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After Rakesh Roshan, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee now sends former PM Indira Gandhi to the moon: Read what she said

OpIndia Staff
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After Rakesh Roshan, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee now sends former PM Indira Gandhi to the moon: Read what she said

It seems like West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee cannot get facts about India’s space exploration journey right. Days after mistaking astronaut Rakesh Sharma for filmmaker Rakesh Roshan, Banerjee committed yet another gaffe when she said that the former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had gone to the moon.

During one instance at the TMC Youth wing rally, Ms Banerjee said, ‘When Indira reached on the moon, she asked Rakesh how does India look from the moon.”

Earlier last week, as India achieved the milestone of being the fourth country in the world to successfully soft-land a rover on the lunar surface, Mamata Banerjee confused astronaut Rakesh Sharma with filmmaker Rakesh Roushan to recount about Sharma’s conversation with former PM Indira Gandhi.

In the video that later became a butt of all jokes, the Bengal CM was seen saying, “I remember, when Rakesh Roshan landed on the Moon, Indira Gandhi asked him how does India look from there..”

It was Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, not Rakesh Roshan, and it was space, not Moon

What Mamata Banerjee probably meant was the conversation between Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, India’s first astronaut, and the then-Indian PM Indira Gandhi. 

Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, an Indian Air Force pilot, had flown in a Soviet spacecraft Soyuz T-11, in April 1984, becoming the first ever Indian to travel to space. The space flight was a part of the Soviet Interkosmos program. The famous conversation between Indira Gandhi and Sharma took place when he was onboard the spacecraft. 

When Indira Gandhi asked Sharma how India looks from space, Sharma answered, “Saare Jahan Se Achcha, Hindustan Hamara” which means “the most beautiful in the world”.

Gujarat: Amin, Rafiq and Sameer attack a Hindu labourer’s family in Rajkot, vandalise Ganpati idols, arrested

OpIndia Staff
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Gujarat: Amin, Rafiq and Sameer attack a Hindu labourer’s family in Rajkot, vandalise Ganpati idols, arrested

On Saturday, August 26, 2023, a Hindu family making ganpati idols was attacked by Muslim men in Rajkot. A complaint has been lodged at Rajkot Taluka police station in this regard. Police registered a case and arrested the three accused Amin, Rafiq and Sameer.

Kishan Rathod, hailing from Rajasthan and residing in Rajkot, earns his livelihood by crafting Ganpati idols. He lodged a police complaint, leading to the subsequent registration of the FIR. A copy of the FIR is in the possession of OpIndia.

Kishan Rathod lives with the family by renting a place next to the Gurukripa factory in Shaktinagar on Dholra Road in Rajkot and works there to make Ganpati idols. The owner of this place is a person named Irfan. Hindu families have been living here for the past three months to make idols.

On 26th August 2023, at around 10 PM, when Kishan Rathod was painting the idols, Amin Habib Sama, a resident of the Rasulpura area of Rajkot, along with two of his associates, came there and started shouting at him. The trio started breaking the idols and insulted him.

When the three men suddenly started vandalising the idols, the Hindu family resisted the assailant Muslim men and asked them to leave themselves. However, Amin and his accomplices started beating the members of the Hindu family and hit Kishan Rathod’s brother-in-law with an iron pipe.

As the situation deteriorated, Kishan Rathod reached out to Naseemben who happens to be the sister-in-law of Irfan Siddiqui who owns the place.

Upon Naseemben’s arrival, she too faced verbal abuse from Amin and his accomplices. The aggressors also inflicted damage upon a vehicle. Ultimately, Kishan Rathod dialled 100 to alert the police, and a responding team promptly arrived on the scene. Seeing the police’s arrival, the attackers fled.

The police initiated a case under sections 447, 294(b), 323, 295, 427, and 114 of the IPC, along with section 135 of the Motor Vehicles Act. Subsequently, a comprehensive investigation was launched, leading to the swift apprehension of the three culprits within a short span of time. The individuals in question have been identified as Amin Habib Sama, Rafiq Ismail Mansuri, and Sameer Yusuf Shahmadar.

The victim of the attack, Kishan Rathod, also spoke to OpIndia and narrated the story. He said he had no enmity with the attacker trio and did not know why they had attacked him. Besides, he also said that the group of assailants had earlier pelted stones at his living place and hurled abuses and threatened him. They then came and attacked him.

