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Turkey: Erdogan government cracks whip on pride parade, arrests more than 100 LGBTQ++ activists

OpIndia Staff
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Turkey: Erdogan government cracks whip on pride parade, arrests more than 100 LGBTQ++ activists

On Sunday, the 25th of June, Istanbul Governor Davut Gul stated that the Turkish Police detained more than 100 activists during an LGBTQ+ pride parade in the country’s largest city. As per Reuters, these LGBTQ+ activists had thronged the streets despite an official ban on such parades. 

Taking to Twitter, Gul wrote, “Our national future depends on keeping the family institution alive with our national and moral values. We will not allow any activity that will weaken the family institution. 113 people who took action with the aim of making propaganda were detained. Please do not share their actions, even to criticize them.”

Undeterred by the prohibitory ban on the parade, the activists tried to amass in large numbers but the authorities took several steps and launched a crackdown on LGBTQ+ activists. As soon as the pride parade started, the Turkish police cordoned off some of the streets leading to Istiklal Avenue in Istanbul’s historic district and to Taksim Square.

Local Turkish news reported that the services along several lines of the Istanbul Metro were suspended for several hours. Similarly, several events linked to Pride Month, including a picnic and a film screening, were also banned.

The Istanbul Pride Parade Committee released a statement in which it condemned the actions taken by the Turkish government on the LGBTQ+ community. The committee said that they reject this politics of hatred and denial. The statement read, “We reject this politics of hatred and denial. Despite all the prohibitions, criminalisation, pressures, and attempts to suppress us, we will continue to advocate for a humane life for everyone and persist in democratic living.”

Erdogan’s Stand on the LGBTQ+ Community

Although homosexuality is not a crime in Turkey, the Turkish government has been suppressing the gay community or LGBTQ+ community. 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is said to be rooted in social conservatism. He has been portraying himself as a defender of traditional Islamic values.  

During recently concluded Presidential elections, Erdogan described his main rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu as “a pro-LGBT person”. 

In his victory speech, Erdogan criticised those who have sought to “normalize homosexuality”. He said, “Gays are not welcome”.  

During his election campaign, Erdogan vociferously opposed the LGBTQ+ community. Reiterating his government’s disdain for the community, Erdogan said that LGBTQ+ people undermine family values. 

It is important to note that Turkey was one of the few Muslim-majority countries that allowed Pride marches in their country. However, for a long time now, Turkish President Erdogan and his representatives have attempted to block the annual Istanbul Pride Parade.
Exactly one year ago, Turkish authorities arrested more than 200 at the banned Pride march in Istanbul.

Madhya Pradesh: Hindu man disowns daughter and offers her a ‘kafan’ after she marries Sahil Mansuri and converts to Islam, says she insulted Hinduism

OpIndia Staff
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Madhya Pradesh: Hindu man disowns daughter and offers her a ‘kafan’ after she marries Sahil Mansuri and converts to Islam, says she insulted Hinduism

On Monday, in a bizarre incident, a Hindu father disowned his own daughter for eloping with a Muslim man named Sahil Mansuri and marrying him in the Mandsaur city of Madhya Pradesh. The girl also changed her religion to Islam and refused to leave her husband. The father of the girl offered her a white coffin cloth in the Nahargarh police station of the city and declared that his daughter was no more alive for him.

According to the local reports, the incident is said to have happened in the Mandsaur district of Madhya Pradesh. Around one and a half years ago, the girl had eloped with Mansuri after which the father of the girl filed a missing person complaint in the case. He demanded his daughter back at any cost.

The police finally traced the woman and called her to give a statement at the Nahargarh police station. The woman confessed that she had run away from her home about a year back and that now she was married to Mansuri. She also said that she had converted her religion to Islam and that she wanted to continue to stay with Mansuri.

As the girl refused to leave Mansuri and didn’t want to stay with her parents, her father called the media and offered her a coffin. Further, publicly declaring that she was now dead for him and his family, he said, “This girl has defamed us and has insulted the Santan Hindu religion. She doesn’t deserve to be called our daughter. From today she is dead for us.”

Reportedly, the video was made inside the premises of the police station. Taking cognisance of this incident, SP Anurag Sujania suspended three police personnel identified as Jagdish Chandra, Mahendra, and Bhavna Naagda for allowing video shooting inside the police station. Investigations in the case are underway.

