who had been pressuring law students to convert to Islam for quite some time. Furthermore, she was also providing multiple inducements to Hindu girls in an attempt to lure them into marrying Muslim guys. She is originally from Rewa and was staying in Satyam Vihar Colony.

The Khajrana police have apprehended her in the case of love jihad and blackmail and are extracting her call details to examine her contact list.

How did the matter come to the fore

According to Town Inspector Umrao Singh, Sana Khan was charged with violating the Madhya Pradesh Religious Freedom Act and intimidation following a complaint from a law student who alleged that the accused was pressuring her to convert to Islam. The complainant, as per the police, originally belongs to the Talod village in Sonkach tehsil of Dewas district but is currently living in Goyal Vihar Colony with her friend and brother.

The victim revealed that the perpetrator was forcing her and her friend to convert their religion and trying to convince them to marry Muslim boys by offering various kinds of inducements.

She lured them by saying that she would arrange to get them married to Muslim boys from affluent families. They would receive a lot of money in return which would also be beneficial for their children’s education, the victim quoted the accused as telling her and her friends.

The official said that following the complaint, the police traced Sana Khan’s location and nabbed her. The police added that the accused is married to a man named Salim Khan whom the complainant regards as her uncle. Sana Khan had obtained the victim’s information from her husband and then began to threaten her.

Accused Sana Khan enticed girls by offering them incentives and offers: Indore police

Divulging details about Sana Khan’s modus operandi, the police said that the accused first obtained all information about her prospective targets, who were mainly law students, and then contacted them. She would start normal conversations with them first and then gradually start convincing them to embrace Islam by enticing them with many incentives and offers. She also tried to lure them with promises to get them married to rich Muslim boys.

Authorities disclosed that during the initial interrogation, Sana Khan continued to mislead the police, however, later she started divulging the truth. The police said that the accused revealed that she managed events in Indore and was in touch with more than 40 girls in Indore.

The police said that they are now compiling information they have gathered thus far and believe that Sana Khan might have used a similar trick to trap other girls.

London: Sikh restaurant owner’s car shot at and vandalised months after he spoke against Khalistanis, had received death and rape threats but no action from UK Police

OpIndia Staff
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London: Sikh restaurant owner’s car shot at and vandalised months after he spoke against Khalistanis, had received death and rape threats but no action from UK Police

The act of open support for Khalistani terrorists and extremists by the Canadian authorities and their like-minded political outfits in the West has emboldened Khalistanis in the United Kingdom as well. Evidently, on Saturday (30 September), unknown assailants allegedly fired shots at the car of Sikh restaurant owner, Harman Singh Kapoor, who had spoken against the Khalistan issue earlier this year. 

As per the information received, the assailants seemingly Khalistanis had also vandalised parts of his properties in what seems to be two attacks within the span of a few hours against the family.  

According to a UK-based Journalist and Researcher Charlotte Littlewood, the attack on Harman Singh Kapoor’s family is still ongoing and police have not provided them any kind of security cover or protection from Khalistani elements despite looming threats against them. 

As per Littlewood, the family was in anticipation of police personnel hours after some unknown assailants, believed to be Khalistani extremists, fired shots at their vehicle in London. She emphasised that the Canada row has virtually emboldened the Khalistani extremists and it is feared that more such attacks could be seen in the near future. 

She also questioned the UK Police for reportedly removing their panic alarm. 

Earlier in the day, she had highlighted that Harman’s car was attacked by some unknown miscreants and covered in red paint. 

Notably, the family was forced to live in hiding after they were getting repeated death and rape threats against family members for speaking against Khalistani extremism, earlier this year. 

It is being said that despite the fact that the family was receiving rape and death threats on a constant basis, the responsible authority decided to remove their panic alarms. 

Apparently, today’s attack comes within days after the panic alarm was removed.  Following the attack on their property, Harman’s family asserted that they would feel safer living in India as they felt that the establishment in the UK didn’t care for them. 

Drawing attention to these attacks on Harman’s family, Littlewood asked, “Within days of the removal of the alarm, their property is targeted. They have so little trust now in policing and government they feel that the Khalistani extremists have a way of knowing their alarm system has been removed. Why?”  

Claiming that this ‘was more of an Indian problem’, the security agencies in the UK have responded slowly to such attacks and at times have even indulged in victim blaming,  insinuating that the family brought this on themselves. 

Meanwhile, earlier in May 2023, OpIndia had highlighted how Harman Singh Kapoor, a Sikh restaurant owner in London, and his family had become the target of persistent threats since the time they uploaded a video about the Khalistan movement on social media.