He further said, “Around 9.30 PM, as we were preparing to work, a group of people on a nearby street were shouting loudly and abusing. After a while, they threw stones at one of the poles near our stall and threatened us saying, ‘Get out, get out’. Our stall was locked but we continued next door. In a few minutes, they came there and started making a ruckus.”

Rathod further said, “When they came in, they started beating one of my artisans and injured him. I then fell down and released him and begged them not to do so, but they did not agree and continued the vandalism by saying, ‘Do whatever you can, we will break everything’. I then moved aside and informed the police. Later, when the police arrived, they fled.”

When asked if there was any quarrel with the attackers earlier, Kishan Rathod said, “We have no enmity with anyone nor have I ever had any kind of conversation with them. We are poor people, we make a living by making idols of God. We don’t have any kind of fight with anyone. I don’t know why they did this to us. It may be that they may have a dispute with those who own this place but I am not even aware of that for sure.”

Rathod also said that the children and women of the house were also present when the attack took place. He added, “We are hard-working men, not carrying weapons or anything. We have never got into a fight with anyone.”

He further said, “Not only have we lost thousands of rupees, but as a Hindu, our feelings have also been hurt by the vandalism of the idol of our God. We had been working hard for many days and now this happened now when just twenty days were left for the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi. We have suffered a lot.”

“Our only demand is that the accused should be sent to jail and an example should be set by taking strict action so that they do not commit such an act again,” he said.

Remove your burqa: Jakir harasses Muslim woman for travelling with Hindu man in Bengaluru, arrested after video goes viral

OpIndia Staff
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Remove your burqa: Jakir harasses Muslim woman for travelling with Hindu man in Bengaluru, arrested after video goes viral

On Saturday (August 26), the Bengaluru police arrested a man named Jakir Ahamad after he harassed a burqa-clad Muslim woman for travelling with a Hindu man.

The matter came to light a day earlier on Friday (August 25) when a popular Twitter user (@BefittingFacts) shared the video of the moral policing on X (formerly Twitter).

Jakir had stopped the woman travelling on a bike with a Hindu man and abused her with the choicest of expletives. “What is your name? Roam without this burqa…remove your burqa,” the accused was seen engaging in moral policing.

The 21-year-old woman stood her ground and retorted back by saying ‘Meri Marzi (My wish to be with this Hindu man).’ However, the abuses and expletives continued.

In his tweet, ‘Befitting Facts’ wrote, “This is happening in Bangalore. Priyank Kharge, a lady in Burqa is being harassed by Muslims for roaming with a Hindu man. See the language being used against her. They are literally asking her to remove her burqa. @BlrCityPolice Please take strict action against them.”

On Sunday (August 27), the Bengaluru police informed that the accused was nabbed within 24 hours. As per a report by Telangana Today, the accused was identified as Jakir Ahamad. A case was lodged against him East Cyber Economic and Narcotics (CEN) Police Station.

Jakir Ahamad, a medicine student in Russia, was booked under the provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and sent to judicial custody. He is a resident of Bangarapet in the Kolar district of Karnataka.

‘Bhagwa love trap’ conspiracy theory and its aftermath

In recent times, a new menace of Islamist mobs attacking Hindu-Muslim couples has come to light. Multiple videos have surfaced on social media where these extremists are seen harassing, abusing, molesting and physically assaulting Hindu men and Muslim women under the garb of combating ‘Bhagwa Love Trap.’

It is based on a baseless theory about Hindu outfits, supposedly training Hindu youth to lure, and entrap Muslim women and turn them into non-Muslims. Opindia has reported that an Islamic cleric by the name of Sajjad Nomani has been making such outrageous claims since 2021.

The conspiracy theory soon took the form of a social media hashtag, which Islamists used to share videos of random hijab-wearing Muslim women and their male Hindu friends/ acquaintances and partners without their consent.

The posts are often accompanied by emotional messages and seek public help in identifying the couples. Soon after, social media was rife with videos of Islamist mobs ambushing random Hindu-Muslim couples.

This would then be followed by heated arguments, physical assault on Hindu men, and even molestation of the Muslim women. The victims have been targeted on roads, restaurants, eateries, and even hotels.

Based on local reports and social media videos, OpIndia has compiled a total of 50 cases (here, here and here) where Hindu men and Muslim women were attacked by extremists under the pretext of the ‘Bhagwa love trap.’