A similar incident was reported from the Jabalpur region of Madhya Pradesh earlier this month. A Hindu family there had disowned their 22-year-old daughter named Anamika after she accepted Islam and married a Muslim man named Ayaz. The girl had been given a new name after her conversion to Islam and now she is known by the name of Fatima.

The family of the girl organised an official ceremony on June 12 as per Hindu rituals to declare that their daughter was dead to them. The family members also stated that their daughter had become a victim of Love Jihad and that she had defamed their family in society.

Uttar Pradesh: Fatehpur administration bulldozes house of Sikandar Khan, accused of rape and murder of a 19-year-old Hindu girl

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: Fatehpur administration bulldozes house of Sikandar Khan, accused of rape and murder of a 19-year-old Hindu girl

Authorities in Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh, demolished the residence of Sikandar Khan on Tuesday, June 27. Sikandar Khan has been accused of raping and killing a 19-year-old girl. The demolition took place in the presence of the sub-divisional magistrate and a large force of police.

As reported earlier, the Uttar Pradesh Police on June 26 arrested a Muslim person identified as Sikandar Khan for trapping a Hindu girl in a love affair and then murdering her after sexually assaulting her. The accused crushed the face of the victim girl with a cement block and fled from the spot. The girl later breathed her last at the hospital where she was undergoing treatment.

The accused and the girl happened to meet at a wedding where the former introduced himself as a Hindu person named Sonu. He trapped the girl in a love affair and asked her to meet him alone. The girl then managed to escape the wedding function of her cousin and met Sonu. The accused then raped her and crushed her head with a cement block.

Sikandar fled from the spot after he thought that the girl was dead. However, the family members of the girl came looking for the girl and found her struggling for life. The girl was taken to the Kanpur Hallett Hospital where she breathed her last during the treatment.

The police booked the case against the accused under the relevant sections of the law and also arrested him. SP Rajesh Kumar Singh confirmed the incident and said that the accused had been booked for an attempt to murder. “Further sections will be added after the post-mortem reports are made available,” he added.

As per the reports, the victim girl hailed from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, and had come to Fatehpur for her cousin’s wedding. She was trapped by the accused who introduced himself as a Hindu person named Sonu.

The demolition of Sikandar Khan’s house took place in the presence of the sub-divisional magistrate and a large force of police.

Thank heavens that the movie is about a religion whose people did not create law and order situation: Here are 6 things Allahabad HC said to makers of Adipurush

OpIndia Staff
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Thank heavens that the movie is about a religion whose people did not create law and order situation: Here are 6 things Allahabad HC said to makers of Adipurush

On Monday, June 26, the Allahabad High Court came down heavily on the makers of the movie Adipurush, who have already been drawing harsh criticism from all quarters for its boorish dialogues and blatant mockery of Ramayana, the sacred Hindu epic cherished by billions worldwide.

The court was hearing two Public Interest Litigation (PIL) pleas filed against the exhibition and dialogue
of Prabhas, Saif Ali Khan and Kirti Sanon starrer movie. The PILs were filed by Social Activists Kuldeep Tiwari and Bandana Kumar through advocates Ranjana Agnihotri and Sudha Sharma.

Slamming the makers of the movie for portraying the characters of Hindu God and Goddess including Lord Rama, Lord Hanuman and Mata Sita in an objectionable manner, the Allahabad Court observed, why the tolerance level of Hindus was being put to the test by them.

“Agar hum log ispar bhi aankh band kar len kyonki yeh kaha jaata hai ki yeh dharm ke log bade sahishnu (tolerant) hain to kya uska test liya jayega? (If we close our eyes on this issue too, because it is said that the people of this religion are very tolerant, will it be put to test as well?),” the bench remarked.

Slamming the makers of Adipurush for making a mockery of the religious sentiments of Hindus through the dialogues and loose depiction of Hindu deities and the scripture, the court said that they should thank heavens that the movie is about a religion whose people did not create law and order situation.

The bench comprising Justice Rajesh Singh Chauhan and Justice Shree Prakash Singh orally remarked, “The one who is gentle should be suppressed? Is it so? It is good that it is about religion, the believers of which did not create any law and order problem. We should be thankful. We saw in the news that some people had gone to cinema halls (wherein the movie was being exhibited) and they only forced them to close the hall, they could have done something else as well.”

