On Monday, the National Commission for Protection of Childs Rights took suo moto cognisance in the matter where a 7-year-old girl was killed in human sacrifice in Tiljala, Kolkata. The child rights body has issued a notice to the DGP and the Chief Secretary of West Bengal and asked for a factual report on the issue within 48 hours.
West Bengal | National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights has taken cognisance in the matter of the death of a 7-year-old girl in Tiljala. Notice to be issued to the DGP and Chief Secretary of Bengal: NCPCR
The NCPCR action in the case came hours after reports emerged that on Sunday (March 26) night, in Kolkata’s Tiljala neighbourhood, Alok Kumar brutally attacked and killed a 7-year-old girl. According to the authorities, the accused was asked to sacrifice a child in order to guarantee that his wife would give birth to a healthy child.
The cops located the minor’s body in the same building from where she had been kidnapped earlier in the day. To ascertain whether or not the youngster had been sexually abused, the body was sent for post-mortem examination.
According to the girl’s parents, she was sent to dump the garbage at the nearby garbage- bin on Sunday morning and could not be located after that. The police were informed and the cops doubted that the girl or her body might have been hidden in one of the adjacent residences. After hours of searching, the police found the child’s body in the same building from where she went missing earlier.
Later in the day, angry neighbours of a seven-year-old girl took to the streets to protest against Kolkata police. Alleging that the police “delayed” in searching for the missing girl, locals staged protests outside the Tiljala Police Station and carried out vandalism in the area damaging several vehicles on Sunday night demanding strict action against the culprit.
On Monday morning the locals once again put up blockades on the roads of the Tiljala area accusing the Kolkata police of taking action against the protestors rather than the culprits.
The police had actually detained three persons including a woman for their alleged involvement in the vandalism on Sunday night. Demanding the release of the detained persons, local people on Monday morning put up blockades on the roads of the Tiljala area.
The protestors also blockaded the key EM Bypass and railway tracks in the South Sealdah section disrupting road traffic and train services, on Monday afternoon.
Days after rumours of actress Parineeti Chopra dating AAP leader Raghav Chadha went viral on social media, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjeev Arora took to Twitter to congratulate the duo on their ‘union.’
In a tweet posted on Tuesday (March 28) morning, the businessman-turned-politician wrote, “I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Raghav Chadha and Parineeti Chopra.”
He further added, “May their union be blessed with an abundance of love, joy, and companionship. My best wishes!!!” The archive of the tweet can be accessed here.
In a bizarre move, Sanjeev Arora even paid the micro-blogging platform to ‘promote’ his tweet. The sudden development has left netizens wondering whether Parineeti Chopra and Raghav Chadha are already engaged.
Screengrab of the promoted tweet by AAP MP Sanjeev Arora
Although neither party has made an official confirmation, they have been seen together on a couple of occasions recently. Raghav Chadha and Parineeti Chopra have been spotted in each other’s company over dinner and lunch in the past few days.
Recently, the duo was clicked as they stepped out of a restaurant together after lunch. The speculation about their relationship has sparked a buzz on social media, with many people wondering about the status of the rumoured couple.
Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, the unexplored shells and other war remains have been constantly taking the lives of children in the war-hit country.
According to UNICEF, more than 700 children have lost their lives in Afghanistan last year due to the pathetic situation of the country as war remnants are now a part of Afghanistan. Taking to Twitter, UNICEF Afghanistan tweeted, “More than 700 children were killed or maimed” because of unexploded ordnance and other “war remnants” in 2022.”
“Last week, 8 children lost their lives due to unexploded ordinance in Afghanistan. They lost their lives playing with unexploded ordnance and collecting metal scraps to sell,” UNICEF Afghanistan added, reported TOLOnews.
Concern was expressed by Kabul residents who said that due to poverty, youngsters gather metals to sell. The locals said that their ignorance of ordnance had harmed them.
“Due to poverty and unemployment, they (children) are forced to go to the mountains, collect sticks or coal for food. They are being martyred in these mines that are planted from the previous years,” TOLOnews quoted a resident of Kabul, Rokai as saying.
Separately, another resident, Shoaib said, “The unexploded mines are more in provinces than in cities. The awareness of the people is less in rural areas compared to the city,” reported the Afghan News agency. Landmines, mortar shells, unexploded ordnance, and other similar weapons have long killed numerous civilians in Afghanistan, particularly children.
Since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in August last year, blasts have become a regular affair in the country.
