Home Blog Page 215

After promising to cut drug prices by up to 1500%, Donald Trump imposes 100% tariffs on pharmaceuticals: What it means for Indian pharma industry

Rukma Rathore
-
0
After promising to cut drug prices by up to 1500%, Donald Trump imposes 100% tariffs on pharmaceuticals: What it means for Indian pharma industry

United States President Donald Trump has announced another fresh series of tariffs on specific industries, with declaring that import of branded pharmaceuticals will have a 100% tariff in the USA, unless the companies are already manufacturing their facilities in the country.

The order will take effect from 1st October. However, companies that are building production facilities in the United States are exempted.

After imposing a 50% tariff on India (including extra 25% for acquiring Russian oil) this move is yet another effort to harm the country, popular as the “pharmacy of the world,” alongside another major Asian economy, China which also has a precarious relationship with the Trump administration.

According to the Census Bureau, the United States imported pharmaceutical and medical goods valued at around $233 billion in 2024. Trump appears to have conveniently forgotten that this will ultimately harm the financial interests of his voters, as some medications might double in price, as healthcare costs as well as those of Medicare and Medicaid could rise significantly.

Trump warned in early July that he planned to impose tariffs of up to 200 per cent on goods from pharmaceutical companies after asking them to relocate their operations to the US.

According to reports, at least half of the approved goods produced by nearly 90% of US biotech companies depend on imported components. The Trump administration started looking at the effects of all drug imports on US national security in April, including both branded and completed generic medications along with the components that are utilised in making them.

Additionally, the Republican leader declared sweeping taxes on a variety of domestic products, such as imported kitchen cabinets and specific furnishings, which might raise prices in an industry where hikes in costs have already occurred in recent months. His administration will levy a 30% tariff on upholstered furniture and a 50% duty on kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities and related products from next month. 25% heavy truck tariff has also been slapped.

Trump has consistently upheld the tariffs, claiming that the US market has been overwhelmed with foreign goods despite considerable opposition and an alarming strain on diplomatic ties with allies like India. However, he referred to it as a profoundly unfair practice and stated that the US needs to protect its manufacturing processes for national security and other critical reasons.

New challenges for India

The development has caused a stir in the pharmaceutical world. The measure spares generics, the less expensive equivalents created after patents expire, by specifically targeting branded and patented medications. The difference makes the situation somewhat easier for India, the world’s largest producer of generics medicines.

India’s biggest market is the United States which receives over one-third of India’s pharmaceutical exports that are primarily less expensive generic substitutes for well-known medications. Major exporters of medications and active pharmaceutical ingredients to the United States include Sun Pharmaceutical, Lupin, Aurobindo Pharma, Zydus Lifesciences, Hetero Labs and Dr Reddy’s Laboratories. They sent $3.7 billion worth of goods to the US from January to June this year, and $3.6 billion last year.

However, according to industry analysts, India remains at risk even if generics are not included in the directive. Many businesses also use contracts with global corporations to manufacture formulations and ingredients for branded products. If the final medications are taxed, those collaborations can be broken.

Others are concerned about how the word “branded” would be interpreted by US officials. Even generics have a manufacturer’s label, and a vague or ambiguous definition could end up in customs delays, inspections or extra charges for Indian imports.

The primary issue at hand is the trajectory of US policy. Trump’s exemption for companies that are “constructing” facilities in America is broadly interpreted as a message to pharmaceutical firms that they need to create production capabilities within the United States. Purchasing American facilities will result in increased capital expenses and reduced profit margins for India’s largest exporters. Smaller businesses might not be able to match the demand.

Notably, the United States is also vulnerable to the impulsive decisions made by Trump. The tariff could distort the pharmaceutical market in the United States. Interestingly, short-term increases in demand for generic alternatives could even benefit Indian providers if import taxes make branded medications more expensive.

Trump rewards Americans voters by retracting his promise

It is not surprising for a politician to make grand and extravagant promises to the public in order to secure their votes and the US president is no exception. He has made a long-standing commitment to reduce drug prices and even attached some shocking figures to it. The “most favoured nation” policy his administration announced in an executive order in May, he asserted, will lower prescription medicine costs by 1,000% or more.

Trump made several statements reassuring the American public that they would see a sharp decline in medication prices Following his repeated failure to deliver on his promise. He conveyed, “We have something coming up, favored nations, where I’m going to be reducing drug prices by 1,400 to 1,500%,” during last month.

Trump had also said, “We’re gonna be reducing drug prices down to a level that nobody, not by 20%, 30% by like 1,000%. Because, you know, we’re paying sometimes 10 times more than other nations, and we’re not doing it anymore,” in September. “We have something else called ‘favored nations,’ where I’m going to be reducing drug prices by 1,000% by 900, 600, 500, 1,200,” he alleged after a few days.

Notably, it is impossible to reduce prices by any percentage above 100%. A 100% reduction means a price of 0, and any reduction over it will mean negative price.

The president would only manage get a 100% cut if he could somehow convince the businesses to bring down the cost of all their medications to $0. If it were reduced by more than that, Americans would have to be compensated for obtaining their prescription drugs instead of having to pay for them. Trump’s promises, according to health economist Timothy McBride, are “just not logical.” He outlined that a 500% price drop would result in a medicine that currently costs $100 to drop to negative $400.

Put aside any expectations of price reductions or paying customers for their medicine purchases, as ridiculous as it sounds, the White House’s decision is set to burn a hole in the pocket of a regular American.

US dependence on India and China

The supply chains for life sciences which have been increasingly globalised in the last ten years are being severely disrupted by the new tariffs. Due to a significant reliance on foreign suppliers for medications, chemicals and research materials, the United States currently imports more than $200 billion worth of pharmaceuticals yearly, more than double its exports.

Nearly 90% of US biopharma companies depend on imported components for at least half of their products, and up to 82% of the “building blocks” for active pharmaceutical ingredients for essential medications come from China and India.

Therefore, the supply of raw materials, reagents, laboratory equipment, and finished pharmaceutical products into the US market could be hampered by tariffs on important trading partners, such as China, India, the European Union, Canada and Mexico.

China and India are particularly susceptible when it comes to critical inputs. China provides about 30% of the raw materials used to create popular medications. This contains the chemicals for cancer and heart drugs that Americans rely on as well as multiple antibiotics. Three percent of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) used in the US, along with significant amounts of precursors, packaging materials, and production equipment, originate in China, according to Caroline Shleifer, CEO of a regulatory research business. 

Higher raw material costs will “trickle down the supply chain” and ultimately raise production costs, she maintained, forcing tariffs on these imports to “disrupt the global supply chain for pharmaceuticals and life sciences,” reported Labiotech.

Drug distributors are represented by the Healthcare Distribution Alliance (HDA) which also warned that generic producers and distributors who operate on extremely small margins of less than 0.3% are unable to bear such high tariff charges. As businesses struggle to get ingredients and prices are passed on to payers and patients, they predict “new and worsened shortages of important medications.”

All things considered, the tariffs are expected to tighten supply constraints and possibly exacerbate the current drug shortage issue in the United States. ​

US drug costs set to rise

According to an analysis commissioned by the industry’s US trade group, a 25% tax on pharmaceutical imports would raise the cost of drugs by around $51 billion a year in the country, hiking US prices by as much as 12.9% if transferred forward, reported Reuters. The Ernst & Young analysis revealed that 73% of the $203 billion in pharmaceutical imports into the US in 2023 came from Europe, mainly from Germany, Switzerland and Ireland.

$393 billion was spent on finished pharmaceuticals in the United States that year. The primary US pharmaceutical lobby, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America commissioned the report which was dated 22nd April and has not been published yet.

Trump’s proposed tariffs could boost the cost of some cancer treatments by $8,000 to $10,000 for a 24-week course, according to Diederik Stadig, an analyst at ING Bank, per a report in Investopedia. Generic medications would probably cost an average of 94 cents a pill instead of the current 82 cents.

The higher prices would either be incurred by consumers or eventually passed on to them in the form of higher health insurance premiums. “The initial impact on both patients and the U.S. health care system could be very significant,” Stadig highlighted.

According to Ted Murphy, a trade lawyer at Sidley Austin, a law firm that advises businesses on their submissions to the Commerce Department, drugmakers view Trump administration’s investigation into pharmaceutical imports as an opportunity to demonstrate that high tariffs would impede their attempts to rapidly speed up US production and suggest alternatives.

Drug companies have reportedly urged Trump to gradually impose taxes on pharmaceutical imports in an effort to lessen the impact of the charges. However, their submissions appear to have an opposite effect on him.

Finding effective solutions proves to be difficult

Some firms turned to stockpiling before tariffs were imposed in order to prevent sudden supply disruptions. Some European pharmaceutical companies took the unprecedented step of air-freighting additional batches of medications to the United States to avoid tariff deadlines prior to the April announcements. However, this stockpiling gives US operations a temporary buffer and are only short-term yet expensive.

Several multinationals had previously announced billions in additional US manufacturing investments in recent months to speed up local production of important drugs​. Dual production hubs have been considered by many companies. Theoretically, increased production in the United States would lessen dependency on imports and exposure to future tariffs.

However, in reality, onshoring is neither quick nor inexpensive. Given the strict FDA rules and validation criteria, the pharmaceutical industry and its lobby (Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America) pointed out that constructing a new pharmaceutical factory in the United States can take five to ten years and cost approximately $2 billion.