When the counsel appearing for the makers of the movie, informed the court that a disclaimer had been added to the film, the bench got further infuriated and said, “Kya yeh disclaimer dene wale country ko, youth ko bewakoof samajhte hain? Picture agar ruk jayegi to jinki feelings hurt hui hain unhe rahat milegi. Aap wahi Lord Rama, Lord Laxman, Lord Hanuman, wahi Ravana, wahi Lanka dikhaiye aur kahiye ki yeh Ramayana nahin?” (Do the people who put the disclaimer consider the countrymen, and youth to be brainless? You show Lord Rama, Lord Laxman, Lord Hanuman, Ravana, Lanka and then say it is not Ramayan).

Further, when the Deputy Solicitor General of India informed the bench that certain objectionable dialogues of the movie have been changed, the bench responded by saying, “That alone won’t work. What will you do with the scenes? Seek instructions, then we will definitely do whatever we want to do…In case the exhibition of the movie is stopped, then the people whose feelings have been hurt, will get relief.”

Continuing to lambast Adipurush makers for insulting the Hindu epic which is revered by millions of people worldwide, the court added, “Here the issue is the nature of the dialogue in the film. Ramayana is a paragon for us. People read Ramcharitmanas before leaving home,” it said, adding that films shouldn’t touch certain things.”

Besides slamming the movie makers the Allahabad High Court also tore into the censor board for not fulfilling its responsibility properly.

“It’s good that people did not harm the law and order situation after watching the film. Lord Hanuman and Sita have been shown like they are some insignificant characters. These things should have been removed from the very beginning. Some scenes seem to be of “A” (adult) category. It’s very difficult to watch such films,” the court observed.

Terming it a “very serious matter”, it questioned what the censor board did about it.

Lastly, the Court accepted the move to include Manoj Muntashir Shukla, who wrote the film’s dialogue, as a party respondent in the PIL plea and ordered that notice be sent to him.

Notably, Manoj Muntashir Shukla, who wrote the dialogue for the movie, was requested to be included as a party respondent in the PIL case in a petition for amendment that was filed last week. The amendment petition also criticised Shukla’s dialogues, calling them “ridiculous,” “filthy,” and “against the glory of Ramayan yug.”

Hearing in the case will continue tomorrow.

‘Why are you testing the tolerance level of Hindus’? Allahabad High Court lambasts Adipurush makers for the crass portrayal of Ramayana characters

OpIndia Staff
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‘Why are you testing the tolerance level of Hindus’? Allahabad High Court lambasts Adipurush makers for the crass portrayal of Ramayana characters

The Allahabad High Court today came down heavily on the makers of the movie Adipurush for the objectionable portrayal of Ramayana characters in their movie. The High Court observed that the tolerance level of Hindus is being tested by the movie makers.

As reported by Live Law, the bench of Justice Rajesh Singh Chauhan and Justice Shree Prakash Singh remarked that the CBFC should have done something while granting certification to the movie.

“The one who is gentle should be suppressed? Is it so? It is good that it is about a religion the believers of which did not create any public order problem. We should be thankful. We saw in the news that some people had gone to some cinema halls and they only forced them to shut down the screening. They could have done something there as well. If we close our eyes on this issue also because it is said that the people of this religion (Hindus) are very tolerant, does it mean that their tolerance will continue to be tested?“, the bench asked.

The bench was hearing 2 PILs against the crass dialogues and representation of Ramayana characters in the Adipurush movie.

The bench also lambasted the movie makers for trying to escape from criticism by putting a disclaimer that their movie is only inspired by some parts of Ramayana.

“Do the people who put the disclaimer consider the countrymen, and youth to be brainless? You show Lord Rama, Lord Laxman, Lord Hanuman, Ravana, and Lanka and then say it is not Ramayana? “

Upon the submission that certain dialogues have been changed, the bench said, “That alone won’t work. What will you do with the scenes? Seek instructions, then we will definitely do whatever we want to do…In case the exhibition of the movie is stopped then the people whose religious feelings have been hurt will get some relief.”

The court also allowed the application of the petitioners to implead dialogue writer Manoj Muntashir as a party respondent in the case and ordered a notice be sent to him.

The PILs were filed by Social Activists Kuldeep Tiwari and Bandana Kumar through advocates Ranjana Agnihotri and Sudha Sharma.

Opposition politicians and Muslim leaders outrage over PM Modi’s pitch for UCC and giving Muslim women equal rights: What they said

OpIndia Staff
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Opposition politicians and Muslim leaders outrage over PM Modi’s pitch for UCC and giving Muslim women equal rights: What they said

On the 27th of June, while addressing the party workers in Bhopal, PM Modi dropped a major hint on UCC. Asserting that the country can’t function on two laws, PM Modi batted strongly in favour of UCC. 

