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Netizens express shock as media reports suggest Justice Joseph smiled at calls for genocide of Brahmins

OpIndia Staff
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Netizens express shock as media reports suggest Justice Joseph smiled at calls for genocide of Brahmins

The Supreme Court on Wednesday was hearing a contempt plea regarding alleged hate speech made against Muslims in rallies across Maharashtra. While reporting on the proceedings, Bar and Bench stated that Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta mentioned about problematic statements by prominent persons on Hindus which are also hate speeches. SG Mehta talked about DMK leader who said that if one wants equality, one should butcher all Brahmins.

To that, Bar and Bench reported that Justice Joseph smiled. When SG Mehta pointed out that this (idea of butchering Brahmins) is not a matter that should be laughed at, Justice Nagarathna asked what made him (DMK leader) says so. Justice Joseph then asked if he knows who Periyar is. SG Mehta said that just because it is a hate speech, it cannot be pardoned because it is said by someone famous, Bar and Bench reported.

In June 2022, DMK leader R Rajiv Gandhi said that Tamil Brahmins should have been killed as per the directions of Dravidian icon Periyar. In a contentious tweet, the DMK leader remarked, “If we Shudras had done what Periyar told us back then, we wouldn’t have had to struggle with Brahmins for justice, rights, education and equality. 3% of you (Brahmins) are still dominating some areas.”

R.Rajiv Gandhi, DMK Spokesperson’s tweet from June 2022

His tweet, endorsing the genocide of Tamil Brahmins, came after political commentator Sumanth Raman had shared a snippet of the Periyar’s 1973 speech in Karikudi in Tamil Nadu.

Periyar’s 1973 hate speech

In the said speech, the anti-Hindu activist was heard calling for the annihilation of Tamil Brahmins. Periyar had lamented how a Brahmin ‘Lord Murugan’ killed demon king ‘Soora Padman’, who supposedly said that there was no God.

“Tamil Brahmins killed him. So, now we can kill those buggers. That won’t be wrong. Maybe legally it will be wrong. That legal offence and all is humbug. We can’t be bothered that it is legally wrong. We have to come to this conclusion,” he had remarked.

Periyar had emphasised, “Wherever we see a temple, we must go inside and break all the idols inside. Wherever we find a Paapaan (slur for Tamil Brahmins), we must kill and destroy him. Brahmins have done this to us. We must avenge it.”

The Dravidian icon had suggested that a few non-Brahmins might have to die for the cause. “If one non-Brahmin Tamil dies while trying to kill one Tamil Brahmin, only 3 of us will die out of every hundred. 94% of us will still remain but Tamil Brahmins will be eliminated. We will definitely go to this level. We can take one step at a time,” Periyar had suggested.

Netizens shocked at Justice Joseph smiling at calls for genocide of Brahmins

Soon after it was published by Bar and Bench on its Twitter account that Justice Joseph smiled at DMK leader’s idea of wanting to butcher all Brahmins, netizens were shocked.

Netizens felt this was a biased expression by Justice Joseph and wondered if he would have reacted similarly if the talk was about ‘butchering’ people of any other faith instead of Brahmins.

Another netizen also felt it was a shame that a sitting judge was smiling on hate for Brahmins.

Another netizen wondered about Justice Joseph hearing on hate speech case while smiling at idea of butchering of Brahmins.

Some even pointed out how the Brahmin community gets hate in this country is beyond imagination.

Some even pointed out that a sitting judge smiling at calls for genocide of Brahmins could be considered intellectualisation of calls to commit genocide of Brahmins. As if such hate speech is acceptable if it is issued against Brahmins.

The case is now listed for further hearing on April 28, 2023.

Siyaya, cheetah translocated from Namibia to India last year, gives birth to four cubs in Kuno National Park, cheetah cubs born in India after 79 years

OpIndia Staff
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Siyaya, cheetah translocated from Namibia to India last year, gives birth to four cubs in Kuno National Park, cheetah cubs born in India after 79 years

On 29th March 2023, Siyaya – a female cheetah translocated from Namibia to India last year gave birth to four cubs in Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. This is the first time in the last 79 years that a cheetah cub has been born in India.