Moreover, it can take at least two years to add futher manufacturing lines to an existing facility in the country. This means that while corporations are pledging to boost local capacity, their efforts will not avert the near-term supply problems.

Businesses are radically rethinking supply chain design in addition to shifting operations. Many are spending money on insurance, inventory control, and backup suppliers to deal with trade outages. Some biopharma executives propose maintaining several smaller production facilities across the globe, instead of a single huge plant, so that they can respond flexibly to changes in geopolitics or tariffs.

Others are considering the possibility of decentralised clinical trial models which involve conducting trials at homes of patientsor nearby clinics, in an effort to lessen the need to carry medical supplies across international boundaries. However, t hese modifications are not without their own associated expenses and risks.

Conclusion

The pharmaceutical supply chain is expected to experience severe short-term disruptions. Many businesses anticipate at least a year of interruption before appropriate workarounds are in place because it takes time to adapt intricate global supply networks. The industry will need to prepare for higher input costs overall during this period of adjustment.

The prices of pharmaceuticals and research supplies are predicted to rise in the United States as a result of this cost increase. It also put pressure on the margins of many manufacturers, particularly those who make generic drugs and are already struggling financially.

To summarize, after instigating a global trade war by announcing his “beautiful tariffs” and causing the loss of billions dollar for the US market in addition to negatively impacting the global economy, the self-proclaimed greatest US president is once more set to trigger a similar series of shockwaves through his actions against global pharmaceutical hubs, thereby adversely affecting his own countrymen as a result of his misguided judgements.

Half of the reproductive-age women of Greenland were planted with IUDs ‘without their knowledge or consent’, Denmark PM apologises: Read about the vile scandal

Shraddha Pandey
-
0
Half of the reproductive-age women of Greenland were planted with IUDs ‘without their knowledge or consent’, Denmark PM apologises: Read about the vile scandal

Historical injustices are seldom fully rectified, and rarer still is a heartfelt apology from those responsible the transgressions. However, Metter Frederiksen, the Prime Minister of Denmark has issued a formal apology for the forced contraception involving Inuit women and girls in Greenland. After issuing a written statement on 27th August 2025, acknowledging “systemic discrimination”, PM Frederiksen, delivered an in-person address on 24th September, in Nuuk, Greenland.

The emotional ceremony at the Katuaq Cultural Centre was attended by dozens of survivors and Frederiksen directly spoke to the victims of the horrific birth control programme.

“Dear women. Dear families. Dear Greenland. Today there is only one right thing to say to you. Sorry. Sorry for the injustice that was committed against you. Because you were Greenlanders. Sorry for what was taken from you. And for the pain it caused. On behalf of Denmark. Sorry,” Frederiksen said.

She further described the events as a “dark chapter in out shared history” and a “betrayal that had major consequences for Greenlandic girls.” The Danish PM also extended apology for “other dark chapters” of systemic discrimination against Greenlanders due to their indigenous identity.

During the event, one woman stood with her back to the Danish PM in protest, with a black handprint painted across her mouth.

Earlier, Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nieslson apologised, taking responsibility for cases after 1991. It is to be noted that Greenland assumed control of its healthcare system in 1991.

“You were not asked. You had no opportunity to speak out. You were not heard. You were not seen,” he said.

Danish government commits to providing compensation payout to Greenlandic women

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s apology was not confined to just comforting words and acknowledgment of wrongdoing against Greenlandic women in the past, as she offered reparations to the victims who were fitted with contraceptive coils without their consent. The specific amounts or timelines, however, are yet to be finalised.

Frederiksen said that she would be setting up a “reconciliation fund”. A statement released by her office said that the Danish government wanted “to establish a reconciliation fund that can provide individual financial compensation to Greenlandic women in the IUD case and to other Greenlanders who have been subjected to failure and systematic discrimination because they are Greenlanders”.

The 2024 lawsuit by Greenlandic women in pursuit of justice, dignity and closure

The apologies by Danish and Greenlandic PMs follow a 2024 lawsuit filed by 143 women, of whom 138 were minors when they were fitted with contraceptive coils without their consent or knowledge, by Danish doctors. The petitioners demanded 43 million Danish Kroner (around $6.3 million USD) for human rights violation, including pain, infertility and psychological trauma. Naja Lyberth, who was the first woman to come forward to reveal that she had been fitted with an IUD coil during a state medical examination in her teenage, accused the Danish government of concerted sterilisation.

In conversation with Kalaallit Nunaata Radioa (KNR), Lyberth said, “As long as we live, we want to regain our self-respect and respect for our wombs. There is no government to decide whether we should have children or not.”

Naja Lyberth (Image via KNR)

The horrific ‘Coil Campaign’ that stripped thousands of Greenlandic women of their motherhood, future and choice

The scandal known as the “Coil Campaign” and the “Spiral Case” due to the S-shaped intrauterine device (IUDs). It was a Danish government-led campaign to control Greenland’s population growth amid rapid increases due to enhanced healthcare systems and living conditions. Denmark, which administered the healthcare of Greenland until 1992, saw high birth rates, especially out-of-wedlock pregnancies, as a financial and social burden. The program halved the birth rate of Greenland in a few years. However, it also inflicted unspeakable physical and psychological harm, including pain, infections, infertility and trauma to the victims.

Although preparatory discussions dated back to the early 1960s, the ‘Coil Campaign’ officially began in 1966. Under the directives from Copenhagen, Danish doctors and health officials targeted Inuit women and girls, some as young as 12-years-old, to prevent ‘unplanned pregnancies’ and to lower childcare costs.

The period of 1966-1970 was the peak time of this opprobrious campaign. Investigations reveal 4,500 insertions, affecting approximately half of Greenland’s 9,000 native fertile women and girls at that time. By the end of 1970, more than 4,070 had been fitted with IUDs. This number is estimated to be about 50% of childbearing age females.

From 1970s to early 1990s, insertions tapered but persisted. The program fully ended in 1991 after Greenland secured healthcare autonomy.

An independent 347-page report published on 9th September 2025, confirmed that over 400 non-consensual cases examined. The report, however, stated that the actual number is likely way higher. It found some post 1991 incidents up to 2018, involving non-consensual fittings during abortions. Of 410 cases described in detail, 349 involved health complications.  

This report titled, “An impartial study of contraception practices in Kalaallit Nunaat in the period 1960-1991”, has been prepared by researchers and historians from the University of Greenland and the National Institute of Public Health at the University of Southern Denmark.

The report said that Greenland’s birth rate had begun to stagnate around 1965, after which there was a decline, which particularly accelerated from the late 1960s – as a probable consequence of the spread of the IUD method. The decline in birth rate was greatest among women between 30 and 50 years of age and lowest among young people.

Population and birth rate in Kalaallit Nunaat 1950-2000. Folketal means Population and Fødselsrate means Birth rate

The data indicates that the age distribution for IUD placements across the three districts— Ilulissat, Sisimiut, Nuuk, was highest in the 15 to 19 age group, followed by 20-24, 25-29. With youngest age being 12 and eldest being 47 in Ilulissat, 12 (youngest) and 46 (eldest) in Sisimiut, and 14 (youngest) and 45 (eldest) in Nuuk district.

The age range in the three districts. All infographics via “An impartial study of contraception practices in Kalaallit Nunaat in the period 1960-1991“ report.

One of the victims, who was 13 at that time, recalled, “The other girls said they took it out by pulling, so I took out my own IUD.”

Several other victims received injections of Depo-Provera, a long-acting hormonal contraceptive that, in some cases, stopped women’s menstrual cycles permanently and left them unable to conceive. Many others had to get their uterus removed surgically.

Women and girls were told by Danish doctors that they needed a ‘checkup’ or treatment for unrelated issues. For these ‘checkups’, parents were rarely consulted even as Danish law prohibited contraception for minors without consent until 1970. Danish health officials carried out procedures on Greenlandic women without giving any explanation of the device’s purpose, risks or permanence.

While a lack of consent and even proper knowledge of what was being done to the women and girls who trusted their Danish doctors was outrageous, the insertion process is disturbing. The early Lippes Loop IUDs were large S-shaped, unlike modern T-shaped. These S-shaped coils caused intense pain during insertion without anaesthesia. In some case, these IUDs were fitted post-abortion or during other procedures under sedation. Since doctors denied or delayed its removal when sought by the victims, this exacerbated complications, including scarring and infections.

The report prepared by Greenland University professors reveals, the focus of the Coil Campaign was young and unmarried Inuit girls in remote areas or dormitories. This singling out of Inuit women and targeted birth control measure against them reflected colonial biases against the Indigenous people.

While a state apology and reparations may give some solace to the survivors of the Coil Campaign, the dehumanising horror they were subjected to can never really be compensated.

Greenland has been an autonomous territory under the Kingdom of Denmark. Since the 1700s, the world’s largest island had been under Norwegian and Danish influence. But Denmark’s formal sovereignty was established in 1814 via the Treaty of Kiel. Greenland gained home rule in 1979 and expanded self-governance in 2009, but Denmark still oversees its foreign affairs and defence.

Molestation, obscenity, violence, and love jihad by Islamic fundamentalists in Garba pandals: 17 incidents to understand why a ban on their entry is necessary

सौम्या सिंह
-
0
Molestation, obscenity, violence, and love jihad by Islamic fundamentalists in Garba pandals: 17 incidents to understand why a ban on their entry is necessary

Like every year, the Navratri Garba celebrations this year again are at the target of Jihadists, who gain entry into Garba pandals by hiding their identities and make Hindu women the victims of Love Jihad. To deal with this menace, several Hindu organisations in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, have demanded a ban on the entry of non-Hindus in Garba pandals. It is the argument of the Hindu organisations that when the Muslims believe in only one God, i.e. Allah, abhor idol worship and idol worshippers, and practice an exclusivist Islamic economic policy of Halal, what entitles them to take part in a Hindu religious celebration?