He said, “Today people are being instigated in the name of UCC. How can the country run on two (laws)? The Constitution also talks of equal rights. Supreme Court has also asked to implement UCC. These (Opposition) people are playing vote bank politics.”

Further, PM Modi also targeted opposition parties for not standing against discriminatory practices like Triple Talaq. PM Modi categorically stated that triple talaq does not only affect Muslim daughters but also damages the entire family. 

Citing the example of several Muslim nations where Triple Talaq is banned, PM Modi questioned those who try to hail it as an inseparable tenet of Islam. 

Now, this strong push for Uniform Civil Code and equal rights for Muslim women has heated the political landscape and badly rattled several politicians particularly Muslim leaders who try to champion the rights of Muslims. 

Several opposition leaders have come out strongly against PM Modi’s remark, which apparently finds backing from the Constitution itself. 

AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi claimed that by bringing UCC, PM Modi wants to strip the country of its pluralism and diversity. He even labeled it as Hindu Civil Code. 

He said, “India’s PM considers India’s diversity & its pluralism a problem. So, he says such things. Will you strip the country of its pluralism & diversity in the name of a UCC? When he speaks of UCC, he is speaking of Hindu Civil Code. I challenge him – can he abolish Hindu Undivided Family? Go and tell the Sikhs in Punjab about UCC, see what will be the reaction there.”

Similarly, Maharashtra MLA Abu Azmi claimed that all religions will oppose the interference in Shariat through UCC. 

He said, “Modi Ji should also say that people of only one religion will live in this country. In our country, languages, culture, religion, etc change after going a few kilometers away, so do you want to destroy them all? Not only Muslims but people of all religions will oppose the interference in Shariat through #UCC whose religious laws you will interfere with.”

Rajya Sabha MP and General Secretary INC, KC Venugopal claimed that by making remarks on UCC, PM Modi is only distracting people from major issues.

JD(U) leader KC Tyagi claimed that only BJP does vote bank politics and this is an attempt to polarise on religious grounds.

DMK leader TKS Elangovan said, “Uniform Civil Code should be first introduced in the Hindu religion. Every person including SC/ST should be allowed to perform pooja in any temple in the country. We don’t want UCC only because the Constitution has given protection to every religion.”

Earlier this month, the Law Commission of India solicited the views and ideas of the public and recognised religious organizations to examine the Uniform Civil Code, officials said on Wednesday.

The Law Commission has given 30 days to the respondents to present their views. The 22nd Law Commission of India is, among other things examining the Uniform Civil Code on a reference sent by the Ministry of Law & Justice, they said.

Push for UCC, support for Pasmanda Muslims, and more: Key points made by PM Modi during his address in Bhopal

Pragya Bakshi Sharma
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with BJP booth workers in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday, June 27. His address to over 10 lakh grassroots workers of the party comes ahead of the assembly elections in both Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh this year and also ahead of the much-awaited 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has started its campaign in full swing for 2024 with the Prime Minister giving a clarion call to party workers for door-to-door outreach. The focus on Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh is crucial in this regard considering the party’s recent defeat in Karnataka. PM Modi’s speech in Bhopal can be seen as an indicator of the BJP’s focus for 2024. Here are the key points made by the Prime Minister in his address:

On Uniform Civil Code

Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the subject of UCC saying how can the country be run by two laws. Hitting out at critics, he said people are being instigated in the name of the Uniform Civil Code.

Speaking about equal rights, the PM said, “Indian Constitution speaks about equal rights for citizens. They (The opposition) blame us (the BJP govt) but these very people make hue and cry about Muslims. If they would have truly supported Muslims, then most Muslim families would not have been deprived of education, and employment.”

PM Modi also mentioned the Supreme Court’s directions to implement UCC while accusing the opposition of vote bank politics. Recently, the law commission released a notice asking citizens for their input on the Uniform Civil Code.

On Pasmanda Muslims

Furthering his attack on the Opposition, PM Modi said that Pasmanda Muslims were victims of Opposition’s vote bank politics.

“Pashmanda Muslims’ lives have been made difficult by those who do vote bank politics in the country, they are not treated equally. They have been exploited by members of their own community,” PM Modi said.