Union Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change Bhupender Yadav shared it in a tweet. He tweeted, “Congratulations India! A momentous event in our wildlife conservation history during Amrit Kaal! I am delighted to share that four cubs have been born to one of the cheetahs translocated to India on 17th September 2022, under the visionary leadership of PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji.”

He wrote in a next tweet, “I congratulate the entire team of Project Cheetah for their relentless efforts in bringing back cheetahs to India and for their efforts in correcting an ecological wrong done in the past.”

The cubs were born to Siyaya, a female cheetah that was translocated to India from the Gobabis region of southern Namibia. Siyaya was two years old when she was brought to India. After decades, these are the first cheetah cubs to be born in India. In 1952, the cheetah was declared extinct in India. Its restoration into the wild is part of a larger attempt to reintroduce the species to its historical habitat.

Last year, eight cheetahs from Namibia were brought to the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. On September 17, 2022, PM Narendra Modi released eight cheetahs – five males and three females imported from Namibia – at the national park. On February 18, a second batch of 12 cheetahs from South Africa arrived in Kuno National Park.

On Monday, 27th March 2023, it was reported that Sasha, who was one of the eight cheetahs brought from Namibia and introduced in Kuno National Park last year, passed away due to a kidney ailment. It was noted that Sasha had been suffering from this ailment even before her arrival in India. The birth of the cubs comes only days after it was revealed that one of the cheetahs transported from Namibia had deceased.

Aligarh: Senior student cum Maulvi sodomises a junior student sleeping in a madrasa, arrested

OpIndia Staff
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Aligarh: Senior student cum Maulvi sodomises a junior student sleeping in a madrasa, arrested

A senior Madrasa student in the Aligarh district of Uttar Pradesh has been accused of raping a junior student on March 27. According to some media reports the accused who has been identified as Altamas Noman is a Maulvi. A minor madrasa student has accused Altamas Noman of engaging in unnatural sex with him when he was sleeping. The accused threatened the 14-year-old victim after the crime not to tell anyone about it. The accused 19-year-old student at the said madrasa also teaches the junior students enrolled there. The accused has been arrested by the police. 

The reported incident took place at Arabiya Mufaqta Uloom Madrasa in the Rorawar police precinct of the Aligarh district. Noman, who is a student at Aligarh at the Arabiya Mufaqta Uloom Madrasa, is originally from Muzaffarnagar. Along with a few other students, he resides in the same madrassa. Noman also teaches junior students when the madrassa director is absent.

The minor student enrolled in the same madrasa was sleeping on Monday night when the accused Noman approached the student and grabbed him. When the minor victim resisted and tried to scream, accused Noman choked his mouth.

Noman allegedly raped the victim after this. Following the crime, Noman threatened the child and warned him to remain quiet and refrain from telling anybody about it. The terrified boy finally made it home on Tuesday. When the family members saw that he seemed to be terrified, they asked what happened. The boy eventually told his family about the accused Noman’s deeds.

After learning of the incident, the victim’s family and relatives reached the madrasa and trashed the accused. After that, they went to Rorawar police station and lodged a complaint against Noman. Acting upon the complaint, the Rorawar Police registered a case and arrested the accused Maulvi.

Talking about the matter, SP City Kuldeep Singh Gunawat said, “The police had received a complaint that an incident of misdeed with a child studying in Arabiya Mufaqta Uloom Madrassa has taken place. This allegation has been levelled against Maulana Nauman, who teaches in the madrassa. The police are getting a medical examination conducted on the victim student. On the basis of the complaint filed by the victim’s relatives, an immediate case has been registered against the accused Nouman and he has been taken into custody. The police are taking necessary action in the matter.”

A medical examination of the victim student has been done. According to the madrasa director, the incident took place after all the students went to the hall to sleep after the Taraweeh prayer at 10 p.m.

The accused was expelled from the madrasa following the event. The accused Noman was handed over to the victim’s family to “do whatever they want,” the madrasa director claimed.