After capturing Kabul in August last year, the Islamic authorities have imposed severe restrictions on women’s and girls’ rights, suppressed the media, and arbitrarily detained, tortured, and summarily executed critics and perceived opponents, among other abuses.
Rights groups say that the Taliban’s human rights abuses have brought widespread condemnation and imperilled international efforts to address the country’s dire humanitarian situation.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
On March 27, Noida Police removed a makeshift “mosque” from Supertech Ecovillage-2 society located in Greater Noida West after residents objected to alleged outsiders coming for Namaz during Ramzan. As per reports, the residents of the society objected to the makeshift mosque for security reasons, as outsiders were allegedly coming to offer prayers. The setup was done in the open area by the maintenance company without the permission of the residents.
UP : नोएडा की सुपरटेक ईको विलेज-2 सोसाइटी में सामूहिक नमाज पढ़ने पर हंगामा।
पुलिस ने कहा- सोसाइटी के मुस्लिम लोगों द्वारा नमाज पढ़ने से रेजिडेंट्स को आपत्ति नहीं है। बल्कि वे चाहते हैं कि कोई मुस्लिम दूसरी सोसाइटी से यहां आकर नमाज न पढ़े।
Bisrakh Police Station in-charge Anil Rajput said in a statement that a complaint was made via phone about the scuffle between the residents of two communities at the society. The police reached the spot and got the makeshift mosque removed.
An unnamed resident was quoted by News18 as saying that when residents noticed people offering namaz regularly in the society, they inquired if they were residents. When it was revealed they were non-residents, the residents got worried. The society does not have security gates installed either.
Cries of Islamophobia and misinformation on social media
After the incident, several Twitter users shared misleading information and called it “Islamophobia”. Notably, the residents said they did not object to Muslims offering namaz but objected to the outsiders coming in to offer namaz. Maktoob Media’s journalist Meer Faisal shared a misleading tweet about the incident and wrote, “Members of a housing society in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, raised a commotion after it was discovered that some Muslims were praying in the building’s basement. Police have solved the majority community problem by taking down the tent that was built for prayer.” He skipped the information that outsiders were coming to offer prayers.
Members of a housing society in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, raised a commotion after it was discovered that some Muslims were praying in the building’s basement. Police have solved the majority community problem by taking down the tent that was built for prayer. pic.twitter.com/gmlgqvw0Df
Pro-Khalistani propagandist founder of Poetic Justice Foundation Mo Dhaliwal said, “India’s apartheid won’t need barbed wire fences. They’ll get it done with “news” media and a radicalized populace.”
Pro-Khalistani Mo Dhaliwal targetted residents by calling them “radicalized”. Source: Twitter
Propaganda journalist Anna MM Vetticad also joined in and called the incident “sick”.
Anna called it “sick”. Source: Twitter
Actress and activist Swara Bhaskar who recently married SP leader Fahad Ahmed said, “The pettiness that we have to brandish proudly in the name of asserting our ‘majority’ status is just nauseating! Shame on these people…”
Swara Bhaskar called it nauseating. Source: Twitter
Journalist Debasish Roy Chowdhury said, “These “protests” don’t even need paid Hindutva goons any longer, they now emerge organically from regular folks. We know how this ends, right?”
Debasish also targetted residents. Source: Twitter
Hindustan Times’ Neha Yadav said, “how is taking down the tent built for praying a solution? Every time at their behest you cater to Islamophobes, you anyway end up questioning the constitutional framework of this country. Which law in this country provides that Muslims can’t pray?”
Neha called residents Islamophobes. Source: Twitter
Twitter user Shuja said, “How dare Muslims pray peacefully in the corner without disturbing the peace and abusing other religions and damaging public property?”
Shuja posted a sarcastic tweet. Source: Twitter
Columnist Harini called Hindus who objected to outsiders “Rakshasas and Asuras” for caring about their safety.
Harini called residents Asuras and Rakshasas. Source: Twitter
Author Rana Safvi said, “why is namaz such a big problem? People who fasted the whole day just want to read taraweeh in peace. Reason its in groups is bec very people know the Quran by heart & in groups a hafiz recites one chapter daily.”
Rana targetted residents. Source: Twitter
Dep Asia editor Rituparna Chatterjee called it Blatant Islamophobia.
Rituparna called it “Islamophobia”. Source: Twitter
Twitter user Hasshim Khan wrote, “Uttar Pradesh is becoming Hotspot for #Islamophobic incidents, Moradabad incidents is new still another news comes from greater Noida where fringe hindu elements stop Salah in private property and police is also helping majority hindu.”