‘Ghar Wapsi’ warnings and posters

Taking a step in this direction, the Shri Krishna Seva Samiti in Bhopal has issued a statement saying that if any non-Hindu is found entering a Garba pandal, he will have to do ‘Ghar Wapasi’ (convert to Hinduism). The Samiti has put up posters outside pandals clearly mentioning that “Garba is for Hindus only”.

Expressing concern over the issue, BJP leader Alok Sharma said that some non-Hindus come to Garba pandals wearing “Kalava” (sacred thread) and “Tilak” (a sacred thread) and lure and exploit Hindu girls. He added that strict decisions are crucial to prevent such incidents.

How past incidents of Love Jihad have led to these restrictions

The demands for a ban on the entry of non-Hindus in Garba pandals are a result of past incidents of Love Jihad and misbehaviour with Hindu women in Garba pandals. In these incidents, Muslim men entered Garba pandals by disguising themselves as Hindus and misbehaved with Hindu women. In some instances, some Muslim men recorded videos of Hindu women dancing and taking part in Garba celebrations.

Such jihadists use these sacred Garba pandals as preying grounds to execute their vicious plans of Love Jihad, wherein they lure vulnerable, innocent Hindu girls and women, trap them and ultimately force them to convert to Islam. Here are 17 such incidents, which prove why the ban on the entry of non-Muslims into Garba pandals is the need of the hour.

1- Conspiracy to trap Hindu girls in the guise of ‘Dandiya Night’

On October 12, 2021, a Muslim man named Razik Ansari organised a Dandiya Night event at the five-star Legenta Hotel in Nagpur, Maharashtra. Upon learning of the event, several Hindu organisations, including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, strongly opposed it. The Hindu organisations said that such events provide Muslim men with an opportunity to befriend and target Hindu women for Love Jihad.

2- Four Muslim men arrested from a Garba pandal in Indore

Four Muslim men were arrested during a Garba event held in a private university in the Gandhi Nagar area of ​​Indore, Madhya Pradesh, on October 10, 2021. The accused were identified as Adnan Shah, Mohammad Umar, Abdul Qadir, and Syed Saqib. The Muslim men were arrested after a complaint was filed by members of the Bajrang Dal.

3- Controversy over ‘2-minute love story’ at Garba event in Delhi

During the Navratri in September 2022, Radio Mirchi was accused of promoting Love Jihad in Garba pandals, after its program titled ” 2 Minute Love Story ” sparked controversy. A Muslim man named Ali made a statement during the program, suggesting a strategy to stalk Hindu women visiting Garba pandals. Ali told his friend that he was developing an app that would allow Hindu women visiting Garba pandals to register by entering their information.

Ali explained that through the app, men could message women of their choice and invite them outside the pandal to play Garba with them. He proudly stated that he would collect data on the girls and then go to the pandal where the girl with his favourite profile would choose to play Dandiya.

4- Entered the Garba pandal and molested Hindu women

On September 28, 2022, 7 Muslim men were arrested by the police from the Garba pandal of Pandharinath in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. During a Garba event, the Muslim men disguised themselves as Hindus and began harassing Hindu women and recorded their videos. When members of the Bajrang Dal asked for their names, they told Hindu names and refused to show their IDs. However, when strictly questioned, they revealed their real names.

5- Muslim men forcibly entered a Garba event in Ahmedabad

Some Muslim men entered a Garba event held on Sindhu Bhavan Road in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on September 28, 2022, despite clear announcements by Hindu organisations that non-Hindus would not be allowed inside Garba pandals, as it is a Hindu religious event. Members of the Bajrang Dal and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad noticed and caught the Muslim men during a check.

6- Muslim men entered the Garba pandal and filmed Hindu women

On September 30, 2022, in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, some Muslim men were caught entering a Garba pandal and filming Hindu girls. Some Hindu youths present at the pandal grew suspicious of these men. However, the Muslims fled the scene before the police arrived.

7- Attempt to forcibly enter the Jaipur Garba pandal, Muslim men flee

Some Muslim men tried to enter a Garba event at the Narayan Vatika Marriage Garden in the Murlipura area in Jaipur, Rajasthan on September 30, 2022. When Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) members grew suspicious, they checked their IDs, which revealed their Muslim identity. The Muslim men were friends of two organisers of the Garba event, who were Muslim. After the opposition of the Bajrang Dal and the VHP members, the Muslim organisers were removed from the Garba event.

8- Protest against Muslim bouncers at Surat Garba pandal

During a Garba event organised in the Vesu area of ​​Surat, Gujarat, on October 5, 2022, Muslim bouncers were kept by the organisers at the entry points to check people’s IDs. The bouncers were not checking the IDs of visitors properly and even allowed some Muslims to enter the Garba pandal.

When local Bajrang Dal members came to know about this, they reached the venue and asked the Muslim bouncers and Muslim men who entered the Garba pandal to leave. The Bajrang Dal members said that many Muslims had entered the pandal by disguising themselves as Hindus.

9- Muslim men stabbed a Hindu man during Garba

On October 6, 2022, in Bikaner, Rajasthan, some Muslim men entered a Garba pandal and molested Hindu girls. When a Hindu man, Madhusudan, protested, they stabbed him. He was admitted to an ICU after sustaining serious injuries. Police arrested three Muslim men, Shahrukh, Sameer, and Zubair.

10- Hindu-hating Munawar Farooqui participated in a Garba event, Hindu organisations protested

On October 10, 2022, stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui attended a Garba event in Mumbai with some of his Muslim friends, after which photos and videos of him went viral on social media. In the viral video, Munawar was seen surrounded by Hindu girls. Hindu organisations strongly protested this incident because Munawar Faruqui is known for making derogatory remarks about Hindu deities. Hindu organisations said that such Muslim figures use Garba events as a plot to lure and trap Hindu women.

11- Aamir came disguised as a Hindu man

A Muslim man, Aamir, was arrested during the ‘RKE Garba Night’ event held at Vaibhav Shri Garden, MR 10, in Indore, Madhya Pradesh..On October 10, 2023. He was trying to lure a Hindu woman at the event and take her with him. Aamir entered the Garba event by posing as ‘ Aman ‘. The girl’s family alleged that Aamir’s intentions were wrong. When the police checked his phone, they found several obscene chats on it.

12- ID check reveals secret at Gujarat Garba pandal

On October 18, 2023, during a Navratri celebration in Gujarat, a Muslim man was caught trying to enter a Garba pandal by concealing his identity. The Garba organisers, who were checking everyone’s ID before allowing them into the pandal, caught him after seeing his ID. The Muslim man was dressed in traditional clothes to disguise himself as a Hindu devotee. He was prevented from entering the pandal.

13- Aman entered Ujjain Garba and molested Hindu women

On October 20, 2023, in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, a Muslim youth was caught inside a Garba pandal at the Dussehra Maidan area. The Muslim man, identified as Aman Khan, had entered the pandal using a Hindu name to bypass the restrictions on the entry of non-Hindus in the pandal. Some people in the pandal noticed him harassing Hindu women. He was caught by members of the Hindu Jagran Manch and handed over to the police.

14- A Muslim man disguised as a Hindu enters the Garba Pandal

On October 20, 2023, in the city of Karnavati, Gujarat, a Muslim man was caught trying to enter the YMCA Club’s Garba pandal dressed as a Hindu. Pandal attendants questioned the Muslim man out of suspicion. When his ID card was checked, it was revealed that he was a Muslim. He was immediately removed by the organisers from the pandal.

15- Arbaaz and Teh Khan entered the Garba pandal in Indore

On October 22, 2023, two Muslim men, using Hindu names, entered a Garba event held at a college on Sanwer Road in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. The Muslims were caught on suspicion and were identified as Arbaaz Patel and Teh Khan. The Hindu community protested strongly after their identities were revealed. Following a tip-off, police detained the two Muslim youths.

16- Firoz came to Ujjain as ‘Rahul’, while Aseem entered Indore as ‘Pankaj’

On October 8, 2024, a Muslim man, Firoz, disguised as ‘Rahul’, entered a Garba pandal in Ujjain. When some Hindu organisations grew suspicious of him, he was caught and handed over to the police.

In another similar incident that happened on the same day in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, a Muslim man, Aseem Nagauri, disguised as ‘Pankaj’, entered a Garba pandal. He was caught after people in the pandal grew suspicious. An examination of his mobile phone by the police revealed obscene chats relating to the blackmail of several Hindu women. He was arrested by the police.

17- 17 Muslim men entered at Guna Garba pandal, accused of ‘Love Jihad’

On October 8, 2024, in the Guna district of Madhya Pradesh, 17 Muslim men were caught playing Dandiya without permission at a Garba event. Locals and members of the Hindu Jagran Manch alleged that these Muslim men had entered the event with the intention of executing ‘Love Jihad’. The Muslim men had concealed their identities to enter the Garba event to target Hindu girls. Three of them were immediately detained by the Police.