Watch: Sonia Gandhi’s ex-MP son Rahul ignores P Chidambaram’s MP son Karti while entering Parliament

OpIndia Staff
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Watch: Sonia Gandhi’s ex-MP son Rahul ignores P Chidambaram’s MP son Karti while entering Parliament

On Wednesday, former MP and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi happened to ignore his party colleagues while entering the Parliament building. Gandhi neglected Congress MP Karti Chidambaram as the latter greeted him at the entrance of the parliament building in Delhi. Chidambaram who was wearing a black shirt and Veshti was paid no attention when he extended his hand to greet Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi simply turned his face in the opposite direction and walked away into the parliament.

The incident happened when the Congress leader arrived at the Parliament to attend the meeting of Congress MPs from Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha at the CPP office.

The video of the incident went viral over social media where netizens mocked Gandhi for holding to his arrogant attitude even after he was disqualified as an MP last week.

“Oh man what a tight slap for Karti Chidambaram. He was even wearing a Black shirt for Pappu. Sad Life!,” tweeted Arun Pudur. Meanwhile, another Twitter user said, “No grace or civility even when chips are down. Sonia must be proud of her upbringing.”

However, Karti Chidambaram seemed confused as Gandhi ignored his extended hand and walked away inside the Parliament building. He walked a bit further and then looked back probably wondering why was he ignored by the Congress leader in that manner.

Some even shared memes of the awkward moment, adding music to the video.

Karti Chidambaram looking behind at Rahul Gandhi after he was ignored

Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from the Lok Sabha last week after he was convicted by the Surat Court in a criminal defamation case. Gandhi had caused insult to the community with ‘Modi’ surname in a speech in 2019. In an election rally, he had asked why everyone with the Modi surname is a thief, mentioning Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi and Narendra Modi.

Following conviction, Gandhi was disqualified from Lok Sabha under section 8(3) of the Representation of Peoples Act, 1951, which states that any MP or MLA convicted of any offence and sentenced to imprisonment for not less than two years shall be disqualified from the date of conviction.

Notably, several Congress leaders including youth leaders objected to Gandhi’s disqualification and led protests in Delhi last week. Many of these leaders were detained by the Delhi Police. Later on Monday, prominent Congress leaders wore black clothes in protest against Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification from the Lok Sabha. Some other opposition leaders also chose to wear black in support of Gandhi.

Karti Chidambaram who is the Member of Parliament for Sivaganga also could be seen wearing black but for some reason was snubbed by Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday.

Australia: Queensland moves bill to ban hate symbols, differentiates Swastika from Nazi Hakenkreuz

OpIndia Staff
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Australia: Queensland moves bill to ban hate symbols, differentiates Swastika from Nazi Hakenkreuz

Shannon Fentiman, the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Minister for Women and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, in the Queensland government, Australia, has moved legislation banning hate symbols and acknowledging the distinction between Hindu Swastika and the Nazi Hakenkreuz.

“The bill also makes it an offence to publicly display, distribute or publish a prohibited symbol in a way that could menace, harass or offend someone. The offence will carry a maximum penalty of 70 penalty units or six months imprisonment. Unlike other jurisdictions that have specified prohibited symbols in legislation, our framework will prescribe symbols by regulation. This will mean our laws will cover a broader range of hate symbols and we will be able to respond to new symbols or hate movements that may unfortunately emerge,” Fentiman said while talking about the bill that bans prohibited symbols.

However, the Attorney General laid down a procedure for determining which all symbols could be included in the list of hate symbols before the bill comes into force.

“The bill requires that before prescribing a symbol, the minister must consult with the CCC, the Queensland Human Rights Commission and the Police Service. The minister must also be satisfied that the symbol is widely known by the public or by members of a ‘relevant group’ as representing an ideology of extreme prejudice. In this case, a ‘relevant group’ is a group of people who identify with each other because of, or based on, their race, religion, sexuality, sex characteristics or gender identity. Of course, the government will also undertake extensive consultation with appropriate community and multicultural groups during the process of prescribing prohibited symbols,” she said.