Opindia has recently published an investigative report, highlighting how Islamists are using Whatsapp groups to target Hindu-Muslim couples.

Sub-Inspector Hakmuddin dies of a heart attack in Nuh while on duty for VHP’s Shobha Yatra

OpIndia Staff
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Sub-Inspector Hakmuddin dies of a heart attack in Nuh while on duty for VHP’s Shobha Yatra

On Monday (28 August), a Sub-Inspector of Haryana Police died of a heart attack in Nuh, an official said. According to information, the incident took place when sub-inspector Hakamuddin was posted at Badkali Chowk which is around 20 km away from the Nuh intersection. There he suffered a cardiac arrest. Afterwards, he was rushed to the hospital where he died during treatment.

According to the Police official, the deceased officer has been identified as Hakmuddin (47) who was stationed at Badkali Chowk when he suffered a cardiac arrest. 

The Station House officer (SHO) of Nagina Police Station, Inspector Rattan Lal said, “Around 12.30 pm, sub-inspector Hakmuddin started feeling uneasy. He was rushed to a hospital where he died during treatment.” 

As per media reports, he was carrying out his duty for the Shobha Yatra which has been organised by the Sarv Jatiya Hindu Mahapanchayat, but, the permission for the same was denied by the police administration. 

Though the administration refused to give the permission, VHP, and other Hindu organizations went ahead with the Yatra on the last Monday of Shravan Somwar, the auspicious month to worship Lord Shiva. It is being taken out again as it was brutally attacked by Islamist mobs last time on the 31st of July in which six people lost their lives and scores of property and vehicles were torched by the Islamist mobs. 

Apart from denying permission for the Shobha Yatra, Haryana Police has put in place stringent security measures in Nuh to avoid any untoward incidences this time. 

Significantly, in view of the upcoming G20 events, the police are taking all precautionary measures and have suspended mobile internet services till 29th August to avoid rumour-mongering. 

Meanwhile, earlier in the day, Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) National spokesperson Vinod Bansal said in a statement that the scheduled Brijmandal Jalabhishek Yatra would commence with fewer people, saints, and local Hindu leaders.

Speaking to OpIndia, VHP Spokesperson Vinod Bansal said, “It was already announced in our press conference that in view of G20, we will complete the Yatra in a symbolic manner. However, symbolism does not mean devotees will not be there. The people from Mewat, our local leaders and saints, are participating in the Yatra.”

Responding to the question of safety and security of the devotees, he added, “This is Bhagwan Bholenath’s Jalabhishek. The world knows about his Raudra Roop. There is nothing to be said here. The government is ours, the place is ours, and the people are ours. There is nothing to worry about. We curtailed the number of people, but that does not mean we will not complete the Yatra. We have full faith that the government and administration will support us.”

Massive network failure strikes UK airspace, national air traffic controller restricts air traffic flow

OpIndia Staff
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Massive network failure strikes UK airspace, national air traffic controller restricts air traffic flow

Since Monday (28 August), air traffic controllers across the United Kingdom have been experiencing a technical fault, with one of its airlines reporting a ‘network-wide failure‘. 

Confirming that it is experiencing ‘technical issues’, NATS, the National Air Traffic Controllers shared an official statement on its X (Twitter) handle. In a statement published on its website as well as in the post, NATS said, “We are currently experiencing a technical issue and have applied traffic flow restrictions to maintain safety. Engineers are working to find and fix the fault.” 

Further, to make things clear, NATS has clarified on its website that the airspace of the United Kingdom is not closed. Instead, they have had to apply air traffic flow restrictions to maintain safety. Consequently, hundreds of flights both incoming and outbound from the airspace of the United Kingdom have registered substantive delays.  

However, NATS has not given any estimate of how long it could take to fix the problem, or what had caused this massive technical failure.

NATS’ statement follows a previous announcement from Scottish airline Loganair, which reported a “network-wide failure” of UK air traffic control systems this morning.

Taking to X, Loganair said, “There has been a network-wide failure of UK air traffic control computer systems this morning.  Although we are hopeful of being able to operate most intra-Scotland flights on the basis of local coordination and with a minimum of disruption, north-south and international flights may be subject to delays.”

Similarly, European air traffic authority Eurocontrol has warned of “very high” delays. It has cited “flight data processing system failure” in the UK for these long delays, reported Skynews.

As per a report in BBC, a travel expert named Simon Calder warned that there could be “an awful lot of people waking up tomorrow where they don’t want to be”. Apart from these concerns, many flights have been grounded in order to avert major mishaps. 