The BJP has been reaching out to Pasmanda Muslims in order to tap into the majority Muslim vote bank which comprises Dalit Muslims and backward-caste Muslims.

PM Modi on Triple Talaq

In his response to woman booth workers, PM Modi came down heavily on supporters of Triple Talaq. He said, “Those who are supporting the triple talaq are doing grave injustice to Muslim daughters.”

He said that Triple Talaq not only harms daughters but also breaks families and society at large. “If Triple Talaq was related to Islam then no Muslim country in the world would have banned Triple Talaq. Many Muslim-majority countries have banned the practice. Egypt is a Sunni majority nation where Triple Talaq was banned 80 to 90 years ago.”

The practice of instant triple talaq was banned in India in 2017 and the ban was upheld by the Supreme Court.

On Opposition’s joint meeting in Patna

The all-party opposition meeting found a mention all thanks to PM Modi’s address. A group of opposition leaders met in Patna on June 23 when India was making headlines with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic visit to the United States.

Speaking about the same, Modi said, “All the corrupts joined their hands in Patna’s meeting. Opposition is trying to escape the anti-scam crackdown. The corrupt leaders are trying to save each other. My guarantee is I will not spare any of them and I will take every scamster to task.”

PM Modi trained guns at the Congress and its seasonal allies for the several graft cases to their credit. “If they have the guarantee of scams and corruption then I also have one guarantee for all of you and it is I will not spare any of those who are involved in the corruption…Today when action is being taken against them (Opposition), they are coming together and forming unity.”

In a fierce attack on the Congress party, he said, “We (BJP) are not among those who run parties and issue fatwas sitting in AC rooms. We are those people who go from village to village in every weather, in every situation, and expend ourselves among the people.” He further said that the opposition is furious because BJP is going to win the 2024 elections.

On National Education Policy

PM underlined the significance of practical education which goes beyond the walls of the schools as mentioned in the new NEP. He said that the newly-formed National Education Policy focuses on the same skill-based learning.

He urged booth workers to get involved in ensuring the implementation of such practical education.

PM Modi on farmers

PM Modi hit out at the previous UPA govt for making hollow promises to farmers. He said the Congress rule only gave drought to farmers, and helped middlemen fill their pockets. “Cong kept announcing subsidies but that never materialised on the ground. In fact, most small farmers didn’t even have bank accounts. Today BJP is reaching out to farmers door-to-door. Over 2 lakh crore has been deposited into farmers’ bank accounts. We spent more than 2 lakh crore so that farmers would get affordable fertilizer. Indian farmers get urea for less than 270 rupees because the BJP govt is bearing this responsibility.”

He said that India has come up from being the 10th largest economy in the world to the 5th largest global economy.

Mega infrastructure push by the NDA government

The Prime Minister flagged off five Vande Bharat Express trains in Bhopal namely: Rani Kamalapati-Jabalpur Vande Bharat Express; Khajuraho-Bhopal-Indore Vande Bharat Express; Madgaon (Goa)-Mumbai Vande Bharat Express; Dharwad Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express; Hatia-Patna Vande Bharat Express.

PM Modi said, “I congratulate the people of Madhya Pradesh for getting two Vande Bharat Express trains today. The journey from Bhopal to Jabalpur will be faster and more comfortable now. Vande Bharat train will boost connectivity in the state.”

BJP’s Goal 2047

PM in his address laid out his government’s plan to celebrate 100 years of India’s independence. “We want to make India a developed nation till 2047 when India will celebrate 100 years of independence and our country will become a developed country only when our villages will develop…Every booth worker of BJP should work towards making their booth strong and developed.”

PM Modi called upon the party workers to begin work on the same lines by way of addressing development issues like water, electricity, housing, green energy, financial empowerment, equal education for boys and girls, and more.

CAG of India conducting a special audit of financial irregularities after CM Arvind Kejriwal used taxpayers’ money to renovate his palatial bungalow

ANI
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CAG of India conducting a special audit of financial irregularities after CM Arvind Kejriwal used taxpayers’ money to renovate his palatial bungalow

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India is conducting in what it said is a “special audit” into the alleged “administrative and financial” irregularities during the renovation of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s official residence ‘Sheesh Mahal’ at 6, Flag Staff Road Civil Lines, Delhi. 