The purpose of the offence is to encompass a wide range of situations. Additionally, there is a list of excuses for the offence, which is not exhaustive. These include situations where the display or distribution is for genuine artistic, religious, educational, historical, legal, or law enforcement purposes, for public interest purposes, or to oppose the ideology represented by the prohibited symbol. If a defendant is relying on an excuse, they must demonstrate that their conduct was reasonable in the given circumstances. The intention is for an excuse to be available for situations where the public display is made in books, satire, documentaries, museums, and during historical re-enactments.

Fentiman also spoke about the misappropriation of the Hindu swastika and the need to differentiate it from a hooked cross or the Nazi Hakenkreuz, which unfortunately, are often interchangeably used by the Hindumisic elements to vilify Hinduism and accuse it of drawing inspiration from the Nazi ideology and symbols.

“While the bill does not prescribe a prohibited symbol, we have announced our intention to ban symbols related to Nazi and ISIS ideology. When referring to Nazi symbols, it is important to note that the Nazi hooked cross is the correct terminology for the most widely known symbol. The hooked cross closely resembles the swastika, which has peaceful and profound meaning in some religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. I want to especially thank Ms Akashika Mohla from the Hindu Community of Australia for her advocacy on this important distinction,” The Justice Minister said.

However, with the enactment of the bill, the religious and cultural significance of the swastika is upheld. The offence will guarantee that the swastika can still be employed for religious and cultural reasons, acknowledging its vital role for Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain communities.

Queensland introduces legislation to ban hate symbols, exempts swastika after protests from Hindu organisations

The caveats in the bill were introduced after Hindu organisations and activists in Australia, including the Hindu Council of Australia, Australian Hindu Association Inc. and others, raised objections over Queensland MP Annastacia Palaszczuk’s proposal to ban ‘the public display of hate symbols such as swastikas’. After MP Palaszczuk announced the proposal, the Hindus strongly objected to it and urged the MP to change the language of the proposal.

In a social media post, the MP had written, “BREAKING: Queensland will ban the public display of hate symbols such as swastikas. We do not do this lightly or without good reason. Late last year, police seized a Nazi flag flown near a Brisbane synagogue. Only a few months earlier, a train carriage in the suburbs was graffitied with swastikas and Nazi slogans. Today I’m announcing our intention to introduce legislation to Parliament that will make it a criminal offence to display symbols promoting hatred and causing fear. These crimes are not harmless. Nor are their ideologies. They are to be called out, confronted and condemned.”

Objecting to the proposal to include Swastika in hate symbols, the Hindu Council of Australia issued a press release dated May 26. They pointed out that while the Council stands with the authorities and communities to ban the hate symbols, it “strongly opposes the prohibition or criminalisation of our ancient, auspicious and holy symbol, the Swastika.”

They further added that it was disappointing that MP referred to the Nazi symbol as Swastika and not as “Hakenkreuz” or the Hooked Cross.

“Hindu Council of Australia stands united with the Queensland Government and the Jewish community to promote the important work of fighting anti-Semitism and other racist and exclusionary ideologies and wholeheartedly supports a prohibition on the Nazi hate symbols. However, the Hindu Council of Australia strongly opposes the prohibition or criminalisation of our ancient, auspicious and holy symbol, the Swastika,” the statement said.

The Council further urged the MP to publicly clarify that prohibition would be limited to the Nazi hate symbol ‘Hakenkreuz’ and NOT the holy Swastika. It also urged adding an exemption to the prohibition by the Queensland Parliament for the use of the Swastika as a cultural and religious symbol. 

Ratnagiri: Hindu woman tortured, forced to convert and financially exploited by husband Masood and family, FIR filed

Siddhi Somani
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Ratnagiri: Hindu woman tortured, forced to convert and financially exploited by husband Masood and family, FIR filed

The Ratnagiri Police on March 25 arrested a person named Masood Rajjak Shah for forcing his Hindu wife to convert her religion to Islam. He along with his family members allegedly tortured the 25-year-old woman and took away around Rs 14,00,000 from the complainant and her maternal family. They also physically assaulted her and threatened her for life. The incident is said to have happened in Chiplun city of Ratnagiri district.