The Khalistanis targeted his family despite several police guarantees of safety and specialised safety procedures. The family had been the target of three attacks and felt unsafe in London. Just days after the Khalistanis vandalised the Indian High Commission in London, pro-Khalistan supporters attacked Harman’s restaurant named ‘Rangrez, the Taste of Punjab’.

Afterward, Harman released a video that garnered two million views in just two days, which prompted threatening phone calls, online harassment, and social media trolls to target him and his family. Kapoor stated that the threats began after he posted a video on TikTok, in which he said, “This Khalistan movement started a while back and then it died down. Today again, a section of people who are settled in Canada, England, and Australia want Khalistan but those in India don’t want it. Those who need Khalistan should go back to India and ask for it.”

Harman said that after the video, he started getting death threats and that people started attacking his restaurant. He was threatened with death if he didn’t take down the video, shout pro-Khalistan, and burn the Indian flag.

The restaurant located in Hammersmith, West London, was also vandalised by the Khalistani elements in March in reaction to the video. Several men in masks and hoods had arrived at the restaurant, banged on the doors and asked those inside to come out and face them.

3 persons from areas outside Scotland disrupted planned interaction with Indian diplomats, bigger incident prevented:  Indian High Commission in London

OpIndia Staff
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3 persons from areas outside Scotland disrupted planned interaction with Indian diplomats, bigger incident prevented:  Indian High Commission in London

The Indian High Commission in London has issued a statement regarding the incident whena mob of Khalistanis stopped the Indian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Vikram Doraiswami, from visiting a Gurudwara in Glasgow city of Scotland. In a press release, the high commission said that three persons were involved in this disruption, and all of them were from outside Scotland.

The incident took place outside the Glasgow Gurdwara on Albert Drive soon after Vikram Doraiswami arrived to attend a scheduled meeting with the Gurdwara committee.

The high commission said that the three persons deliberately disrupted a planned interaction organized by the Gurudwara Committee for the community, the High Commissioner and the Consul General of India. This interaction was organised to discuss community and consular issues.

The organisers of the meeting included senior community leaders, ladies and Committee members, and a member of Scottish Parliament, the press release said. It added that they were threatened and abused by these elements. In an effort to prevent any potential altercation, the High Commissioner and Consul General decided to leave the premises shortly upon their arrival.

The High Commission added that one of the three non-local extremist elements attempted to violently force open the Doraiswami’s car door, calling it a serious matter that will require suitable police consideration. A bigger incident was avoided due to the quick reaction of one of the organisers, who physically intervened at the car door, the statement added.

The High Commission of India said that it has reported this disgraceful incident to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and the Metropolitan Police. Multiple community organisations including the organisers have formally regretted the incident and have urged the authorities to take action against the culprits.

A video of the incident has emerged on social media, showing Khalistan extremists gathering near the Indian diplomat’s car. In a massive security breach, a Khalistani extremist tried to forcibly enter the car of Vikram Doraiswami. Although the doors were locked from inside, the man was seen pulling the handle of the vehicle.

The Khalistanis reportedly told the Indian High Commissioner to the UK that he was “not welcome”. The Indian diplomate chose to avoid any confrontation and drove away from the spot immediately.

Later a pro-Khalistsan activist said that when they learned that the Indian envoy was visiting the Gurudwara, they decided to go there and tell him that he is not welcome there. “I don’t think the gurdwara committee is too happy about what happened. But Indian officials are not welcome in any gurdwara in the UK. We are fed up with the UK-India collusion,” the Khalistani added.

Bangladesh: ‘Celebrities’ push and punch each other over umpiring decision during ‘friendly’ Cricket League match: Video goes viral

OpIndia Staff
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Bangladesh: ‘Celebrities’ push and punch each other over umpiring decision during ‘friendly’ Cricket League match: Video goes viral

On Saturday, September 30, the Celebrity Cricket League which was organized at Dhaka’s indoor stadium devolved into a boxing ring with ‘celebrities’ from their film industry hurling punches and blows at each other. The ‘friendly’ match was being played to motivate the Bangladesh team ahead of the upcoming 2023 Cricket World Cup, however, it took an unexpected turn during a group match between filmmakers Mostafa Kamal Raz and Dipankar Dipon.

Some media reports suggest that during the match, a verbal altercation broke out between the members of the two teams over a wrong decision by the umpire. Local media house Dhaka Tribune report added that it all started over sledging.

It said that during the match after the umpire made a wrong decision, Raz’s team began sledging Dipankar Dipon’s players, which enraged the latter. A scuffle ensued with the ‘celebrities’ pushing, punching and slapping each other. Soon they started using cricket bats to hit each other. The two groups even threw chairs at each other. Six people were reportedly injured in the brawl.