Hasshim targetted UP. Source: Twitter
Propaganda magazine Milli Gazette wrote, “So any tent erected for religious purpose in a residential society is now onwards illegal?”
Milli Gazette fueled propaganda. Source: Twitter
OpIndia tried reaching out to Noida police but could not connect.
On Tuesday in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj, a man named Varun, purportedly a lawyer, stood outside the MP/MLA court for hours holding a garland made of shoes, waiting to “greet” the notorious politician-gangster Atiq Ahmad. Ahmad was eventually found guilty of kidnapping lawyer Umesh Pal in 2006 and sentenced to life imprisonment.
The man stated that the shoes comprising the garland were once owned by the now-deceased lawyer, who also acted as the key witness in the murder case of Bahujan Samaj Party MLA Raju Pal, but was subsequently shot outside of his home.
“If I make Atiq Ahmed wear a garland of footwear, the Pal community and lawyer community will be happy. He killed a member of the lawyer community, they will be happy he has come to hear his sentencing by wearing a garland of shoes. These are the footwear of family members of Umesh Pal and Raju Pal.”
#WATCH | UP: A man, Varun stands outside Prayagraj MP-MLA Court, carrying a garland of footwear. He says, "If I make Atiq Ahmed wear a garland of footwear, the Pal community and the entire lawyer community will be happy. He killed a member of the lawyer community, they will be… pic.twitter.com/qFQEEqq39B
On Monday, Atiq Ahmed, a former gangster-turned-politician, was transferred to the Naini Central Jail in Prayagraj. He was produced before the court on Tuesday for the verdict in the 2007 kidnapping case of Umesh Pal, a crucial witness in the 2005 Raju Pal murder, in which Ahmed was also a prime suspect.
The family of Umesh Pal demands the death penalty for Atiq Ahmed
The family of Umesh Pal, the lawyer who was abducted and killed, on Tuesday, said that they want the mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed, a prime accused in the case to be given the death sentence stating that they want his “empire of terror to end”.
“…We don’t have the strength to fight a case in the time to come. He (Atiq Ahmed) should be sentenced to death by hanging. If he is sentenced to life imprisonment, he can do anything from jail. He got my son killed from jail. He won’t let us live if he remains there…” Umesh Pal’s mother Shanti Devi told ANI ahead of a hearing of the case in Prayagraj court Umesh Pal’s widow Jaya Pal said, “I hope the court sentences him to death by hanging. If he lives, perhaps we won’t be able to live. Maybe it would be us next. If he is gone only then will terror be gone…”
“I want Atiq Ahmed’s empire to end, I don’t want him to be alive. I urge the court to give him a death sentence,” she said.
Atiq Ahmed, a former gangster who turned to politics, held the position of MLA for Allahabad West from 1989 to 2004. He also served as a Lok Sabha MP representing the Phulpur constituency in Uttar Pradesh from 2004 to 2009.
Atiq Ahmed, who was born on August 10, 1962, has been named in more than 100 cases. His brother Ashraf has 52 cases against him, while his wife Shaista Praveen and sons Ali and Umar Ahmad have three, four, and one case, respectively, against them.
In a defamation case brought by Rahul Ramesh Shewale, a leader in the Eknath Shinde Faction of the Shiv Sena, the Delhi High Court has summoned Sanjay Raut, Uddhav Thackeray, and Aditya Thackeray. The respondents have been asked to submit their responses and the interim applications to the lawsuit, Justice Prateek Jalan did not issue an order for temporary relief.
Delhi High Court issues summons to Uddhav Thackeray, his son Aditya Thackeray in a civil defamation suit filed by Eknath Shinde faction leader Rahul Ramesh Shewale. The Court has also issued summons to Sanjay Raut also in the suit. The next date of hearing is April 17. pic.twitter.com/0L0jN54jbV
Shewale sued Raut and others for defamation after they made claims that the Eknath Shinde faction had paid Rs. 2000 crores to “buy the Shiv Sena symbol”.
Senior Advocate Rajiv Nayyar, who was representing Shewale, asked the court to issue an injunction order to stop Raut and others from making any more false accusations. Nevertheless, Justice Prateek Jalan stated that a decision won’t be made until the parties have responded.
Senior Advocate Rajiv Nayyar appearing for Shewale prayed the court to pass an injunction order to restrain Raut and others from making any further defamatory allegations. However, Justice Prateek Jalan said that an order will be passed only after having the response of parties.