The FIR has been filed under sections 406, 420, 498 A, 323, 504, 506, 34 of the Indian Penal Code and under sections 3(1)(g), 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s), 3(2)(va) of the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

FIR copy obtained by OpIndia

As per the FIR copy obtained by OpIndia, the complaint has been registered against the victim’s husband Masood Rajjak Shah, mother-in-law Naseema, sister-in-law Faiziya and Nikat, and brother-in-law Kazim. The victim in the complaint mentioned that her husband and her in-laws have been harassing her for the past three years and have been demanding money from her family. She also said that the accused persons hurled casteist abuses at her and tortured her to convert her religion to Islam.

As per the complaint, the victim woman met the accused Masood in the year 2017 and the duo soon fell in love. The latter then proposed marriage but the victim woman refused to marry. She said that she would not convert her religion to Islam and suggested they both stay in a live-in relationship instead. However, the accused then assured the victim that she would not need to convert her religion to Islam and she would be allowed to follow her religion post-marriage.

Accused booked in the case

The duo got married on December 31, 2018, as per the Islamic rituals and Masood soon began imposing restrictions on the woman. He and his family members barred her from taking higher education and forced her to raise kids. The victim woman is the mother of two children and both are in Masood’s house at present.

A year after the marriage, the victim woman was asked to get money from her maternal home. The family members of the accused hurled the castiest abuses at the victim and said that accepting a Hindu in their family was huge and that she should pay for it. They tortured her and even demanded money from her grandfather, as per the victim.

The mother of the victim then obtained a loan of Rs 14 lakhs from the bank and gave it to Masood and his family. The amount was divided and sent to the bank accounts of all the accused. Rs 2 lakhs each were sent to Masood, Naseema, Faiziya, Nikat, and Kazim’s account and Rs 4 lakhs were sent to the victim’s account. Masood later took over the money from the victim’s account and used it to pay the long pending debts.

Reportedly, accused Naseema in the year 2020 demanded an additional Rs 1.5 lakh from the victim’s grandfather. She continued to harass the victim over her caste and asked her to convert her religion to Islam. The victim was also physically abused by her husband and also threatened her for life.

Complaint filed by the victim woman.

OpIndia talked to the victim who confirmed that she was forced to convert her religion to Islam post-marriage. She also said that she was being harassed by her in-laws over her caste. “I was harassed and abused over my caste. They also looted my family members for money. My husband also asked me to convert my religion. I have left that home and I have come to my grandfather’s house in Chiplun. But both my children are in my in-law’s captivity and I am worried for them. I have written to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) seeking action in the case,” she said.

After the complaint, the NCPCR wrote to SP Ratnagiri, Dhananjay Kulkarni seeking safe custody of the two minor children of the victim. the letter by NCPCR stated that the two minor children are at risk of torture and violence by the victim’s in-law’s family. “Please intervene in the matter and produce minor children before Child Welfare Committee to ensure the safety and security of children and their safe custody,” the letter directed.

NCPCR’s direction in the case

Accordingly, the Ratnagiri Police has booked Masood Rajjak Shah, his mother Naseema, sister-in-laws Faiziya and Nikat, and brother Kazim in the case and has arrested Masood alone. While further investigations are underway, the victim has demanded strict action against all the accused and safe custody of her two minor children.

Former SC Judge participates in a program held in Jerusalem, comments on the internal protests in Israel

OpIndia Staff
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Former SC Judge participates in a program held in Jerusalem, comments on the internal protests in Israel

On March 26, former Supreme Court judge L Nageshwara Rao attended a conference in Jerusalem amid ongoing massive protests against the proposed judicial overhaul in the country. During his speech at the conference, former justice Rao endorsed the Indian model of appointing judges. Notably, Law Minister Kiren Rijiju has pointed out several times that the collegium system to appoint judges needs an overhaul.

Speaking to the Indian Express after returning from the conference, former judge Rao said, “Even an ordinary citizen on the street was talking about the nuances of an ‘override clause’. This was democracy at work.”