Convert to Hinduism, then enter the Garba pandal

After looking at these incidents, it becomes clear that the demand to ban non-Hindus from entering Garba pandals is not religious discrimination, but a measure to address a serious issue relating to women’s safety. This step is being taken to protect Hindu women from Islamic conspiracies like ‘Love Jihad’ and sexual exploitation.

Hindu organisations have said that if Muslims really want to participate in these sacred events, they should convert to Hinduism. This indicates that the Hindus are not willing to compromise on this issue and that strict measures will be taken to maintain the dignity and safety of sacred festivals like Garba.

(This article is a translation of the original article published in OpIndia Hindi.)

Two days after viral news, Ladakh Congress leader claims he was not involved in violence, party threatens criminal proceedings against media and netizens

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Two days after viral news, Ladakh Congress leader claims he was not involved in violence, party threatens criminal proceedings against media and netizens

The photos and videos of a masked man participating in the Leh violence on Wednesday, 24 September, were circulated widely. Many reports and BJP-associated handles had reported that the masked person was Congress councillor Phuntsog Stanzin Tsepag.


However, two days after the viral photos and videos, Congress councillor Phuntsog Stanzin Tsepag has issued a statement, shared by Alt News’ Md Zubair, saying that the person in the viral photos and images is not him. The Congress party, which had neither denied the alleged involvement of their councillor nor called the claims as false for two days, has been activated into doing so after many on social media questioned the party’s silence, following a thread by self-proclaimed ‘fact-checker’ Md Zubair. 

It is not clear whether Congress councillor Phuntsog Stanzin Tsepag’s statement was given exclusively to Md Zubair or Zubair used the video from an already circulating generic announcement by the Congress councillor Tsepag. Zubair had posted a series of videos and photos to claim that the masked person seen participating in the violence is not Congress councillor Phuntsog Stanzin Tsepag.

Soon after Zubair’s so-called ‘fact-check’, and some posts questioning the Congress party’s silence on the issue, Pawan Khera, the spokesperson of the Congress party, posted saying that the party will initiate legal proceedings against the anchors and influencers who had spread the ‘fake news’ claiming that the masked person was their party leader in Ladakh.

“Several leaders of the BJP and some anchors/social media influencers have been showing a picture and footage of someone, and misrepresenting him as the elected councillor of Congress – Phuntsog Stanzin Tsepag. We are proceeding with legal recourse and criminal proceedings against all those who have not just attempted to defame our party but have also tried to cause social unrest to fuel further dissensions. Instead of sensitively engaging with the betrayed people of Ladakh, the BJP and their media/social media minions are engaging in their usual mudslinging and looking for an opportunity to milk the outrage of Ladakh and settle scores with political opponents”, Khera posted.

Zubair also shared a photo collage of all the posts, calling the masked man Congress councillor Phuntsog Stanzin Tsepag, and adding “This is how a toolkit works”, implying that the posts were a coordinated campaign against the Congress councillor.

It is important here to mention that, before even the Congress party itself, Md Zubair was keen on giving a clean chit to the Congress councillor. 

In this context, it is notable that when the word ‘toolkit’ first became mainstream in Indian political discourse, after Greta Thunberg mistakenly shared a Google document asking activists to support the campaign against the Indian government over the farmers’ protests, Md Zubair’s AltNews was among the sites included in the ‘toolkit’. 

Additionally, it’s not yet clear who this person is on whose back Zubair is painting the target. Whether he’s associated with any political party or any other organisation is still not clear. Government sources told OpIndia that all available footage is being used along with facial recognition software to find the identities of those responsible for the violence, and currently, police can’t reveal details of the investigation.

Congress and Sonam Wangchuk collude to fuel unrest and mislead people of Ladakh: Read how talks with the Centre were kept under wraps

शिव
-
0
Congress and Sonam Wangchuk collude to fuel unrest and mislead people of Ladakh: Read how talks with the Centre were kept under wraps

When Ladakh was conferred Union Territory status in August 2019, Sonam Wangchuk expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi with folded hands. Now, the same person is urging individuals to resort to violence and pelt stones. Ladakh, a region renowned for its serene beauty is presently engulfed in turmoil, resulting in fatalities while the instigator retreated to his village as part of a meticulously orchestrated plot.

Footage and images have surfaced showing a Congress councilor actively inciting individuals while brandishing weapons. In Ladakh, where the announcement of Union Territory status was celebrated on 5th August 2019, instances of stone-pelting and arson occurred on 24th September. Violent demonstrations erupted in Ladakh as citizens demanded full statehood.

Four individuals lost their lives and many others sustained injuries during these protests. Protesters set fire to BJP offices and security vehicles and there were also accounts of stone-pelting in various locations.

Sonam Wangchuk celebrated the formation of Union Territory (UT)

Sonam Wangchuk plays a pivotal role in this violence which took place during his hunger strike. Alongside his supporters, he has been advocating for complete statehood for Ladakh. Currently, he is being accused of instigating this agitation despite having previously celebrated the establishment of the Union Territory (UT).

On 5th August 2019, the central government repealed Article 370 concerning Jammu and Kashmir, subsequently partitioning the region into two union territories. One was designated as Jammu and Kashmir while the other was named Ladakh. On that day, Sonam Wangchuk expressed his gratitude to the central government.

He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for “fulfilling Ladakh’s longstanding dream.” He added, “It was exactly 30 years ago in August 1989 that Ladakhi leaders launched a movement for UT status. Thank you all who helped in this democratic decentralization.”

Wangchuk was not the only individual rejoicing over Ladakh’s Union Territory status as organizations such as Anjuman Moin-ul-Islam also took part in the celebrations. On the fateful day the organization released a letter extending gratitude to PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and the central government. Sonam Wangchuk personally shared this letter on his X account.

Today, Leh is under the shadow of violence and flames but on 5th August 2019 the same place witnessed celebrations accompanied with singing and dancing as Ladakh was conferred the status of a Union Territory.

Quest for a Union Territory status for Ladakh has been vey long

The residents of Ladakh who took to the streets in celebration during August 2019 did so for a significant reason. Indeed, the Modi administration had addressed their long-standing demand. In June 2019, prior to Ladakh being granted Union Territory status, the then BJP MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal remarked, “The call for Ladakh to be separated from Jammu and Kashmir is not a recent phenomenon; the people of Ladakh have sought a distinct identity since 1948.”

Namgyal’s assertion holds validity. In 1949, Chewang Rigzin, the Chairman of the Subject Committee of the Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA), presented a memorandum to the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, advocating for “self-governance” for the people of Ladakh.

A significant movement advocating for Union Territory status for Ladakh emerged in 1964. This initiative was spearheaded by the Buddhist saint and then-Chief Lama of Ladakh, Kushok Bakula Rinpoche. Nevertheless, the request for UT status was not fulfilled during this demonstration.

In 1989, protests reignited, calling for UT status. The Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA) presented a memorandum to the Government of India, reiterating their demand for autonomy for Ladakh. Additionally, the LBA organized a substantial rally to support this cause. In 1995, the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) was formed to respond to this demand.

LBA’s Leh Chalo rally in 1989 demanding UT status.

Subsequently, protests advocating the demand persisted for numerous years. The central government was of the opinion that addressing the demands would necessitate an amendment to Article 370, a step that the Congress government was reluctant to undertake. In 2016, the All Religious Joint Action Committee (ARJAC), which had been advocating for a UT, adopted a resolution calling for the same for Ladakh. This aspiration of the Ladakhis was ultimately fulfilled by the Modi government in 2019.

How the appeal progressed to full state

Ladakh was conferred with Union Territory status, prompting the central government to initiate development efforts in the region. Under the leadership of PM Modi, Ladakh received permission to establish a university, a hotel management institute and a professional college. A substantial financial package amounting to crores was allocated. Infrastructure such as roads and bridges was developed. However, this progress and peace were met with resistance from certain “activists.”

A growing sentiment emerged among the populace that corporations would come and seize all available land. Speculations arose that outsiders would migrate and settle in the area. In early 2023, Sonam Wangchuk initiated a protest by sleeping outdoors, advocating for “constitutional safeguards for Ladakh.” Over time, the protest gained momentum.

The Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KAD) expressed their support as well. In March 2024, Soman Wangchuk and individuals linked to the LAB-KDA initiated another strike in Leh. In September 2024, LAB also commenced the “Dilli Chalo Padyatra.”

Sixth Schedule – Negotiations about full statehood?

Leaders from Ladakh have presented four demands to the Home Ministry, which include granting full statehood to Ladakh, incorporating it into the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, creating a distinct Public Service Commission and allocating two parliamentary seats. The Home Ministry tentatively approved the latter two requests.

Additionally, protesters in Ladakh are advocating for inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. In simple terms, the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution offers special autonomy to tribal regions with the objective of safeguarding the culture, land and resources of tribal populations.

The BJP has incorporated this demand into its manifesto, indicating that the party is contemplating how to pursue it. Currently discussions are taking place with the central government concerning the demands of the protesters. Prior to the Wangchuk protest in March 2024, a delegation from Ladakh engaged in discussions with Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

In relation to this dialogue, the Home Ministry remarked, “Amit Shah assured the delegation that the government, led by PM Modi, is dedicated to offering the essential constitutional protections to the Union Territory of Ladakh.”

This was not an isolated meeting. In a press release dated 24th September, the Home Ministry announced, “The Government of India is actively collaborating with the Apex Body Leh and Kargil Democratic Alliance regarding these matters. Several meetings have been conducted with them through the official channels of the High Powered Committee and its sub-committees, as well as through various informal discussions with leaders.”