“These are political fights going on…as far as the institutions are concerned, Election commission’s shoulders are broad enough to deal with all this. Like the courts, people say all kinds of things about the commission,” Justice Jalan orally remarked.
While Nayar stated that the accusations shock the court’s conscience, the court stated, “The question is not whether it shocks my conscience or not. The question is that in the free marketplace of ideas, are people entitled to say things which might shock my conscience?”
The Court further said, “Mr Nayar I’m not going to say whether the accusations are true or false right now. I’m merely saying that after I have an affidavit on file, I’ll decide on that issue. On day one, I don’t want to impose a gag rule”.
In Shewale’s request for an interim injunction, the court also requested responses from the defendants, including Google and Twitter, and set a hearing date for April 17.
Earlier in January, for failing to appear in court for a defamation case brought against him by Medha Somaiya, the wife of BJP leader Kirit Somaiya, a court in Maharashtra had issued a non-bailable warrant against Sanjay Raut. The Sewri metropolitan magistrate had issued the warrant.
Non Bailable warrant issued against #sanjayRaut today by 25th Magistrate court, Sewree, in defamation compliant filed by Mrs. Medha @KiritSomaiya against @rautsanjay61
Somaiya had filed a court petition, alleging that Raut’s allegations that she and her husband were complicit in a Rs 100 crore scam involving the building and upkeep of public restrooms in the Mira Bhayander neighbourhood outside of Mumbai were unfounded and defamatory.
Sewree Court issued Non Bailable Warrant against #SanjayRaut for not attending the court
Court recorded Complainant Medha Somaiya statement for an hour, in Dr Medha Kirit Somaiya defamation case against Sanjay Raut
The Delhi High Court’s decision to issue summons to the Shiv Sena leaders has created ripples in Maharashtra’s political circles, given the high profile of the parties involved. The case is likely to generate significant public interest as it unfolds in the coming months.
An MP-MLA court in Prayagraj on Tuesday sentenced mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed to rigorous life imprisonment in the Umesh Pal abduction case.
The Court pronounced life sentences to Atiq Ahmed, Dinesh Pasi and Khan Saulat Hanif in the case and has also imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on each of the three. All the other seven accused in the case, including Ashraf, the brother of Atiq Ahmed have been acquitted.
“He (Atiq Ahmed) was sentenced to life imprisonment for kidnapping my son but he should be given a death sentence for killing my son. I have faith in UP CM Yogi Adityanath and the judicial system: Shanti Devi, mother of Umesh Pal said after the court’s verdict.
Jaya Devi, the widow of Umesh Pal said, “We are satisfied with the judgement as of now. Atiq Ahmed should be given a death sentence for killing my husband. We want justice and I request UP CM Yogi Adityanath to help us.
If he and his brother will survive, it will be a problem for us and the society,”
Atiq Ahmed, a former MP and MLA, who has over 100 cases registered against him, was brought by Uttar Pradesh police from Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati Jail to Prayagraj’s Naini jail on Monday after an over 24-hour long drive from Gujarat.
Ahmed’s conviction today comes after Umesh Pal an advocate and a prime witness in the 2005 murder case of BSP MLA Raju Pal, was shot dead in Prayagraj on February 24 this year.
Ahmed is also the main accused in the Umesh Pal murder case. Umesh Pal, the prime witness in the 2005 murder of BSP MLA Raju Pal, and his two security personnel were shot dead in Prayagraj on February 24 this year.
On 25 January 2005, BSP MLA Raju Pal was murdered. Two others Devilal Pal and Sandeep Yadav were also killed. Umesh Pal, the main witness in the Raju Pal murder case, was abducted on February 28, 2006.
Atiq Ahmed had allegedly abducted Umesh Pal from a Land Cruiser vehicle near Phansi Imli of the Dhumanganj police station area. Keeping him in his Chakia office, he was beaten up and electrocuted.
Atiq had made Umesh Pal give a written statement in his favor on March 1, 2006, that he was not present at the scene and did not want to testify.
Umesh Pal filed a case of kidnapping in Dhumanganj police station in July 2007 after the formation of the BSP government in Uttar Pradesh in 2007.
A case was registered against former MPs Atiq Ahmed, Ashraf, Dinesh Pasi, Ansar Ahmed alias Ansar Baba, Khan Soulat Hanif. Police had named Atiq Ahmed, Ashraf Dinesh Pasi, Ansar Ahmed, Saulat Hanif, Javed, Farhan, Israr, Abid Pradhan, Ashiq Malli and Ejaz Akhtar as accused.