In Israel, he was invited by the Israel Democracy Institute for a conference titled ‘No Other Democracy in the World – An Emergency Conference on Threats to Judicial Independence’. In his statement, he said, “I saw a march to the President’s residence of about 20,000 people. It was peaceful, with no violence at all. At the same time, I was told there was a crowd of over two lakh people marching in Tel Aviv.”

During the press statement at the conference, former Judge Rao said, “People should have confidence in the judges being efficient and not acting with fear or favour. The appointment of judges is an essential ingredient for upholding the independence of the judiciary. A robust mechanism for the appointment of judges is an imperative need for a civil society.”

Protests over Netanyahu’s proposed judicial overhaul, now taken back

Reportedly, Prime Minister Israel Benjamin Netanyahu proposed to overhaul the judiciary. However, following the protests, the plans have been postponed for now. Controversy and protests erupted over a Bill to change the composition of the nine-member committee that selects the judges for the Israeli Supreme Court. Currently, it comprises of minister of justice, another minister, two Supreme Court judges, the Supreme Court President, two representatives of the Bar and two Knesset members. On the contrary, the government in India has no say in the collegium to select judges for the High Courts and the Supreme court in the country.

Under the new proposal, PM Netanyahu proposed to have a 7-4 majority for the government-nominated members to select the judges. The Bill also proposed to expand the committee.

Former judge Rao noted the proposed reforms were in a very different context to what India has. He said, “Israel has an unwritten Constitution and a unicameral legislative body, the Knesset, but a deep history of separation of powers. Their Supreme Court is the arbiter of rights not written in a Constitution like ours. There are voices in Israel that look to the Indian model rather than to the West.”

Speaking on the status between the judiciary and the executive in India, he said he has a different view on the matter. “The judiciary is a counter-majoritarian force, and bonhomie between the court and the government is not a good thing for a citizen,” he added.

Who gave Gautam Adani land for Mundra port at 10 paise per sq meter in 1993? The answer will leave Rahul Gandhi shell-shocked

Jinit Jain
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Who gave Gautam Adani land for Mundra port at 10 paise per sq meter in 1993? The answer will leave Rahul Gandhi shell-shocked

While Rahul Gandhi and Congress have been using Adani as a stick to beat the Modi government and project them as guilty of cronyism, the history of the Adani Group’s first infrastructure project in Mundra in Gujarat will leave both the grand old party and the Gandhi scion in shock and perhaps stupefaction.

Even though the Gandhi scion keeps alleging that Modi is working at the behest of a few businessmen, with Adani being among them, the facts of the matter, especially in the rise of the Adani Group and its Mundra Port business, do not jibe with the allegations levelled by the former Wayanad MP.

Nevertheless, the attack against the Centre concerning Adani had intensified in the last few weeks, especially in the wake of the Hindenburg Report on Adani, which alleged that the group had indulged in stock manipulation and fraud to inflate its valuation. The attack escalated following the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from Lok Sabha after a Surat Court convicted and sentenced him to 2 years of imprisonment for his racist remarks against a particular community. Gandhi had alleged that he was disqualified from the parliament because he dared to speak up on the supposed ties between PM Modi and Adani.

However, it is worth noting that it was not PM Modi or the BJP government that bestowed on Adani his first piece of land for the Mundra Port project. It was under the Chimanbhai Patel-led Congress government in 1993 that granted land at 10 paise per sq meter to Adani for his Mundra Port project.

Gautam Adani, the head of the Adani Group, has denied receiving any special favours from Narendra Modi during his reign as Prime Minister and his earlier stint as Gujarat CM. According to him, the Adani Group, which is valued at $8.7 billion and operates in ports and energy, started purchasing land near the coastal town of Mundra in Gujarat as early as 1993. However, it is worth noting that only 5,315 acres of the total 15,946-acre land bank were acquired during Modi’s tenure as Chief Minister.

Congress government led by Chimanbhai Patel granted the first piece of land to Adani for 10 paise per sq meter

In his interview published in 2014, Adani asserted that no farmland was utilised for the construction of the Mundra port. Only barren and desert-like land, he said, was selected for the development of infrastructure projects in Kutch at a time no one thought of investing in the region.