The central government indicated that discussions with Ladakhi leaders are scheduled for 25th and 26th September. Additionally, the High Powered Committee is set to convene on 6th October. However, prior to that, there has been an effort to provoke unrest in Ladakh.

Did Wangchuk plan to incite violence?

The incidents of arson and stone-pelting in Leh took place on 24th September. However, the groundwork for these events had already been laid. Sonam Wangchuk had warned of a potentially explosive situation during a press conference in September 2024. He stated, “The government has restricted their freedoms by denying them democracy, and simultaneously, by withholding employment, it has incapacitated them. The circumstances in Ladakh, which borders Pakistan and China, could escalate into a crisis.”

Sonam Wangchuk, who has been scrutinized regarding his foreign funding, made a reference to GenZ in relation to these protests. This term has recently become prominent due to the GenZ protests in Nepal, which were marked by incidents of arson, looting and stone-pelting. Numerous individuals lost their lives, even ministers were assaulted and the government was ultimately overthrown.

Where was Wangchuk during the time when efforts were required to prevent the violence? Additionally, the Home Ministry pointed out, “Despite several leaders urging him to terminate the hunger strike, he (Wangchuk) continued his hunger strike and misled the public by making incendiary references to protests reminiscent of the Arab Spring and Gen Z protests in Nepal.”

It is evident that this type of violence, along with the demands being discussed by the government, which included both past and future meetings, could only have been planned. In a democratic framework, dialogue is the sole path forward, and it should have been the exclusive resolution.

Nevertheless, the efforts to provoke chaos unmistakably suggest that certain individuals are uncomfortable with the peace in India. They aim to foster an atmosphere of disorder within the nation, occasionally utilizing Gen Z, and at other times drawing parallels with situations in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Read the report in Hindi here.

‘Journalist’ gets rattled after ex-CJI highlights how construction of mosque atop Ram Mandir was desecration: Read how the addendum to Ayodhya verdict confirms Hindu beliefs

OpIndia Staff
-
0
‘Journalist’ gets rattled after ex-CJI highlights how construction of mosque atop Ram Mandir was desecration: Read how the addendum to Ayodhya verdict confirms Hindu beliefs

In a recent interview with the former Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, ‘independent journalist’ Sreenivasan Jain flogged the dead horse by casting aspersions on the Supreme Court verdict in the Ayodhya Ram Mandir case.

Based on certain critical comments on the Supreme Court judgment, Jain claimed that the verdict rewarded the “illegal act” committed by the Hindus in asserting their claim on the inner courtyard (where the disputed structure stood), and “punished” the Muslim side, which did not lay claim on the outer courtyard (where the Ram Lalla Virajmaan was seated in a makeshift temple).

“The idea that the inner courtyard contested was also a result of the Hindus committing illegal acts like desecration, asserting their rights and creating disturbances; the fact that the Muslims didn’t do that in the outer courtyard, didn’t contest it, then becomes almost a ground to punish them; the fact that you (Muslims) didn’t put up a fight while Hindus did actually weighs against the Muslims, is one critical reading of the verdict,” asserted Sreenivasan Jain.

Original act of desecration was the erection of the mosque: Chandrachud

Responding to Jain’s claim, former CJI Chandrachud reminded him that the original act of desecration, which was conducted by Muslims by erecting a mosque on the ruins of a Hindu temple, cannot be overlooked.

“When you said that the Hindus were desecrating the inner courtyard, what about the fundamental act of desecration, the very erection of the mosque, we forget all that happened in history. Now, once you accept that that happened in history, and we had evidence in the form of archaeological evidence, how can you shut your eyes?” said the former CJI, who was part of the Constitutional bench, which decided the Ayodhya dispute.

Those criticising the verdict have a selective view of history: Chandrachud

Refuting the critical comments on the judgment, referred to by Jain, Chandrachud said that those who criticised the verdict, and insinuated that the judiciary acted in a partisan manner by deciding in favour of the Ram Temple, have a selective view of history. “What is really being done by many of these commentators that you have referred to is that they have a selective view of history. They ignore evidence of what happened beyond a certain period of history and start looking at the evidence which is of a more comparable nature,” said Chandrachud.

In an effort to delegitimise the top court’s decision, Jain said, “I thought the judgment found that there was no evidence that the underlying structure was necessarily demolished to build the mosque because there was a gap of several centuries between the underlying structure and the mosque.” To which Chandrachud categorically replied, “There was adequate evidence from the archaeological excavation…there is evidence in the form of the archaeological report”.

Calling out the people who have been raising suspicions about the Supreme Court verdict, Chandrachud remarked that those are the people who have been picking and choosing historical facts to peddle their narrative. “Let’s face it. Ultimately, people who have criticised the judgment want to ignore the fundamental history of the mosque, and then look at the more comparative history, at selective elements of that history that support what they postulate”, said the former CJI.

He stated that the judgment was purely based on the law and the legal principles and that the claim that the decision was based on faith rather than evidence is unfounded. “The Supreme Court’s judgment applies the conventional yardstick of determining adverse possession. It’s on the basis of the evidence and the conventional yardsticks which we have applied that we have come to this conclusion. “The criticism that the judgment is based on faith and not evidence is the criticism by the people, I dare say, who have not read the judgment,” he added.

Jain’s claim that the Muslim side got punished for not asserting their claim on the site, within the disputed area, where Hindus have been offering prayers, sounds ridiculous. What else would qualify as a ‘claim’ better than the mosque itself, which stood over the ruins of a Hindu temple, and on a piece of land that did not even belong to the Muslims in the first place? In fact, Ayodhya Janmabhoomi is not the only site where the Muslims asserted their claims. The country is full of numerous such examples, which are testimony to how the Muslims have historically been asserting their ‘claims’ on the ruins of the faith of the Hindus. Several such ‘claims’ stand tall to date on the ruins of Hindu temples.

This is not the only instance where unfounded suspicions have been raised against the Supreme Court decision in the Ayodhya dispute. A certain lobby of people, including academicians and Historians, has been peddling false narratives using a whitewashed version of history to make a case for the mosque. The battle to reclaim the Ram Janmabhoomi went on for several decades and passed through several courts, and during this time, both parties had the full opportunity to put forward their arguments and evidence. Following a centuries-long struggle, which started in 1528 with the construction of the mosque, the dispute was finally settled with the Supreme Court’s verdict in 2019. After examining a plethora of evidence and hearing the detailed arguments of the Hindu and the Muslim sides, the Constitutional bench, which, notably, also included a Muslim (former) judge, Justice S. Abdul Nazeer, decided that the disputed site belonged to Lord Ram. The Supreme Court accepted the ASI report, which confirmed the presence of a Hindu structure beneath the Mosque. It also accepted that the auspicious site has always been sacred to Hindus. Apart, from the archaeological evidence, history is full of documentary evidence, which prove how the Hindus have always considered the site as Ram Janmabhoomi.

Historical evidence in favour of Ram Janmabhoomi

An addendum to the Supreme Court judgment by an unnamed judge went into depth of the beliefs of the Hindus regarding Ram Janmabhoomi by referring to certain Historical evidence, including Ain-i-Akbari, accounts of an English merchant William Finch, accounts of a Jesuit missionary Father Joseph Tieffenthaler and a description in Janma Sakhies of Guru Nanak’s visit to Ayodhya.

Ain-i-Akbari

Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century document written by Mughal Emperor Akbar’s court historian, Abu’ l Fazl, in the Persian language, mentioned Ayodhya as the residence of Ramachandra, who was further described as an Avatar, i.e., an incarnation of Vishnu. The document refers to Ayodhya as one of the holiest places of antiquity. A specific statement in the document said that during the Treta Yuga on the ninth of the light half of the month of Chaitra in the city of Ayodhya, the wife of Kausalya of Raja Dasaratha, Lord Ram was born.”

Accounts of William Finch

A similar reference to Ayodhya is found in the accounts of William Finch, who was an English merchant in the service of the East India Company (EIC). He travelled to India along with Captain Hawkins during the reign of Mughal emperor Jehangir. In his travel accounts, Finch mentioned the ruins of Ramachandra’s castle and houses. He also noticed the belief of Indians that Ramchandra was born, who took flesh upon him.”

Accounts of Father Joseph Tieffenthaler

Father Joseph Tieffenthaler, a Jesuit missionary who visited India between 1766 and 1771 A.D, wrote the historical and geographical description of India in Latin, which was later translated into French. English translation of the work was filed before the High Court as Ext. 133 (Suit-5) and the Court extensively relied on it. The Supreme Court judge drew three important conclusions from his account. The judge stated, “First, that Emperor Aurengzebe got the fortress called Ramcot demolished and got a Muslim temple, with triple domes, constructed at the same place. It further states that fourteen black stone pillars of 5 spans high, which had existed at the site of the fortress, are seen there. Twelve of these pillars now support the interior arcades of the mosque. Two (of these 12) are placed at the entrance of the cloister.”

“Second that, on the left is seen a square box raised 5 inches above the ground, with borders made of lime, with a length of more than 5 ells and a maximum width of about 4 ells, which is called Bedi (i.e. the “cradle”) by the Hindus. The reason for the faith and belief was also that there was a house where Beschan (Vishnu) was born in the form of Ram.” And finally, “Third, that Aurengzebe or Babar got this place razed in order to deny the noble people the opportunity of practising their superstitions. However, there still exists some superstitious cult in some place or other. Since in the place where the native house of Ram existed, the Hindus go around 3 times and prostrate on the floor”.