The injured people were identified as Shishir Sardar, Raj Ripa, Joy Chaudhry, Atiq Rehman, Sheikh Shuvo, and Ashiq Jahid.

A video of Bangladeshi actress Raj Ripa crying over the umpire’s wrong verdict also went viral on social media. Accusing the management of match-fixing, she claimed that the umpire should have actually her a four on that particular bowl as the fielder’s foot hit the boundary.

Reports also said that Raj Ripa said on social media that Mustafa Kamal Raj would be responsible if anything happened to her career and accused his team of throwing water bottles at her. 

Joy Chowdhury, a member of Dipankar Dipon’s team, meanwhile, alleged that producer Raj threatened to kill actor Manoj Praman. He also accused the organizers of match-fixing and warned of legal action.

The tournament eventually had to be cancelled. Dipankar Dipon and the organizers stated that they would be issuing an official statement and explanation for what transpired.

“Why prayer room for one community? You have got places to worship, go there,” Gauhati HC to petitioner seeking prayer room for Muslims at Guwahati Airport

OpIndia Staff
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“Why prayer room for one community? You have got places to worship, go there,” Gauhati HC to petitioner seeking prayer room for Muslims at Guwahati Airport

On Friday, September 29, the Gauhati High Court refused to issue a notice as sought by a PIL requesting a separate prayer room for Muslims at the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati. A bench comprising Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice Susmita Phukan Khaund questioned the petitioner if such a right is provided under Article 25 of the Constitution.

The High Court bench asked the petitioner, who was present in person, what public harm would be averted with the construction of a separate prayer room. “Where does Article 25 give a right to any citizen to enforce or seek a writ that in every public institution, there should be a prayer room?” the bench said asking the petitioner to mention one judgment in this regard.

The bench further told the petitioner Saidur Zaman that just because the government has built separate prayer rooms at a few airports, it does not mean every citizen comes up with the demand to construct a prayer room at all public establishments. “Is it a fundamental right? You have places of worship, go there and worship,” the bench stated.

The court further questioned the Petitioner as to why the plea was limited to a single community. “What is the fundamental right in this regard? Our country is a secular country, why a prayer room for a particular community? What public harm can be prevented by building a prayer room? We are not on one community. There are designated spaces outside. Those who want to can go there and pray,” the Chief Justice said.

The bench continued to grill the petitioner when he argued that some flights are scheduled around the time Muslims are supposed to offer Namaz. The court said that since there is a possibility that flight timings may clash with the namaz time, the Muslim passengers should choose a flight accordingly. Not satisfied with the petitioner’s argument, the bench stated that such relief cannot be sought by a specific religious community.

“Then you choose a flight of your apt time. That is your choice, so you can complete your prayers. The airports give you a choice. Sorry, we are not satisfied. How can relief be sought for a particular community?” Chief Justice Sandeep Mehta said.

When the petitioner argued that the rules laid down by the Airport Authority of India provide for spas, smoking zones and commercial establishments such as restaurants, but not prayer rooms, the court said that offering namaz or praying is a religious sentiment and not a commercial activity.

The court also rejected the petitioner’s argument that as spaces are demarcated for smoking rooms, similarly prayer rooms can also be set up. Chief Justice Sandeep Mehta told the petitioner that smoking rooms are there to prevent damage to the health of other persons, thus preventing public harm.

The Court has granted the petitioner 15 days to prepare and address the Court with the reliefs requested. This came after the court observed that the petitioner was not well prepared.

Tamil Nadu police register FIR against Firstpost columnist Abhijit Majumder over opinion piece on Udhayanidhi Stalin’s anti-Hindu remark: What happened

OpIndia Staff
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Tamil Nadu police register FIR against Firstpost columnist Abhijit Majumder over opinion piece on Udhayanidhi Stalin’s anti-Hindu remark: What happened

More than three weeks after journalist and FirstPost columnist Abhijit Majumder wrote a critical piece on the anti-Hindu remarks of Tamil Nadu DMK MLA Udhayanidhi Stalin, the Tamil Nadu police reportedly lodged a First Information Report (FIR) against him.

On Friday (September 30), Majumder took to X (formerly Twitter) to inform that a team of 4 Tamil Nadu police personnel reached a prominent news studio office and were looking for him. As the journalist was travelling elsewhere, the cops could not get hold of him.

“What a day. Got a call from the media house I write and do TV for that 4 Tamil Nadu cops came looking for me for a piece I had written criticising Udhayanidhi Stalin’s call to eradicate Sanatan Dharma. Apparently, FIR has been filed. Then lawyers, cops. They say Modi is fascist,” he tweeted.