Meanwhile, British Airways stated it was working closely with NATS to understand the impact of a technical issue that is affecting UK airspace and will keep updating the latest information. 

Easyjet passengers were reportedly told that all flights that are flying in or out of the UK airspace has been affected by this “technical issue”.  

Meanwhile, many airports like Dublin and Cork have stated that they are experiencing delays to some flights.

“Congress responsible for Nuh violence, evidence found against MLA Mamman Khan”: Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij

OpIndia Staff
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“Congress responsible for Nuh violence, evidence found against MLA Mamman Khan”: Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij

Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij on Monday (28th August) stated in the Assembly that evidence has been found against Congress MLA from Ferozepur Jhirka Mamman Khan pertaining to the anti-Hindu violence in Nuh by Muslim mobs on 31st July. Vij stated that based on the probe conducted so far, evidence points towards Congress’ role.

This comes a day after a notice was issued to Mamman Khan under Section 160 of the CrPC and was told to join the investigation and present himself at the Nagina police station.

“Until now, the number of people arrested is around 500. The investigation has revealed that this is all the doing of Congress,” Vij reportedly stated.

Following the BJP minister’s statement, the Opposition erupted with sloganeering and was countered by the BJP MLAs following which the House was adjourned for an hour.

Four days after the Nuh violence, allegations surfaced against Khan that he had played a role in inciting the Muslim mob against Hindus on 31st July.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been alleging the role of Mamman Khan in the violence as a counter to Congress’ allegations that the BJP has been (allegedly) protecting Monu Manesar.

In the Budget session in February this year, Mamman Khan accused the Haryana government of allegedly arming Gau Rakshaks and flashed the images of Bajrang Dal activist Monu Manesar while attacking the government. Khan accused the BJP government asking whether they have given arms to goons to kill Muslims. Notably, Muslim-majority Mewat is the hub of cattle smuggling, an issue Khan chooses to neglect.

In the course of his address, Khan was countered by BJP MLA Satyaprakash Jaravta from the Pataudi constituency. A verbal brawl ensued between Mamman Khan and Satyaprakash Jaravta.

Here is the part of the brawl during which Khan issued a threat. “Main..(inaudible)..paarunga abke bhejiye tu ine Mewat mein…abke bhejesi Mewat mein…Monu Manesar ne abke bhejesi…main bataun aake tumhare ko. Baithja chup chaap tu…sunle tu sun le..abke bhej tu Monu Manesar ko phir bataunga main House mein aakarke tereko (You try and send him now (to Mewat) I will..inaudible..tear apart..you try to send him to Mewat..try sending Monu Manesar now..I will show you..you sit quietly and listen..you send Monu Manesar I will show you in the House then),” the Congress MLA openly warned the BJP MLA in the assembly.

He further said, “Yeh Monu Manesar kabhi Amit Shah kabhi Arun Jaitley ke saath photo dikhata hai. Kya darana chahta hai Mewatiyon ko ke main itna bada aadmi hoon? Abke mantri yaad rakhna yeh Mewat aa gaya toh isko pyaj si na phodi toh..(inaudible)..isne bahut aatank phaila rakha hai.” (This Monu Manesar clicks pictures with Amit Shah, with Arun Jaitley. Does he want to scare Mewatis that I am a big man? The ministers (of BJP govt) should remember now that if he (Manesar) comes (to Mewat) then will beat him up. He (Manesar) has spread terror.”

Despite widespread violence on 31st July by the Islamist mob and long-confirmed reports of the violence, the Congress MLA took to Twitter a day later on 1st August to say that there is nothing to worry about in Mewat.

He allegedly wrote, “Mewat mein kal se tarah tarah ki afwah chal rahi hai. Aap kisi bhi saathi ko chinta karneki zarurat nahin hai. Maine Vidhaan Sabha mein bhi aapki ladai ladi thi aur Mewat mein bhi aapki Ladai mein ladunga.” (Various kinds of rumours have been going on in Mewat since yesterday. None of your friends have to worry. I fought your battle in the State Assembly and I will fight your battle in Mewat too.)

The last line of his tweet, which he has now deleted, sounds like an eerie support to Islamist violence. When questioned about his controversial remarks about being held responsible for the violence, Khan seemed to uncomfortably shift the blame on his fellow MLAs from the Congress.