Adani utilised the land to construct India’s largest port, which handled a record-breaking 100 million tons of cargo in FY 2013-14, and the nation’s largest privately-owned coal power station. He stated that his group did not acquire the land at lower prices to sell it for a profit.

However, what’s fascinating is the price at which Adani secured vast tracts of land for building the Mundra Port. Gautam Adani received the land for Mundra Port in 4 parts, starting with the Chimanbhai Patel-led Congress government in Gujarat in March 1993. The Congress government had then granted Adani the land at a throwaway price of just 10 paise per square meter. He subsequently received additional plots of land under Shankersinh Vaghela in 1997, BJP governments led by Keshubhai Patel in 1995 and Narendra Modi in 2005.

“When we began acquiring land at Mundra in 1993, (Chief Minister) Chimanbhai Patel charged us 10 paise per square meter. (BJP government led by) Keshubhai Patel (in 1995) charged us Re 1 per sq mt and Shankersinh Vaghela (led Rashtriya Janata Party) in 1996-07, charged Rs 1.5 per sq mt. Under Mr Modi, we got some 5,000 acres of land at an average of Rs 15 per sq mt rate,” he had said.

Modi assumed the position of Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2001, and in 2006, during the tenure of the UPA government’s SEZ policy, Adani acquired his first piece of land under his leadership to establish a special economic zone (SEZ). Although the initial request was for 10,000 acres, Adani was only granted 5,000 acres.

Rahul Gandhi has long claimed that the land allotted to Adani was equivalent to Vadodara’s size, but the reality is starkly different than what the Gandhi scion would have us believe. The Adani Group had acquired 7,350 hectares of land, whereas Vadodara city has an area of 15,900 hectares.

Bombay High Court dismisses appeal filed by West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee in disrespect to the national anthem case

OpIndia Staff
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Bombay High Court dismisses appeal filed by West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee in disrespect to the national anthem case

Bombay High Court has dismissed the appeal filed by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee challenging an order of the Sessions Court in a complaint alleging disrespect to the national anthem. A single judge bench of Justice Amit Borkar dismissed the plea saying that the course adopted by the sessions judge of not deciding the complaint on merits and remitting the matter back to the Magistrate was in consonance with the order of the Supreme Court of India.

Rejecting the arguments of the CM, the court noted there is no error of jurisdiction or patent illegality in the present case. “In my opinion there is neither error of jurisdiction or patent illegality in present case. Criminal application is dismissed” the judge said.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had earlier approached the Bombay High Court against a special court’s order directing a magistrate to decide afresh a plea seeking the registration of an FIR against her for allegedly disrespecting the national anthem. She had also sought quashing of the summons issued to her by a metropolitan magistrate at Sewree in Mumbai, after the complaint was filed against her by BJP Mumbai Secretary Vivekanand Gupta.

The Special Sessions court had set aside summons issued by the magistrate court on procedural grounds and had asked the magistrate to consider the complaint afresh. The high court found the decision of th sessions court correct, which was challenged by Mamata Banerjee.

Background of the case

A complaint was filed against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Mumbai for disrespecting National Anthem during a gathering that she had addressed in the city. BJP leader Vivekanand Gupta had filed a Police Complaint against Banerjee for “showing utter disrespect to the national anthem” by allegedly singing the anthem while in a sitting position and then “abruptly stopping after 4 or 5 lines”

The magistrate court in its order had noted, “It is prima facie evident from the complaint, video clip in the DVD and video clips on YouTube links, that the accused had sung the National Anthem and stopped abruptly and left the dais, which prima facie proves that the accused has committed a punishable offence under the section 3 of the Prevention of Insults to National Honor Act.”

A video of WB CM had surfaced on social media platforms where she was seen sitting and starting the National Anthem and then stopping halfway abruptly. Advocate Vivekanand Gupta, Secretary, BJP Mumbai, posted a copy of the complaint on Twitter.