According to sources in Lieutenant Governor’s office, the CAG’s special audit move follows a recommendation by the Ministry of Home Affairs after having received a letter on May 24, 2023 from the Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat, pointed out the gross financial irregularities, prima facie, were reported in the reconstruction of Kejriwal’s official residence. The LG, in his letter, underlined that these violations or “extravagant expenditure” took place at the behest of “Hon’ble CM Madam”, in an apparent reference to Kejriwal’s wife, during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

LG VK Saxena, citing a report of the Delhi Chief Secretary, said prima facie full-fledged construction/re-construction of a new building was done by the PWD department in the name of renovation. 

Also, the report alleged the ownership of the property was not ascertained by the PWD before commencing the construction. The mandatory and pre-required approvals were also not obtained from the ‘Building Committee’ of the PWD department till now. 

The initial cost for construction work which was to be Rs 15-20 crore inflated from time-to-time and as per report, a total expenditure of approximately Rs 53 crore have been spent till date, which is more than three times the initial estimate. 

Also, accusations were levelled against Kejriwal that he violated norms while felling or transplanting trees.

Karnataka: Congress Minister admits ‘freebies’ will affect infrastructure development in the state

OpIndia Staff
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Karnataka: Congress Minister admits ‘freebies’ will affect infrastructure development in the state

On Saturday, June 24, Karnataka Minister of Small-Scale Industries and Public Enterprises Sharanabasappa Darshanapur admitted that the guarantee schemes announced by the party will take a direct toll on the infrastructure development within the state. 

The Congress Minister stated that infrastructure development in the state would be affected to some extent during the first year of the Congress government in office. He claimed that this would happen because of the guarantee schemes launched by the Siddaramaiah government.

The minister pointed out that there will be a financial burden of Rs 40,000 crore to Rs 50,000 crore on the exchequer due to these guarantee schemes. 

Darshanapur said, “We need more than ₹50,000 crores annually for the implementation of our five guarantees. This may affect the development works to some extent.”

However, he claimed that the revenue of the government is also increasing and the budget size has grown from ₹2.08 lakh crore to ₹3 lakh crore. He stated that this will help the government in balancing welfare programs and development projects. Subsequently, Darshanapur claimed that development works would gain pace in the next year.

Apparently, the Minister also ruled out the possibility of a rollback in the power tariff hike. For this, he argued that it is the decision of the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission which is an autonomous body. 

Previously, the Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCC&I) announced a “bandh” on June 22. This decision came as a response to the sudden increase in electricity prices implemented by the electricity supply companies (ESCOMs).

Earlier, OpIndia reported that the energy costs and power tariffs in Karnataka have been increased by Rs 2.89 per unit in June despite Siddaramaiah’s state government’s free electricity pledge. Now the citizens will have to pay an additional Rs 2.89 per unit if their power usage exceeds the 200 units slab while paying the power bill.

Minister diffuses the tension and claims to hold a meeting on Power-hike

To ease the tensions, the Congress Minister further added that recently a meeting has been convened with Energy Minister KJ George which will be held on the 28th of June. During this meeting, the matter related to the reduction of power tariff hikes for small-scale industries would be discussed. 

He said, “Many industrialists, especially those running small-scale industries, have expressed concerns over their future in the backdrop of hiked power tariff. Energy Minister, Large and Medium Scale Industry Minister, and I would meet them in Bengaluru on June 28 and discuss the solution to the problem.”

The minister made these statements and admitted the adverse impact of ‘freebies’ while having an interaction meeting with industrialists and traders in the Kalaburagi district. It was organised by the Kalyana Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KKCCI), earlier this week. 

The major attendees of the event include Kalaburagi South MLA Allamprabhu Patil, KKCCI president Shashikanth Patil, secretary Manjunath Jewargi, and former president Prashanath Mankar among others.

White House comes out in defence of WSJ ‘journalist’ Sabrina Siddiqui: How right to criticise is not harassment, the hypocrisy of Biden admin and more

Dibakar Dutta
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White House comes out in defence of WSJ ‘journalist’ Sabrina Siddiqui: How right to criticise is not harassment, the hypocrisy of Biden admin and more

Days after netizens questioned Pakistani-origin American ‘journalist’ Sabrina Siddiqui for insinuating that the rights of Muslims and other minorities are under threat in India, the White House came out in her defence on Monday (June 26)

Siddiqui, who works for The Wall Street Journal, attempted to undermine the India-US relationship during the joint press conference of President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House.

She asked a politically motivated question to the Indian Prime Minister in the hopes of reinforcing the distorted narrative of Muslims being ‘under attack in India.’ Despite a befitting reply by PM Modi, Indian social media users were aghast at Siddiqui for peddling her sinister agenda.