One of the accused Ansar Ahmed died. Atiq Ahmed, Ashraf and Farhan are in jail. The rest of the accused were out on bail.
In 2009, the court framed charge on the accused and the trial of the case began.
In 2016, in this case, an attempt was made to throw Umesh Pal from the fourth floor of the court premises to make him withdraw the case An FIR was been registered in this matter at the Colonelganj police station.
Various applications were filed on behalf of the accused to stop the trial of the case. Umesh Pal filed an application in the High Court demanding early settlement of the case. Allahabad High Court ordered to complete the hearing of the case in two months by March 16, 2023.
During the trial, the prosecution produced 8 witnesses and the defence produced 50 witnesses. Umesh Pal was murdered on February 24 after returning from defending this case.
In the Umesh Pal kidnapping case, an FIR has been registered in the Dhumanganj police station under IPC sections 147, 148, 149, 364 A, 341, 342, 504, 506, 120 B and 7 CLA Act.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
The Lok Sabha Housing Committee issued a notice to Congress Senior leader Rahul Gandhi to vacate his government-allotted 12 Tughlaq lane bungalow in Lutyens’ Delhi after he was disqualified from the Lok Sabha following his conviction in a criminal defamation case. The deadline to vacate the bungalow, which Rahul Gandhi has been occupying since he was allotted the same after he became a member of Lok Sabha from Amethi in 2004, has been fixed for April 22.
No sooner did the Lok Sabha Secretariat cancel the government privilege provided to the Gandhi scion, members of the Congress party began crying hoarse, accusing the central government of using “scare tactics, threats, and humiliation to suppress Gandhi.” Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge went to the extent of offering the Gandhi scion the govt bungalow that he has been allotted.
“They will make all attempts to weaken him (Rahul Gandhi) but if he vacates the bungalow, he’ll go live with his mother or he can come to me & I’ll vacate one. I condemn the attitude of Govt to scare, threaten & humiliate him. This isn’t the way. Sometimes, we’ve been without a bungalow for 3-4 months. I received my bungalow after 6 months. People do this to humiliate others. I condemn such an attitude,” Kharge told ANI.
“Can live with his mother or he can come to me…,” Congress chief Kharge on Rahul Gandhi bungalow row
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also stepped in to defend her brother and in a bid to do so, she went on to compare her family to Lord Ram and Pandavs.
While the entire Congress ecosystem is busy painting Rahul Gandhi as a victim over his bungalow, it is probably a good time to recall how his sister, Priyanka Gandhi, overstayed in the government-allotted bungalow on taxpayers’ money.
Priyanka Gandhi lived in the government-allocated bungalow at 35, Lodhi Estate in Delhi’s posh Lutyens area, which she received due to the requirements of SPG security that was provided to her at the time. Priyanka stayed in the bungalow for over 2 decades, until July 2020, when she was forced to vacate it.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra vacated the government-allocated bungalow where she had been living since 1997, in July 2020. Even after losing her SPG cover in November 2019, she continued to stay in the bungalow for over 8 months, until she was given an ultimatum by the government of India in July 2020 to vacate the bungalow latest by August 1, 2020.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra continued to stay in govt accommodation despite the removal of SPG cover
In November 2019, the SPG cover provided to Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi and her children Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was withdrawn and replaced by CRPF security. And even after that for almost 8 months, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra continued to stay in the government bungalow.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, a private citizen, was allotted a Type VI bungalow in February 1997 on the recommendation of the SPG, home ministry, and cabinet secretariat. The accommodation was deemed necessary due to the SPG security, and due to the requirement of space for the SPG commandos protecting her. She had been staying in the govt bungalow even though she was not a public servant, neither a govt official nor a member of parliament or assembly. She had been granted the house only on the basis of her SPG-protected status.
The Gandhi scion convinced the Vajpayee govt to reduce her monthly rent
In 2002, when Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led BJP government was at the helm of affairs, then too, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra managed to retain her accommodation. It was reported how she had convinced the Vajpayee government to reduce the monthly rent for her 2,765.18 sqm house in Lutyens’ Delhi from Rs 53,421 to only Rs 8,888, a whopping 83% reduction.
When the house was originally granted to Priyanka Vadra in 1997, its rent was Rs 19,900 per month, as per the market rate at this time. The rate was gradually increased, but Vadra managed to slash the rates citing her inability to pay, and also by arguing that she was not using the whole bungalow, as parts of it were occupied by SPG.