In his complaint addressed to the Commissioner of Police, Mumbai, Vivekanand had said Banerjee “started to sing the National Anthem while in sitting position and thereafter stood up, and after four or five verses abruptly stopped the National Anthem.”

He had further said that her actions amounted to utter disrespect to the National Anthem and urged the Police to file a complaint against her under Section 3 of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971. He said, “Her act also goes against the orders of the Home Ministry of 2015. The order directs that “whenever the anthem is sung or played, the audience shall stand to attention.” He alleged that WB CM has deliberately and intentionally shown utter disrespect to the National Anthem.

It is notable that according to Home Ministry’s orders, if someone wants to sing a shorter version of the National Anthem, he or she must sing the first two lines and the last two lines. However, according to Gupta’s complaint, she did not “follow the said order relating to the full version or the short version” and sang the first four lines.

Amit Malviya, In-charge of BJP’s National Information & Technology Dept, had said in a tweet, “Our national anthem is one of the most powerful manifestations of our national identity. The least people holding public office can do is not demean it. Here is a mutilated version of our national anthem sung by Bengal CM. Is India’s opposition so bereft of pride and patriotism?”

Tejasvi Surya, MP and National President of BJP Yuva Morcha had said, “Here we have a Chief Minister, who fails to respect our National Anthem. Expecting the opposition parties to respect Bharat & its values is a lot to ask for these days. This deplorable behaviour from a Constitutional Authority is extremely shameful & condemnable.”

Ms Banerjee, in her plea before the High Court, had contended that the special court should have quashed the summons once and for all, and not remanded the case back to the magistrate. The same plea has been dismissed by the Bombay High Court now.

‘Savarkar Gaurav Yatra’ to be carried out across Maharashtra to honour Veer Savarkar, CM, Deputy CM, other leaders change profile pics, read details

OpIndia Staff
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‘Savarkar Gaurav Yatra’ to be carried out across Maharashtra to honour Veer Savarkar, CM, Deputy CM, other leaders change profile pics, read details

On Wednesday, ahead of a ‘Gaurav Yatra’ in support of one of greatest freedom fighters, Veer Savarkar, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and other leaders of Shiv Sena-BJP alliance uploaded Veer Savarkar’s images as their social media display pictures and cover pictures.

Screenshot from Twitter

The leaders changed their social media profile pictures to the image of Veer Savarkar and shared them on social media. By doing so, they extended support to the ‘Savarkar Gaurav Yatra’ which is slated to begin from March 30 across Maharashtra.

Other BJP and Shiv Sena leaders have also changed their profile pictures.

Screenshot from Twitter

According to BJP state president Chandrashekar Bawankule, the ‘Savarkar Gaurav Yatra’ will be held by the BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena (SS) all through Maharashtra from March 30 to April 6. According to the BJP official, the Yatra’s purpose is to inform young people about Veer Savarkar’s role to the independence movement and to counter Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s repeated insults against him. The Yatra will pass through each of the state’s 288 Assembly constituencies.

“The Yatra will conclude on April 6, the Foundation Day of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and I will participate in this Yatra. At least two big cities/towns in each Assembly constituency will be selected for the Yatra,” Bawankule said yesterday. He added that over one crore citizens will participate in the Yatra.

BJP state president meanwhile also lashed out at the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray. He said, “Congress repeatedly insulted the Veer Savarkar who played a major role in the India’s freedom struggle. Thackeray calmly tolerated the repeated insults of freedom fighter Savarkar by the Congress to maintain the Maha Vikas Aghadi government. Uddhav Thackeray abandoned the idea of Hindutva to retain power,” he said urging Thackeray to end alliance with the Congress.

The Yatra organizers have been chosen by the BJP. Amit Satam will oversee the Mumbai leg of the Yatra, while Vikrant Patil and Sanjay Upadhyay have been appointed regional coordinators for Mumbai. It is believed that around 10 million people will participate in the Yatra, which will be held in at least two key towns of every constituency.

Recently, Veer Savarkar’s grandson had threatened legal actions against Rahul Gandhi if he would not stop insulting the freedom fighter. Rahul Gandhi has been incessantly mocking and insulting Savarkar over the years.

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