The criticism directed at her further intensified when the likes of Alt News co-founder tried to pass her off as an ‘Indian’ based on the fact that she is the great-great-granddaughter of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, one of the earliest proponents of the two-nation theory.

Her ancestry and ‘identity’ were called into question when she tried to project herself as a ‘patriotic Indian’, based on her support for the Indian cricket team. This was despite being born in the United States to a Pakistani mother and an Indian father, who was raised in Pakistan.

On being faced with legitimate questions for peddling the dubious’ Muslims under attack in India’ narrative, Sabrina Siddiqui cried foul over the matter.

The Wall Street Journal and its scribes also threw their weight behind Sabrina Siddiqui, presenting the social media criticism as a case of ‘press freedom’ and supposed harassment of ‘Muslim journalist.’

During a press briefing on Monday (June 26), Senior White House Correspondent (NBC News) Kelly O’Donnell claimed, “At the question-and-answer event with the president and Prime Minister Modi, our colleague, Sabrina Siddiqui of The Wall Street Journal, asked a question of the prime minister and since that time she has been subjected to some intense online harassment from people inside India.”

“Some of them are politicians, and they have associations with the Modi government. And in part, they’ve been targeting her because of her Muslim faith and questioning her own heritage,” she alleged.

Kelly O’Donnell further added, “Because this was supposed to be about democracy in some form, wanted to find out: what is the White House reaction to the fact that a journalist posing a question to a Democratic leader is getting that kind of pushback?

John Kirby, who serves as the Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council (NSC) in the White House, agreed to the claims of the NBC News correspondent.

He remarked, “We’re aware of the reports of that harassment. It’s unacceptable, and we absolutely condemn any harassment of journalists anywhere under any circumstances.” “

“That’s just, that’s completely unacceptable, and it’s antithetical to the very principles of democracy that that you’re right, we’re on display last week, during the state visit,” Kirby further claimed.

Problem with the White House’s response & antics of Wall Street Journal

The sweeping statement of the White House attempts to label criticism, aimed at Sabrina Siddiqui for the virtue of her politically motivated question, as ‘harassment of journalist.’

It fails to acknowledge the concerns that Indian netizens raised about the WSJ journalist’s choice of question. It also fails to address the apprehensions that Indians harbour towards leftist Western publications such as The Wall Street Journal due to their continued and targeted anti-India propaganda.

In February 2020, the American daily falsely claimed that the frenzied mob, which murdered Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer Ankit Sharma during the 2020 anti-Hindu Delhi riots, was chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram.’ WSJ misquoted the deceased’s brother Ankur Sharma to make the misleading claims.

Multiple eyewitnesses had corroborated that the deceased was dragged by an enraged Muslim mob from inside the house of AAP leader Mohammad Tahir Hussain and subsequently killed by them.

In December of that year, The Wall Street Journal published a fake report claiming that Facebook did not act against Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), despite deeming its content as offensive.

In March 2021, the American newspaper was pulled up for falsely reporting that the Indian government had threatened employees of Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter with jail terms.

In October last year, WSJ carried a full-page advertisement, urging the Biden administration to impose sanctions on Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and ten other Indians. It is thus obvious that Indians will critically analyse the pursuits of a journalist, associated with such a newspaper.

Newspaper advertisement by Ramachandran Viswanathan

The antics of Sabrina Siddiqui during the joint press conference of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden made things worse. She clearly showed that she certainly did not have the best interests of India at heart.

The Pakistani-origin journalist cunningly raked up the issue of the ‘treatment of Muslims and minorities in India’ to give the impression that those groups are being ill-treated here. This narrative is a part of the larger leftist-Islamist imagination of ‘‘Dara hua Musalman.’’

Sabrina Siddiqui tried her best to sour the press conference with an ill-intentioned question and thus drew the ire of the Indian public. She is now being supported by the likes of Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), known for its ties with radical outfit Jamaat-e-Islami.

Screengrab of the tweet by Indian American Muslim Council

The White House is now lashing out at the Indian public and mouthing platitudes on free speech and democracy. Interestingly, the incumbent US President Joe Biden had humiliated journalists on multiple occasions (to the extent of calling a Fox News journalist – the son of a bitch).

While the White House did not bat an eye then, it is now getting worked up over average Indian citizens questioning the motives of a Pakistani-origin American journalist.

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