Guru Nanak’s visit to Ayodhya

The addendum also referred to the Janma Sakhies, which record a description of Guru Nanak’s visit to Ayodhya. They mention that Guru Nanak had visited Ayodhya for Darshan of Ram Janma Bhumi in the year 1510 AD, even before the construction of the mosque in 1528. This record supports the claim of Hindus that there was a temple in Ayodhya which was regarded as the birthplace of Bhagwan Ram, the judge said.

Besides, the fact that the mosque was commonly referred to as the “Janma Sthan Mosque” in various British government documents also proved that there was a common understanding about the mosque existing on a ‘Janam Sthan’ or birthplace. The addendum concluded with the remarks, “It is thus concluded on the conclusion that faith and belief of Hindus since prior to construction of Mosque and subsequent thereto has always been that Janmaasthan of Lord Ram is the place where Babri Mosque has been constructed which faith and belief is proved by documentary and oral evidence discussed above.”

Anti-India academic Nitasha Kaul, whose OCI card was revoked by India, enlisted by the US as an expert witness in the Pannun assassination plot trial

Shriti Sagar
-
0
Anti-India academic Nitasha Kaul, whose OCI card was revoked by India, enlisted by the US as an expert witness in the Pannun assassination plot trial

The United States government has enlisted Indian-origin British academic Nitasha Kaul as an expert witness in the ongoing trial linked to assassination plot against Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. 

In its formal court document, the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) stated that Professor Kaul will give evidence in the case. She is a ‘Professor’ of Politics, International Relations and Critical Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Westminster in London and also Director of the Centre for the Study of Democracy there.

Based on the filing, Kaul will be testifying on several points, including that the Government of India publicly condemned Pannun and Hardeep Singh Nijjar for their terrorist activities. She will also testify that India’s foreign intelligence service, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), operates under the Cabinet Secretariat, is based at the CGO Complex in New Delhi, frequently employs officers from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and that its purpose includes quelling Sikh separatist movements.

This information is shared by an independent investigative journalist, Journalist V on his X account.

This move to invite Kaul as an expert witness has already stirred controversy in India due to her history of making anti-India statements and her long record of activism against Indian institutions.

Who is Nitasha Kaul?

Nitasha Kaul has often been described as an “anti-India propagandist” for her remarks and actions over the years. In May 2024, she took to social media to complain after the Indian government cancelled her Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card. In her post, she accused the government of carrying out “transnational repression” and punishing her for what she called “scholarly work” critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.

She wrote that she had been unfairly treated, recalling that earlier she had also been denied entry into India when she was invited by the Congress-led government of Karnataka to deliver a talk on democratic and constitutional values. 

According to her, despite sending a detailed 20,000-word response to the authorities, the government had gone ahead and revoked her OCI card. She claimed that this was a sign of India’s “thin-skinned, petty insecurity” that allegedly does not allow space for dissent.

However, the Indian government has made it clear that the OCI card is not a right but a privilege. OCI status is given to persons of Indian origin under specific conditions, but it can be revoked if the person is found indulging in activities that go against India’s sovereignty, constitutional values, or national security.

GOI cancelled her OCI card against a direct attempt to harm India’s sovereignty and integrity

In Nitasha’s case, the part of the document that she shared read, “AND WHEREAS, it has been brought to the notice of the Government of India that you have been found indulging in anti-India activities, motivated by malice and complete disregard for facts or history. Through your numerous inimical writings, speeches and journalistic activities at various international forums and on social media platforms, you regularly target India and its institutions on the matters of India’s sovereignty.”

The GoI categorically stated that her OCI card was revoked because of her anti-India activities. Nitasha has a long history of propagating an anti-India narrative.

In May 2024, she shared a fictional story to cast aspersions on the integrity of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). She claimed she had dreamt about EVMs not counting votes in India. She conjectured a make-believe story to lend credence to the conspiracy theory mainstreamed by the Congress party about the EVMs. She claimed, “Recently, at a workshop lunch, I was telling a British colleague that I’d not slept well the previous night due to dreams where people were voting on EVMs but votes were not being counted. A Turkish colleague overheard & said he too used to have troubled dreams during Erdogan’s elections in Turkey!”

In February 2024, she was deported upon arrival at Bengaluru airport based on a preventive lookout circular issued against her as Indian agencies had flagged her “pro-separatist” comments and statements and anti-India line stand on Kashmir taken on various public forums. Kaul said she was detained at the airport by the immigration officials, who cited “orders from Delhi” to not allow her entry into the country. She said that she possessed all the necessary documentation for her visit, but faced a challenging situation. She claimed she would continue to advocate “democracy and civil liberties” despite the “adversities faced”. She ranted on X following the deportation, just the way she has done now after the OCI card was revoked.

She had previously spread falsehoods about the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) and participated in events organised by radical Islamic outfits such as ‘Stand With Kashmir (SWK)’, ‘Kashmir Solidarity Movement (KSM)’, and ‘Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC)’.

Kaul had been at the forefront of cancelling PM Modi’s address at the Wharton School of Business. The anti-India propagandist also mocked the death of former Chief of Defence Staff (CoDS) Bipin Rawat in December 2021.

Nitasha Kaul seemed to justify his untimely death by presenting him as an ‘enemy of Kashmiris’.

US government using an anti-India voice

The fact that the U.S. government has chosen someone with such a track record as an expert witness in the Pannun assassination plot trial has raised concerns in India. This can be considered as Washington deliberately giving space to an anti-India voice to build a narrative that paints New Delhi in a negative light.

Kaul’s testimony is expected to be used to establish that India has targeted Khalistani terrorists abroad, but her history of controversial and hostile remarks about India raises questions about her neutrality. 

For many, this looks like part of a broader attempt to corner India internationally at a time when New Delhi has strongly denied any involvement in assassination plots abroad.

Who is Gurpatwant Singh Pannun?

 Gurpatwant Singh Pannun is a US-based Khalistani terrorist who has citizenship in both the US and Canada. He poses as an attorney in the US and claims to be a frontrunner in the fight for the rights of Sikhs. 

In reality, he consistently propagates Khalistani sentiments and often issues threats against India. He has been actively promoting violence against Indian diplomats in Canada, the US and other countries where pro-Khalistani Sikhs have been living. 

He was designated as a terrorist by the Government of India under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for his anti-India activities. His organisation, Sikhs For Justice, was also listed as a terrorist outfit by the Government of India.

The details of the case

The assassination plot against Pannun came to light last year when the U.S. Department of Justice filed charges against two Indian nationals. The first, Vikash Yadav, was accused of directing the plot from India. Yadav, identified earlier only as “CC-1,” has since been officially charged. The second accused, Nikhil Gupta, was arrested in the Czech Republic and is currently in detention in Brooklyn.

According to the media reports, Yadav, who was once employed with India’s Cabinet Secretariat, tasked Gupta with finding a hitman in the U.S. to eliminate Pannun. 

The US Justice Department had reportedly claimed in an indictment filed in a federal court in Manhattan that an unidentified Indian government employee named (CC-1) recruited an Indian national named Nikhil Gupta to hire an assassin to kill Pannu. Gupta was detained in Prague in June 2023 and was extradited to the US in June 2024.

The US allegations regarding the failed assassination of Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in November 2023 came months after then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged the involvement of Indian officials in the murder of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India has repeatedly rejected those allegations as baseless.

Now, with the U.S. pressing ahead in the Pannun plot case and using figures like Nitasha Kaul as expert witnesses, the matter has the potential to add another layer of strain in India’s relations with Washington.

As VHP issues a checklist to ensure only Hindus participate in Garba events, read why Muslims have been barred from the sacred celebrations

Rukma Rathore
-
0
As VHP issues a checklist to ensure only Hindus participate in Garba events, read why Muslims have been barred from the sacred celebrations

The entire nation is captivated by the celebrations and happiness that accompany the festive season. The Hindu community is presently engaged in the vibrant and enthusiastic observance of the auspicious Navratri from 22nd September to 2nd October.

However, how the liberal-Islamist alliance can permit the Hindus to celebrate peacefully? They have not strayed from their long-standing practice of targeting Hindus, particularly during significant occasionswith the intention of tainting the same. Hence, as anticipated, they persist in their vicious attempts to disrupt the joyful ambiance.

According to these elements, each community possesses the right to observe their sacred events per their preferences but the same privilege is not granted to the Hindu community as once again evidenced by the recent outrage. It is not that they need any justification to act outrageously over matters related to Hindus or Sanatan Dharma, but this time, the Muslim extremists and their apologists have been incited by the concerns expressed regarding the presence of Muslim males in garba programs across the country.

Importantly, Muslims target and do not even want to allow Hindus to organize Garba functions near their religious sites, however, it is conveniently painted as problematic when Hindus wish to celebrate their special days in a manner of their choosing.

How the fresh row started

The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) recently declared that only Hindus will be allowed to attend garba programs during Navratri and those who wish to participate must provide their Aadhaar cards, apply a “tilak” to their foreheads and carry out Hindu religious rites. VHP defended the actions by maintaining that they were necessary to stop “love jihad,” which causes troubles every year amid the holy celebrations.

VHP national spokesperson Shriraj Nair voiced, “Garba is not merely a dance but a form of worship to please the goddess. They (apparent reference to Muslims) do not believe in idol worship. Only those having faith in the rituals must be allowed to participate.” According to him, the outfit had sent out advisories instructing garba organisers to verify Aadhaar cards of attendees at entry points, apply “tilak” to them and make sure they conduct puja before to admittance.