Tamil Nadu: School teacher boasts about cutting Kalawas from the wrists of Hindu students on social media, deletes it after outrage

OpIndia Staff
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Tamil Nadu: School teacher boasts about cutting Kalawas from the wrists of Hindu students on social media, deletes it after outrage

With each passing day, more cases of Hinduphobia on school premises are coming to the fore. The latest glaring example recently came to light from Tamil Nadu’s Kanchipuram. Evidently, a school teacher shared a social media post where she eulogised her act of forcefully removing the sacred thread (Kalawas) from the wrists of Hindu students and advised them not to wear them again, as she claimed in her purported post. 

The purported post which has been taken down following massive public outrage was shared by a teacher named Udaya Lakshmi from her Facebook profile on the 24th of August. However, the controversial, anti-Hindu post is still there to see on the profile of her Facebook friend seemingly a relative.

Purported Facebook post by Udaya Lakshmi, later deleted after outrage

Praising the act of Udaya Lakshmi, a person named Deepa Lakshmi shared a similar or somewhat exact anti-Hindu content that was shared by the controversial teacher.

(Post Source – Deepa Lakshmi’s Facebook Profile)

As per her Facebook post, in an act of open display of Hinduphobia and deep hatred for Hindu symbols, the teacher lined up Hindu students and forcefully removed their Kalawas. She also boasted of brainwashing the minor students and claimed to have instilled the belief that they should not adorn Hindu symbols like Kalawa. Going further, she asserted that she may put them under constant surveillance to materialise her brainwashing thoughts.  

The post praising Udaya Lakshmi stated, “I finished an important work today in class. I made the students who were tying ropes in their hands stand in a line and cut the ropes with scissors. I explained why them why they should not tie the rope. I am thinking of putting up constant surveillance.” 

The post further added that following the orders of the Chief Minister, for three consecutive days, coming from the police station, we discussed social justice and equality in the morning meeting at the school. 

In the post, she emphasised that cutting the students’ ropes is an initial point of discussion and understanding. 

The post concluded by arguing that when the government did not allow to tie the ropes, then was it not right to cut the ropes?

The post has attracted vile anti-Hindu comments as well where some praised the alleged act of Hinduphobia, some shared their own desires and experiences. 

However, the purported post initially shared by the accused teacher Udaya Lakshmi was removed when it garnered widespread protests and condemnation. 

OpIndia contacted the local police to inquire about the incident but they refused to divulge information about it. 

Earlier this week, another case of Hinduphobia was witnessed in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua region. In that horrifying case of brutality, a minor Hindu boy was mercilessly beaten by the principal of a government school named Mohammed Hafiz and lecturer Farooq for merely writing ‘Jai Shri Ram’ on the blackboard. The minor victim was later hospitalised after he sustained injuries. 

Following the incident, police filed a case and arrested the accused teacher Farooq while the principal was still at large. Police have pressed charges under sections 323, 342, 504, and 506 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Additionally, they have charged the accused under Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act.

Netherlands agrees to return looted Sri Lankan treasures, including the 275-year-old cannon, gold and silver swords

OpIndia Staff
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Netherlands agrees to return looted Sri Lankan treasures, including the 275-year-old cannon, gold and silver swords

Six colonial-era artefacts, including a more than 275-year-old cannon that is adorned with gold, silver, bronze, and rubies, were officially returned to Sri Lanka by the Netherlands on Monday, August 28. During a ceremony at the cultural ministry in Colombo, Gunay Uslu, the deputy minister of culture, education, and science for the Netherlands, signed documents transferring ownership of the antiques to Sri Lanka.

Following that, the National Museum of Sri Lanka gave the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam permission to keep the artefacts there until they are sent to Colombo. The transfer will happen in December of this year.

The transfer will feature Lewke’s Cannon, which is thought to have been given to the king of Kandy by the Sri Lankan aristocracy Lewke Disava sometime between 1745 and 1746. It has been on display ever since Dutch troops captured it in 1765 and took it to the Netherlands.

Other objects from the time the Dutch ruled Sri Lanka from 1658 to 1796 include two gold and silver swords, two firearms, and a knife. The decision to return these items was made following suggestions from a government-appointed panel looking into unauthorised Dutch colonial purchases. It was established in response to Indonesia’s request for the return of some works of art and collections of natural history. Sri Lanka then asked for the return of its stolen treasures.