Priyanka Gandhi even stopped paying rent
When the Modi govt came to power, many BJP supporters demanded that Priyanka Vadra should be evicted from the govt house, but she managed to stay on during the first term of the Narendra Modi govt. The SPG protection status of the Gandhi family, including hers, was retained by the home ministry, and therefore, she was able to retain the house. As long as she remained under the protection of SPG, the accommodation remained available to her by default.
Moreover, according to sources, Priyanka Gandhi also did not pay rent for almost a year. According to the reports, Gandhi had dues of Rs 3,46,677 while vacating the house, for which she was issued a notice to clear this due amount.
In 2019, the Home Ministry decided to replace the SPG category status of the Gandhi family with Z-plus security after the intelligence agencies had conducted a detailed review of the threat perception of the Gandhis and had advised downgrading from SPG cover to ‘Z-plus security’. This meant that the bungalow was no longer a security requirement. Despite this, the Gandhi scion continued to use the government accommodation for several more months.
Finally, on July 1, 2020, Priyanka Gandhi was served a notice to vacate the government accommodation at 35, Lodhi Estate, by August 1. A few days later, possibly due to the subsequent embarrassment as a result of the public attention the issue garnered, the Gandhi princess cleared her pending dues for the government accommodation and just one day before the deadline, vacated the house.
The Kalakshetra Foundation in Chennai has recently come under the scanner over sexual harassment allegations, with leftist intellectuals and publications exploiting the opportunity to target the Hindu tradition of ‘guru-shishyaparampara.’
The controversy began on December 24, 2022, when an ex-director of Kalakshetra named Leela Samson (2005-2012) alleged that a teacher at the Rukmani College of Fine Arts (an institution run by Kalakshetra Foundation) had been harassing and molesting students for over 10 years.
She had claimed, “A public institution, a haven of the highest art and contemplation — now turning a blind eye to how young girls are treated. They are vulnerable. A male member of the staff is known to be threatening and molesting them, who are not yet adults.”
Screengrab of the now-deleted Facebook post of Leela Samson
“In my alma mater no less! We have to get society as a whole, the staff, the man’s wife and the victims to admit of guilt. The said teacher must be brought to book. He must be punished. Rukmini Devi did not build an institution and all her ideals to be abused so,” Samson further alleged.
The former Director of the Kalakshetra Foundation, however, did not name the accused teacher and even deleted her contentious post. Interestingly, the screenshot of her Facebook post was re-posted by a US-based ‘Care Spaces‘ on December 25, 2022.
The organisation shared multiple stories of students, who have allegedly been harassed by an assistant dance professor named Hari Padman. In January this year, ‘Care Spaces’ started an online petition (with 700+ signatories), seeking transparency and redressal of allegations of sexual misconduct.
The Kalakshetra Foundation (an autonomous body under the Union Ministry of Culture) has an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), which was established under Sexual Harassment at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act [pdf].
Although it is alleged that no ‘official complaint’ was filed against the said teacher, the Internal Complaints Committee nonetheless took suo motu cognisance of the matter.
The internal investigation, headed by the current director (Kalakshetra Foundation) Revathi Ramachandran found the allegations to be ‘rumours’ manufactured by ‘vested interests’ to malign the reputation of the institution. On March 19 this year, ICC gave a clean chit to the accused teacher Hari Padman.
The Commission has come to a conclusion to close the matter as the victim has denied sexual harassment while she was inquired by the IC committee. @sharmarekha
The National Commission for Women (NCW), which initially demanded action against Hari Padman by the Tamil Nadu DGP, later sought to close the case.
In a statement, it noted, “The Director’s clarification and the internal complaints committee report did not find any evidence of sexual harassment on campus. The Commission has come to a conclusion to close the matter as the victim has denied sexual harassment while she was inquired by the IC committee.”
Meanwhile, the Kalakshetra Foundation warned against gossiping, rumour-mongering and bad-mouthing about the institute in public. “Those engaged in such activities are warned that appropriate legal action will be taken against them,” it had cautioned, which was later dubbed as ‘gag order.’
Leftist publications malign Hindu traditions
Although the Internal Complaints Committee has exonerated Hari Padman and the NCW has sought closure of the case, some students and alumni are clearly unhappy with the decision. They have accused the incumbent director Revathi Ramachandran of being ‘sympathetic’ to the accused teacher.