He added, “VHP and Bajrang Dal workers will monitor the events. Garba is a form of worship, not entertainment. Those who do not have faith in the goddess should not be part of it.”

According to VHP Vidarbha general secretary Prashant Titre, participants would also be sprayed with “gau mutra,” or cow urine, while volunteers from the Bajrang Dal would supervise garba pandals to make sure the rules were followed. Navin Jain, the convenor of the VHP’s Vidarbha Pran conveyed that non-Hindus should be excluded from garba events which he described as sacred worship as opposed to a dance or cultural program.

“Organisers should check the Aadhaar card of entrants to ensure only Hindus are allowed and a ’tilak’ be put on the forehead of men. Every participant should be asked to bow before the picture of the goddess at the entrance,” he stressed. Additionally, Jain urged that smoking and drinking of any kind be banned from these gatherings.

He mentioned, “People who do not have faith in goddess Durga should not attend such programmes. They go there with a certain mindset, which causes trouble for our sisters and hurts our religious sentiments. In the last few years, it has been seen that Hindu girls have been targeted for love jihad, prompting us to appeal to garba organisers to not allow such people.”

Many Bharatiya Janata Party leaders endorsed the decision, emphasizing that Hindus should have the freedom to organize their events as they wish, provided they secure permission from the relevant authorities. Predictably, the Congress-led I.N.D.I. Alliance, considering its voter base, opposed this in the name of secularism and attacked Vishva Hindu Parishad as well as Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

Why Muslims want to attend a Mushrik event and go against the teachings on Islam

According to Islam, a mushrik is a polytheist who engages in shirk (idolatry) by identifying partners with God. The Quran explicitly prohibits worshipping idols, deities or anyone else in addition to or instead of Allah. It is considered blasphemy and the greatest sin in the religion. A rational mind might question why the devoted adherents of this faith would choose to oppose the teachings of their sacred text by participating in an event that is fundamentally contrary to their preachings.

It cannot truly be the case that they believe in pluralism, respect other faiths and therefore wish to partake in such celebrations, as evidenced repeatedly by their actions, including stone pelting at religious Hindu processions, disrespecting and vandalizing idols of deities as well as asserting that exposure to Holi colours, performing yoga and even raising “Bharat Mata ki jai” slogan contradicts their beliefs.

This community which is characterized by a profound aversion to idolatry and believes that even calling their own country “Mata” infringes upon their religious convictions wish to attend events that are exclusively focused on the veneration of the nine forms of Goddess Durga?

Moreover, it is not that Muslims participate in the Garba events alongside their families. It is primarily the males who seek access to these programs without any females or children from their community.

This fact should already suffice for anyone to raise an eyebrow at anyone who mention their desire to take part in the cultural or religious diversity of India. Why is this courtesy granted solely to Muslim men and not to women? Are they not, after all, a part of the broader Indian society and deserving of the opportunity to experience the diversity of the country in which they reside?

Notably, all of this is labeled as religious freedom when it pertains to the second largest majority in the country, yet it transforms into intolerance and hatred when Hindus attempt to exercise their rights.

Fake names, problematic actions and more: What Islamists do in Garba events

Certainly, not every Muslim participates in or desires to attend the garba events, however, there exists a history of radical elements within the community exploiting the same as a platform to advance their malicious agendas. “Love jihad” which is frequently misrepresented as a conspiracy theory by Hindu “right wing” groups, by Islamists and their supporters, despite mounting proof indicates a rise during these events.

Guajara, known as the home of garba, once faced considerable challenges from this menace, especially during these events. Non-Hindus used to enter Garba celebrations pretending to be Hindus, tricked girls into believing them, took advantage of their vulnerability and ultimately wrecked their lives.

The same had been exacerbated by non-Hindu Garba classes as well which have been abused in the past to take exploit Hindu girls. These acts of desecration, which range from selling Chaniya Choli to erecting stalls at the Garba grounds and allowing non-Hindus to enter while concealing their identities ruined the glorious celebrations.

However, the Bharatiya Janata Party government, the Hindu community and the active vigiliance of Hindu outfits came together to tackle the problem and effectively brought the situation under control there. Nonetheless, the such threats are far from over.

These allowances given to Islamists have resulted in various troubles for the Hindu community. A married Hindu woman failed to come home from a Garba celebration during the 2024 Navratri in Deesa Taluka of Banaskantha, Gujarat after which a police complaint was filed a young Muslim guy was accused by her spouse of enticing her to accompany him.

Likewise, Munna Abbas Banjara, Mumtaz alias Aftab Banjara, Shahrukh Banjara, Saif Ali Banjara and Ajmal Banjara gang raped a 16-year-old girl during Navratri, last year.

A woman retruning from a Garba event was reportedly harassed by Muslim youngsters near Jama Masjid in Alirajpur of Madhya Pradesh, the same year. Feroz, a Muslim youth, pretended to be Hindu a few days later in order to attend a garba ceremony in Ujjain. He into the pandal with condoms and pretended to be Rahul. Fortunately, he was apprehended by the members of Hindu Jagran Manch. It does not require much effort to understand his motives for bringing the contraceptive at the sacred event.

Five Muslim boys were caught by the police when they infiltrated the Garba pandal in the Guna district under dubious circumstances. During October 2023, Fareed Shah tried to lure a Hindu girl into Garba pandal at Hyderabad’s Begumpet Hockey Stadium by masquerading as Ashish. However, Bajrang Dal activists stopped him.

Eight Muslim men were arrested by Indore police in October 2022 for attempting to enter garba venues while hiding their identities. A Muslim was nabbed for making offensive comments about Hindu women during in Garba pandal in Palsikar colony in another incident that occurred in the same year.

Shahrukh, Zubair, and Samir, stabbed a young man called Madhusudan Modi with a knife at a dandiya celebration in Bikaner, Rajasthan in 2022. Girls who had come to play Garba were being harassed by these people.

Rathod Amin Gulab Nabi, Nizami Moin Nurmahammad, Ganchi Amanbhai Firozbhai and Chauhan Mahamadnuman Mahamadhanif attacked six Hindu students on the same day for playing Islamic songs during a Garba event at BK Patel Arts & Commerce College of Savli in Vadodara. The four accused used stones and iron belts to attack the Hindu pupils.

Some young Muslims  broke into the Garba event in Rajasthan’s Jaipur on 30th September 2022. However, the arrival of the Bajrang Dal and VHP activists caused them to flee. Seven Muslim youngsterswere taken into custody by the police from Indore’s Garba pandal of Pandharinath that same year. According to reports, they were filming Hindu girls. They even lied about their names and posed as Hindus when they were confronted by Bajrang Dal activists.

Conclusion

The instances discussed above represent only a fraction of the larger issue but they are adequate to highlight the significant concern. The guidelines set by Hindu organizations are not a result of a prejudiced or anti-Muslim mindset as depicted by the liberal community and opposition parties but rather arise from a legitimate concern rooted in actual events that have rendered garba events a primary target for Muslim extremists to assault Hindus, especially women.

If they are so adamant about the principles of secularism, then why do they not request the organization of such events within the premises of mosques, madrasas or other religious structures of Muslims? They do not, and they never will, because they are aware that religious tolerance and secularism are a one-way street in India and Hindus are forced to bear the burden of it, even compromising their faith to uphold a constructed narrative.

Any such audacity directed towards the Muslim community will not only result in them being labeled as non-secular which is the utmost affront to liberals but will also wreak havoc on the streets with “Sar tan se juda” slogans resonating throughout.

As violence breaks out in Leh, read how ‘activist’ Sonam Wangchuk has been provoking locals against the Indian State for the past several years

OpIndia Staff
-
0
As violence breaks out in Leh, read how ‘activist’ Sonam Wangchuk has been provoking locals against the Indian State for the past several years

Leh, the dream spot for tourists, is currently in turmoil. What was a peaceful and tranquil area has now become a focal point of violent protests, claiming the lives of 4 individuals and injuring approximately 45 others. In the midst of all this is the so-called “climate activist” Sonam Wangchuk, who has consistently issued inflammatory remarks that appear to have goaded the locals into violence against the Indian State.

This is not the first time Wangchuk has been under the scanner. He had faced heat over allegations of violating lease rules recently, but now the scandal surrounding him has taken a serious turn. His previous speeches and hit videos show a disturbing trend of provocation, which has a direct link to the trouble brewing in Ladakh today.

Provocations caught on video

Several videos of Sonam Wangchuk have gone viral on social media in recent weeks. In one of them, he is seen advising protestors to wear masks and hoodies while coming out for demonstrations. Such instructions are usually linked to violent protests, where people hide their identities to avoid being caught on camera.

In that video, Wangchuk himself is seen wearing a mask and a hoodie, further raising doubts about his real intentions.

Targeting the Indian Army

In another viral clip, Wangchuk can be heard making dangerous claims about the Indian Army’s condition in the border areas. He says:

“You know that on India’s border, our soldiers are in the weakest state. Because here, the strongest regiments are deployed, the Ladakh Scouts, the Sikh regiments and the Gorkha regiments. Today, the morale of Ladakh’s people is broken because they have neither been given democracy nor protection. The Sikh regiments, too, are feeling weak because of the protests in Punjab, and the Gorkha regiments are suffering due to the Agniveer scheme. Even worse, some are now joining the Chinese army. This was the regiment once described as so fearless that if someone said they were unafraid of death, they were either lying or they were a Gorkha. But such upheaval is going on in the Indian Army today, and no media outlet is talking about it.”