OpIndia learnt that Abhijit Majumder was also not provided a copy of the First Information Report, registered against him by the Tamil Nadu police.

On September 3 this year, the FirstPost columnist wrote an article, highlighting the ‘genocidal nature’ of the anti-Hindu speech delivered by Udhyanaidhi Stalin.

“Udhayanidhi Stalin’s genocidal call to exterminate those who follow Sanatan Dharma, or the timeless Hindu faith, is not surprising in Tamil Nadu, a state whose ethos has long been poisoned by EV Ramaswamy ‘Periyar’,” he had written.

Screengrab of the article by Abhijit Majumder on FirstPost

Abhijit Majumder pointed out that the likes of EVR Ramaswamy (aka Periyar), the anti-Hindu activist revered by Stalin’s party, had been at the forefront of normalising Hindu hatred in Tamil Nadu.

“Even in the ’70s, Hindu deities were smashed or hit with slippers in the name of fighting historical injustices meted out to lower castes by Brahmins.
Udhayanidhi’s rant comparing Hindus with malarial mosquitoes and Covid virus could have easily gone without the kind of outrage we are seeing today,” he said.

The FirstPost columnist noted that the backlash faced by Udhayanidhi Stalin was an indication of the revival of Sanatan Dharma in Tamil Nadu. “Hinduness has been in Tamil Nadu for as long as it existed in the rest of India, tracing back to the Vedic times. It is not possible to keep that fountainhead of Sanatan Dharma muted forever with the rock of Dravidianism,” he added.

In his article, Abhijit Majumder talked at length about the rise of the BJP in Tamil Nadu under the leadership of State President Annamalai.

“Udhayanidhi Stalin’s message has also gone out loud and clear. The innate bigotry and violence of it may gladden many of his supporters, but it will also polarise and consolidate votes against him,” he remarked.

“His own mother is a devout, practising Hindu. In that sense, his rant is not just anti-Hindu and anti-Bharat, but it is also in a sense matricidal. The DMK may not be able to live it down,” the journalist had concluded.

This is not the first time that a case has been lodged against Abhijit Majumder. Earlier in June 2020, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) served a legal notice to him for criticising the grand-old party.

The Background of the Controversy

The development came nearly a month after Udhayanidhi Stalin stirred the hornet’s nest by comparing the Hindu civilisational religious philosophy with ‘malaria’ and ‘dengue.’

On September 2 this year, the DMK leader claimed, “Mosquitoes, dengue, flu, malaria, corona – we should not oppose these things. They’ve to be eradicated completely.”

“The same is the case with Santanam (Hinduism). Our first work should be to abolish/eradicate Sanatanam instead of opposing it. So, my appreciation to you all for giving an apt title to the meeting,” he stated. 

Later, he went on a tirade against the Hindu civilisational religious philosophy on social media. While taking to X (formerly Twitter), Udhayanidhi Stalin wrote, “Sanatan Dharma is a principle that divides people in the name of caste and religion.”

“Uprooting Sanatan Dharma is upholding humanity and human equality…I spoke on behalf of the oppressed & marginalized, who suffer due to the Sanatan Dharma. I spoke on behalf of the oppressed & marginalized, who suffer due to the Sanatan Dharma,” he reiterated his sinister plan.

Tamil Nadu Congress leader Karti Chidambaram also extended his support to Stalin on Saturday (September 2). “Sanatan Dharma is nothing but code for a Caste Hierarchical Society. All those batting for it are hankering for the Good Ole Days! Caste is the Curse of India,” he went on a vitriolic rant against the Hindu civilisational religious philosophy.

On September 3 morning, he posted another tweet defending DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin. “There was no call for “Genocide” against anyone, this is a mischievous spin,” Karti Chidambaram claimed.

Tamil Nadu Congress spokesperson and General Secretary Lakshmi Ramachandran also courted controversy for equating Hinduism (Sanatan Dharma) with hate-mongering.

Later, Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D Raja refused to acknowledge Sanatan Dharma as a religious philosophy and blamed it for propagating inequality and patriarchy.

FIRs and counter FIRs

A First Information Report (FIR) was registered against Udhyanidhi Stalin for his derogatory remarks against Hinduism. The FIR, registered by the Mira Road police, was filed under Sections 153A and 295A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

On September 12, a BJP delegation in Tamil Nadu handed over a memorandum to the police demanding registration of an FIR against the DMK leader for his remarks. 

Earlier on September 7, 2023, Tiruchirappalli police filed an FIR against BJP spokesperson Amit Malviya for supposedly ‘distorting’ the speech of DMK Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Sanatan Dharma.

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