While we seek justice for the alleged victims, it is important to note how leftist publications such as The Print and The News Minute are attacking the Hindu tradition of ‘guru-shishyaparampara‘ under the pretext of reporting on allegations of sexual misconduct at the Kalakshetra Foundation.
In an article (archive) published on March 21, senior correspondent at The Print, Shubhangi Misra, attributed the alleged sexual harassment cases to “the skewed power dynamic and the normalisation of the ancient guru-shishya dynamic, even in modern times.”
To further back the outrageous claims, the leftist publication quoted one ‘activist’ TM Krishna as saying, “Any mentor-mentee relationship is unequal. In the case of the guru-shishya parampara, the guru’s unbridled power is sanctified.”
Several Kalakshetra students, alumni and faculty members allege sexual harassment by a powerful senior faculty member has been going on unchecked & unabated for years. College has exonerated the teacher, issued a gag order against further discussions .https://t.co/9K1NJ4y1DG
“This leads to toxic class environments, discouragements, verbal and sexual abuse, and control over the student’s life…Just because some of us had healthy relationships with our guru doesn’t mean the system is all right,” he had claimed.
The Print quoted one anonymous teacher as saying, “This culture of seva (service) is not just about one teacher. Gurus who came before him also did the same things.” It also cited allegations against other teachers to paint the ‘guru-shishya dynamic’ as sinister.
The vicious propaganda piece thus insinuated that the core of sexual harassment of students in institutions is the ancient Hindu tradition of reverence that exists between a student and teacher. This is akin to suggesting that institutions devoid of such a dynamic are free of sexual misconduct.
It is interesting to note how the leftist outlet used allegations against a handful of teachers in classical arts to malign the centuries-old tradition of ‘guru-shishya’ prevalent in Hindu culture.
The culture of silence and harassment that Kalakshetra allowed: Survivors speak out. I saw people on Twitter claiming there are no complainants. We have spoken to two women, one who wanted herself to be named https://t.co/DBJ8p8wF19
A similar stunt to link Hindu culture to an environment ‘conducive of sexual abuse’ was attempted by another propaganda news outlet, The News Minute.
It claimed, “TNM spoke to six current staffers at Kalakshetra Foundation on the condition of anonymity, who alleged that the culture at Kalakshetra, and the students’ isolation from the outside world, enables abuse.”
The News Minute cited strict discipline at the Kalakshetra Foundation to make for its frivolous and sweeping conclusions. “Famous artists are the gurus at the institute, and this means the power differential between students and teachers is huge, said staffers TNM spoke to,” it further insinuated.
While the recnt articles in publicatns such as TNM bring to light cases of sexual abuse students have faced in kalakshetra, it’s disappointing to see 0 focus on how brahminic nationalism shaped the institution’s policies and how that plays a huge role in the culture of abuse. 1
Leftist intellectuals and social media activists too were at the forefront of the defamation campaign against Hinduism. One Rituparna Pal went on to blame ‘Brahminic nationalism’ for the alleged culture of abuse at the Kalakshetra Foundation.
She claimed, “While the recent articles in publications such as TNM bring to light cases of sexual abuse students have faced in Kalakshetra, it’s disappointing to see 0 focus on how brahminic nationalism shaped the institution’s policies and how that plays a huge role in the culture of abuse.”
Another such activist, Nrithya Pillai, also exploited the allegations of sexual misconduct to bash the Brahmin community.
If there is a culture of sexism , misogyny , body shaming , slut shaming and brahminism – the line between abuse and sexual abuse is very blurred. What then constitutes sexual abuse in such a space ? This is a question we need to answer when we think of places like Kalakshetra!
“If there is a culture of sexism, misogyny, body shaming, slut shaming and Brahminism – the line between abuse and sexual abuse is very blurred. What then constitutes sexual abuse in such a space? This is a question we need to answer when we think of places like Kalakshetra!” she brazened it out.
Please read the latest post from @thenewsminute The person has been named. The victim must be protected now since she has spoken of her persistent humiliation. For all those dancers sitting on the fence munching popcorn, “wake up” and realise that all is not “divine” and…
Popular performer ‘Anita Ratnam’ suggested that there is nothing sacred or divine about the Hindu dance form of Bharatnatyam. “For all those dancers sitting on the fence munching popcorn, “wake up” and realise that all is not “divine” and “sacred” about our Dance Art,” she claimed.
The allegations levelled against a teacher at the Kalakshetra Foundation thus gave an opportunity to the usual suspects to make it all about Hinduism, its rich culture and ancient traditions.