These words are not just criticism; they actively question the strength of India’s armed forces at a sensitive border region. Coming from a figure like Wangchuk, these remarks carry the potential to sow doubt and resentment among the youth of Ladakh.

A dangerous call for the “Arab Spring” in India

Perhaps the most alarming video is one where Wangchuk openly invokes the Arab Spring, a series of violent uprisings that toppled governments in the Middle East.

He says, “If the government does not meet our demands, I will dedicate my life to overthrowing it. Do you know about the Arab Spring? There was a revolution in Arab countries, and six governments were changed. Libya’s government was overthrown, Yemen’s government was overthrown, and Syria went into civil war. If all of this was triggered by one man, Muhammad Bouazizi, then can’t people like us do the same?”

This statement is a direct call for violent revolution against the Indian State. By glorifying the Arab Spring, which brought destruction and civil wars, Wangchuk is clearly pushing impressionable locals towards anarchy.

Comparing India with its neighbours

In yet another clip, Wangchuk compares India unfavourably with its neighbours. He says that in Pakistan, even Skardu and Baltistan have their own assemblies, while China has five autonomous regions, including Tibet, which he claims enjoy more rights than Ladakh.

Such comparisons are not only misleading but also dangerous in a sensitive border state. They are designed to fuel resentment among the people of Ladakh and create a false narrative of discrimination.

Meeting with Mohammad Yunus

Sonam Wangchuk also met with Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus at the British High Commission in February 2020. Images show them hugging, adding another layer of suspicion about Wangchuk’s international connections. While this in itself does not amount to inciting violence, it is interesting that Wangchuk would meet Yunus, who has been spearheading and whitewashing the genocide of Hindus in Bangladesh.

Violence in Leh

The sad result of these inflammatory messages was evident on Wednesday, 24th September, when violent demonstrations erupted at Leh. Stone-pelting, burning of vehicles and police clashes made the city tense and volatile. 4 lives were lost and 45 injured by the evening. Shops were closed, streets vacant, and dread spread among ordinary citizens.

Officials say the violence did not arise out of nowhere. Rather, it was the culmination of months of speeches and videos that deliberately provoked people against the government. The young generation of Ladakh, who should have been focusing on education and development, ended up being dragged into dangerous confrontations.

A threat to National security beyond climate activism

Sonam Wangchuk is often introduced in the media as a “climate activist” or an “education reformer.” But the series of viral videos paints a very different picture. From casting doubts on the Indian Army to openly calling for an Arab Spring-style revolt to praising violent uprisings in other countries, his words have gone far beyond activism.

Update: Based on media reports, OpIndia had included in this article a video where Sonam Wangchuk was referring to regime change in Nepal and Bangladesh. OpIndia found that video was not an accurate representation of what Wangchuk was saying. This article has been updated to remove reference of that video.

Dear Arfa, if your ‘I Love Muhammad’ is so harmless then why is it leading to Muslim mobs attacking Hindus and police?

Jhankar Mohta
-
0
Dear Arfa, if your ‘I Love Muhammad’ is so harmless then why is it leading to Muslim mobs attacking Hindus and police?

Dear Ms. Arfa Khanum Sherwani,

It is heartwarming to see your zeal for protecting “three simple words- I love Muhammad”. Sure, it is an expression of religious identity. Sure, it is the right of every Indian citizen to exercise their faith. But when you assert that Indian citizens have the right to express their religious identity, one would presume that would include Hindus as well. Does it, Ms Arfa Khanum Sherwani? And if you believe that Hindus too have a right to express their faith, why are you silent when the very Muslim community, of which you are a member, openly target Hindus for saying “I love Mahadev.”

In Bahiyal village of Dahegam, Gandhinagar district, Gujarat, on the night of September 24, 2025, Hindus were attacked during Garba celebrations. The violence was sparked by a social media post by a Hindu youth that read, “I Love Mahadev”. The post enraged your co-religionists, who then approached the man’s shop, forcing him to flee for safety. In his absence, the shop was vandalised and set ablaze, as CCTV footage later showed several Muslim men breaking into the premises and causing damage.

The unrest quickly escalated into full-scale violence. Stones were pelted, rods were wielded, and vehicles were set ablaze in a Garba- a Hindu religious event, which was held nearby. More than eight vehicles belonging to Hindus were attacked, and one shop was completely burnt down. Even police officers who rushed to the spot to restore order were assaulted, with two police vehicles sustaining heavy damage. Eyewitness footage from the site captured chaotic scenes of Muslim men hurling stones, while the cries of a Hindu mother searching for her son in panic could be heard in the background, underlining the terror caused by the mob.

According to local media reports, a shop owner, who was sitting outside at the time, recounted that a mob of nearly five thousand people descended during the night and deliberately targeted his shop. He explained that his village has only about 80 Hindu households, surrounded by a much larger Muslim population. The mob, armed with stones and weapons, stormed the premises and ransacked it, leaving Muslim ones untouched. He further noted that the attackers were not limited to young men but also included minors who had joined the violence.

The incident was clearly targeted at the Hindu community, as the Hindu man’s simple expression of devotion to Lord Shiva became the pretext for aggression. This was not a clash but a one-sided communal attack sparked by intolerance against Hindus and their devotion.

So tell me, Ms. Sherwani, if three simple words should never be considered threatening, why are Hindus violently punished for saying “I love Mahadev”? Where is your righteous outrage then?

Let me ask you this, Ms Arfa Khanum Sherwani – what if the Hindu youth had not fled? Do you believe your co-religionists, who were vandalizing the shop and indulging in violence, would not harm the Hindu boy? And if they did harm the Hindu boy, would you say that they had a right to do so because Muslims hold the exclusive right to feel aggreieved enough to strip non-Muslims of their liberty?

Tell us – do you believe that the mere expression of Hindu devotion is an affront to your faith? That the mere existence of Hindus is reason enough for the Muslim community to indulge in violence? Tell us, Ms Sherwani – do you believe Muslims have the exclusive right to express their religious identity, even though, that religious identity is so often based on stripping non-Muslims of their faith?

Since you seem so distressed about Muslims being “criminalised” for chanting it, let us look at how those three ‘benign’ words have actually been used by members of your community to wreak havoc across the country. These are not peaceful words of love. They are deployed as a war cry by Islamists. Frenzied crowds of Islamists have paired this chant with Sar Tan Se Juda (beheading) threats, stone pelting, arson, vandalism, and direct attacks on police.

Let us sample this poster.

‘I Love Muhammad’ poster

I am 100% willing to concede that you have the right to put up posters with “I Love Muhammad” – it is an expression of your faith and one should respect it. But, as a Hindu, whose community and its members are under siege, I ask you – why does your community feel the need to add, “If ever there is a war in your name, even cowards like us will stand in the first row”.

What war is your community waging, Ms Arfa? Who is war directed at? What will your community do if they emerge victorious? Do you know who else spoke about this mythical “war”? PFI. You know what they wrote? They wrote a document detailing how the impending war would mean annihilating Hindus – making a list of Hindus and murdering them. Turning India into an Islamic nation which would have no place for non-Muslims, for Hindus. Would you, Arfa, tell PFI and your co-religionists to ‘change their strategy, not their ideology’, like you told the Jihadis at Shaheen Bagh so that you can continue to keep up your secular pretenses?

Violence has broken out in multiple states, including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Gujarat. Police were attacked and stones were thrown at them in various cities amid loud slogans of “Sar tan se juda” during the marches. A cleric even issued a death threat to an inspector involved in a similar incident in Bareilly.

Yes, the slogan can very well be a harmless expression of devotion and the Muslim community should have the right to express their faith. The problem is, however, that Islamists weaponise their faith as an expression of the exclusionist, supremacist ideology that ultimately and almost always, ends up in Hindus being attacked, persecuted, subjugated and massacred.

Hindus said “I love Mahadev.” Muslims responded with stone pelting, arson, and selective targeting of Hindu shops. Muslims said “I love Muhammad” but coupled it with riots, giving threats of beheading and violently clashing with police. Do you not think that instead of questioning the Indian state or Hindus, you should be questioning those who presumably besmirched the name of the faith you so lovingly espouse?

But we know it won’t be. We know you won’t question your co-religionists and that hardly comes as a surprise. This is not new behavior from you, Ms. Sherwani — your Hinduphobia is well established. In August 2024, you mocked Hindu faith by posting an image that replaced a Shivling with a dustbin, an act so vile that a police complaint had to be filed. In September 2024, you dismissed documented cases of Love Jihad, Spit Jihad, and Land Jihad as “fake propaganda,” willfully ignoring the testimonies of Hindu victims who suffered through them. Then in January 2025, you defended The Wire’s coverage that attempted to shield Islamists arrested in Hamirpur for forced religious conversions, choosing to attack the police instead of acknowledging Hindu families torn apart by coercion. The list is endless.

In truth, Arfa – you will never find resonance with Muslims like Dr APJ Kalam. You will never respect those like Arif Mohammad. You will never stand up for those from the Muslim community who put Bharat first and genuinely, truly consider Hindus as their brethren. You, Arfa, will only speak up when Islamists run rampage and target Hindus. You, Arfa, are the ideological backbone of the Jihadis.

1...214215216...7,678Page 215 of 7,678