The Netherlands in July this year had announced that it would return 478 colonial artefacts looted from Indonesia and Sri Lanka.

“This is a historic moment. It’s a moment to look to the future. We’re not only returning objects, we’re also embarking on a period of closer cooperation with Indonesia and Sri Lanka in areas like collection research, presentation, and exchanges between museums,” Gunay Uslu, the Netherlands’ secretary of state for culture and media had said in a statement.

The Portuguese ruled over Sri Lanka from the year 1505 to 1658, followed by the Dutch, and finally the British before independence in 1948.

Canadian Hindu temples extend support for petition before House of Commons to recognise Hinduphobia

OpIndia Staff
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Canadian Hindu temples extend support for petition before House of Commons to recognise Hinduphobia

Several temples in Canada have expressed concern over a series of vandalisations in the past year and have supported a petition that urges the House of Commons to recognise Hinduphobia officially. The temples’ endorsement has boosted the petition, with over 6,000 signatures gathered by the time this report was published, making it the most popular open petition in all categories. The petition, initiated by MP Melissa Lanstman, was open for signatures on 19th July and will remain open until 17th October. It is available here.

Among the temples supporting the petition is the Lakshmi Narayan Mandir in Surrey, British Columbia. It was vandalised on 12th August with anti-India and pro-Khalistan posters plastered on its front gate and rear wall. The temple’s president, Satish Kumar, stated that while they would support pro-Hindu initiatives, they have become “more active” in collecting signatures for the petition since the temple was targeted.

The Brampton Triveni Mandir also supports the petition and has hosted Lanstman and supporters of the petition at events organised at the temple. The temple’s spiritual leader, Yudhisthir Dhanrajh, said their support was prompted by the “series of vandalism attacks” on temples. “We are very involved and are attempting to take action. We don’t know if it (the petition) can solve the problem, but it can only help us,” he added.

During a gathering held at the temple on 15th August, the Deputy Leader of the principal opposition Conservative Party in the House, Melissa Lantsman, addressed the audience. She said, “We want to call on this government to act because nobody in this country should be afraid to practice their faith, run their business or go to a Mandir or go to a school.”

According to Chimanbhai Patel, a lifetime trustee of the Sanatan Mandir Cultural Centre located in Markham within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), the recent string of vandalism incidents is causing fear. Although their temple hasn’t been targeted yet, he emphasised the importance of taking proactive security measures and supporting the petition, as they don’t know if they will be the next ones affected.

The effort to combat the recent wave of vandalism against Hindu temples has garnered support from various temples and organisations beyond those with Indian-origin congregations. The Pashupatinath Temple in Brampton, which serves the Nepali-Canadian community, has joined the cause, with spokesperson Chinta Uprety emphasising the importance of protecting their culture and religion. The Sri Jain Mandir in Toronto is also participating, as President Ahimendra Jain feels that their temple feels unprotected by rising hate and crime.

The Canadian Organization for Hindu Heritage Education (COHHE) is behind the petition, which seeks to have Hinduphobia recognised as a term in the glossary of terms in the Human Rights Code. Hinduphobia would be defined as denial, negation, prejudice, or slander against Hindus, Hinduism, or Hinduness. The petition process began just days after the signage vandalism at the Shri Bhagavad Gita Park in Brampton on 14th July. Since July of last year, at least seven incidents of temples being targeted have been reported.

The petition to recognise Hinduphobia

The petition noted that Hindus are a minority group with a population of approximately 8.50.000 or 2.3 per cent in Canada, including the growing numbers born there. Overall, Hindu Canadians are law-abiding and peaceful citizens who contribute greatly to the Canadian economy, culture, and society. They represent the indigenous people of the Indian sub-continent, which has a distinct and diverse culture, languages and philosophy.

Talking about the attacks on Hindu temples, the petition read, “There have been numerous attacks on Hindu temples and Hindus are feeling unsafe in their places of worship. Hindus in Canada face growing negative stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination at work, in schools and in the communities and Hindus traditions and culture are misrepresented and misunderstood by media and academia.”

The petitioner and the signatories demanded the House of Commons to:

  • Recognize Hinduphobia as a term in the glossary of terms in the Human Rights Code to describe anti-Hindu prejudice and discrimination;
  • Recognize the following definition of Hinduphobia: Anti-Hindu sentiment or Hinduphobia is denial, negation, prejudice or vilification against Hindus, Hinduism, or Hinduness; and fund the development of educational and training materials along with a plan to educate Canadians about Hinduphobia and anti-Hindu sentiment to raise awareness and address systemic and institutional Hinduphobia.