On Monday (March 27), The Wire’s Arfa Khanum Sherwani resorted to false equivalence and monkey balancing while trying to make a case for gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed and disqualified Parliamentarian Rahul Gandhi. Goes without saying, she tied herself in knots while she did so.
In a 20-minute video published on YouTube, she was seen lamenting about the treatment meted out to gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed by the police and media. Arfa Khanum Sherwani asked why incarceration and ‘poor’ treatment of the gangster must not be considered an insult to the OBC community.
To put things in perspective, at time of her video Atiq Ahmed was an accused on multiple counts of kidnapping and murder. At the time of this report, Prayagraj court has held him guilty of kidnapping Umesh Pal, prime witness in Raju Pal murder case. Umesh Pal was also murdered in February this year.
So Atiq Ahmed was not some innocent bystander as Arfa would like us to believe.
She made the bizarre argument to draw a false equivalence with Rahul Gandhi’s sweeping statement about the ‘Modi’ community. In that way, The Wire’s senior editor hoped to present the Congress scion’s conviction and eventual disqualification from Lok Sabha as a conspiracy of the BJP government.
Arfa Khanum Sherwani will go to any extent, even defend a known criminal rioter, to make her case in favour of her master Rahul Gandhi. How long will this sycophancy last? pic.twitter.com/N51MUSa70y
“I was wondering when Rahul Gandhi can be convicted in a criminal defamation case for making remarks about Nirav Modi and Lalit Modi… why should the case be different for Atiq Ahmed who hails from the OBC community,” she was heard saying.
The Congress scion was convicted by the Surat court for not speaking against the two fugitives (Nirav Modi and Lalit Modi), as suggested by Arfa Khanum Sherwani but for labelling the entire ‘Modi’ community (which falls under the OBC category) as ‘thieves’ during an election rally in 2019.
“Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, Narendra Modi…how come they all have Modi as a common surname? How come all thieves have Modi as a common surname?” Rahul Gandhi had said then. PM Modi belongs to the Ghanchi community in Gujarat which falls under OBC.
In a society where caste discrimination still exists, painting an entire community as that of ‘thieves’ could be a traumatic living experience for those who may have to face the barbs from society.
When such a sweeping statement on a backward community comes from a public representative who is in position to influence public, it could be detrimental for people of that community.
Senior Editor at The Wire draws bizarre analogies
Arfa Khanum Sherwani chose to ignore this particular context while suggesting that the incarceration of Atiq Ahmed must also be looked at from the perspective of caste.
“Atiq Ahmed is an accused. He is also from the OBC category. He is from the Gaddi caste…Their community is known for raising and breeding mules. Atiq Ahmed’s father used to do this work. He followed his father’s occupation for several years,” The Wire’s senior editor tried to make a case for the gangster-politician.
But isn’t Islam a caste-less society? Over the years, people have taken pride in the fact that caste system exists only in Hinduism and that other Abrahamic faiths like Islam and Christianity are above caste. Many people from Hinduism have been lured into converting to these faiths on promise of caste-less society.
Hindus often leave behind the baggage of caste system to embrace Islam and/or Christianity. So how is Atiq Ahmed’s so-called caste conjured up so conveniently?
“Isn’t the sentiments of the Gaddi community hurt by the ill-treatment of Atiq Ahmed? He is being labelled as a criminal in the media. Why only sentiments are hurt in the case of only Lalit Modi and Nirav Modi,” she brazened it out.
Arfa Khanum Sherwani exhibits desperation to defend Rahul Gandhi, Atiq Ahmed
“If the Modi community is protected in such a manner that comments on it result in disqualification of a political leader, then, why such a privilege is not extended to the Gaddi community of Atiq Ahmed? Why is he not having rights at par with Lalit and Nirav Modi,” she further resorted to mental gymnastics.
In her desperate attempt to shield Atiq Ahmed and defend Rahul Gandhi at the same time, Arfa Khanum Sherwani forgot that no politician has labelled the Gaddi community as ‘thieves or gangsters’. Atiq Ahmed’s case is being telecast live because justice is being delivered for his crimes and not because of his caste or his faith.
The likes of Arfa would cry Islamophobia at the drop of the hat whenever any Muslim criminal or terrorist is accused of crimes. They are the frontrunners when it comes to ‘dara hua Musalman’ bogey. When a criminal is from the Muslim community, they cry foul over how Muslims are painted as criminals.
So why cannot people of the Modi community have the same right to feel threatened by social stigma when a leading politician called them thieves?