Attack on Hindu temples in Canada

On 12th August, Khalistani terrorists also placed posters at the entrance of the temple, aiming to sow fear within the Hindu community. The poster advocates for a referendum pertaining to “the assassination of Hardeep Nijjar” and investigating India’s role in the terrorist’s assassination.

On February 17, unknown miscreants defaced a Ram temple in Mississauga with anti-India graffiti.

On January 31, the Gauri Shankar Mandir was desecrated by Khalistani extremists in Brampton city in Ontario province of Canada. The walls of the temple were defaced with anti-India graffiti by Khalistanis associated allegedly with the banned outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ). The vicious slogan of ‘Khalistan Zindabad, Hindustan Murdabad’ was found spray-painted on the outer wall of Gauri Shankar Mandir.

In September 2022, some Khalistani terrorists defaced BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Toronto with anti-India slogans. Several videos circulating on social media showed slogans of ‘Khalistan Zindabad, Hindustan Murdabad’ painted on the walls of the temple.

In February 2022, six Hindu temples were attacked in Toronto.

Congress blames VHP for wanting to do Jal Abhishek on the last Monday of Shravan, peddles Muslim victimhood even though it was Islamists who attacked Hindus in Nuh

OpIndia Staff
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Congress blames VHP for wanting to do Jal Abhishek on the last Monday of Shravan, peddles Muslim victimhood even though it was Islamists who attacked Hindus in Nuh

On 28th August, Congress leader Rashid Alvi blamed Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) for wanting to do Jal Abhishek on the last Monday of Shravan. Furthermore, he peddled Muslim victimhood even though it was Islamists who attacked Hindus in Nuh on 31st July. Alvi failed to mention that the Yatra would have been completed on 31st July itself had Islamists not attacked the devotees leading to six deaths, several injuries, and damage to public and private properties.

Speaking to Republic, he said, “The whole country saw what happened during the last Yatra. Several people died. Bulldozer ran on several houses. How many people lost their businesses? VHP wants to start the same storm again. They are saying that they have not asked for permission. They think they are above the law. This shows the BJP govt is standing behind them, and they are not bothered about the law. Those who carry out Yatra without permission should be arrested immediately.”

Yatra commenced with fewer people amid security concerns and G20 preparations

On 28th August, the Jalabhishek Shobhayatra commenced in the presence of 1,900 police personnel and 26 companies of paramilitary forces. Though the Haryana Government and administration did not give permission for Yatra, VHP said they did not need any permission for the same.

Speaking to OpIndia, VHP’s national spokesperson Vinod Bansal said the Yatra led by saints would take place with fewer devotees, local Hindu leaders and members of Panchayats. Those who were not from Mewat did Jalabhishek simultaneously in their local temples.

Congress blamed VHP for wanting to do Jalabhishek on the last day of Saavan, but it was Islamists who attacked Hindus in Nuh

Though Congress leader Rashid Alvi blamed VHP for choosing the last Monday for Jalabhishek, there is enough evidence that it was Islamists who carried out the violence, attacked Hindu devotees, and disrupted the Yatra on 31st July. The complaints and FIRs from the day noted a mob of hundreds of Muslim rioters attacking Hindu devotees participating in the Brijmandal Jalabhishek Yatra in Nuh, Mewat of Haryana. At least six people, including 4 Hindu civilians and two policemen, were killed due to the riots.

Furthermore, a cyber crime police station was attacked in Nuh. Police officials were injured. Home guards were killed. The rioters first shot one of the Bajrang Dal activists, Abhishek, then his throat was slit and his head was crushed, leading to his death.

During the investigation into the riots, OpIndia accessed over 25 FIRs and complaints that provided a clearer picture of what happened during the violence. Based on information available via FIRs, complaints, and witnesses, the attack appeared planned. OpIndia came across several videos posted two days before the Jalabhishek Yatra that were instigating Muslims against Hindus.

Muslims have claimed the riots happened because of Bajrang Dal activist and Gau Rakshak Monu Manesar. Old videos of Manesar were circulated to instigate Muslims, saying he was going to Nuh on that day. The video that was most circulated was from October 2022. Detailed reports can be checked here.

OpIndia’s complete Mewat Shobha Yatra Attack coverage can be checked here.

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