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Congress gives ‘credit’ for building Ram Temple to Modi, senior leader Rashid Alvi claims SC verdict was under pressure from Modi govt

OpIndia Staff
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Congress gives ‘credit’ for building Ram Temple to Modi, senior leader Rashid Alvi claims SC verdict was under pressure from Modi govt

Hours after former Supreme Court Judge S Abdul Nazeer was appointed as the Governor of Andhra Pradesh, Congress leader Rashid Alvi on Sunday (February 12) tried to cast aspersions on the Ayodhya verdict and the integrity of the apex court.

“Giving government jobs to retired Judges is unfortunate,” he told ANI. Rashid Alvi then cited a report, claiming that over 50% of judges are appointed by the government, in some capacity, post their retirement. “The Faith of people in Judiciary is on the decline,” he brazened it out.

The Congress leader lamented how the former Chief Justice of India, Ranjan Gogoi, was nominated to the Rajya Sabha and that Justice (retd.) S Abdul Nazeer (who was a part of the constitutional bench that delivered the Ayodhya verdict) has now been ‘incentivised’ with the job of a Governor.

“Several people had been questioning the Ram Janmabhoomi verdict, even claiming that it was delivered under the pressure of Modi govt…This move only bolsters that doubt in people’s mind,” Rashid Alvi insinuated that judges are somehow hands-in-gloves with the Union government.

Congress’ claims over the Ram Mandir issue have been bizarre and contradictory. In 2020, the party had claimed that the credit for the Ram Mandir must go to Rajiv Gandhi, then deleted the tweet. The party had also been trying very hard to assert that the Modi government had nothing to claim credit for in the whole issue. But Rashid Alvi’s recent remarks seem to allude that it was the Modi government that “influenced” the judiciary, which casts aspersions on the Congress party itself because they have held power at the centre for far longer than the BJP, and many former judges have found appointment as governors or MPs under the Congress party too.

Congress’ deleted tweet from 2020

He also said that the present-day government must strive to keep Judiciary separate from the Executive in accordance with the Article 50 of the Indian Constitution.

The Congress leader then went on to claim that the Governors in several States, including Maharashtra, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, parrot the political ideology of RSS and the BJP in the hopes of being rewarded by them.

In 2019, the Central government took the decision to assign Z plus security to Justice S Abdul Nazeer, who was also a part of the bench that criminalised Triple Talaq, after reports surfaced that he and his family were under threat from the Islamist outfit Popular Front of India (PFI).

Rashid Alvi demands evidence of the surgical strike

Rashid Alvi has been the controversy’s favourite child. Last month, he stirred the hornet’s nest by sowing seeds of doubt about the surgical strike conducted by Indian armed forces against Pakistan.

While speaking to ANI, he remarked, “We’ve confidence in our security forces but can’t trust BJP govt. Govt says it has a video (of the surgical strike) so what’s wrong with Digvijaya Singh asking govt to show it? We’re not asking for proof (of strike) but govt should show the video it claims it has…”

Nothing for BJP to hide or be afraid of, says Amit Shah on Adani-Hindenburg controversy

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Nothing for BJP to hide or be afraid of, says Amit Shah on Adani-Hindenburg controversy

With the opposition targeting the BJP-led government over the Hindenburg-Adani row, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said that it will not be appropriate for him to comment as the Supreme Court has taken cognizance of the matter but there is nothing “for the BJP to hide or be afraid of”. 

“The Supreme Court has taken cognizance of the matter. As a minister, if the Supreme Court is seized of the matter it is not right for me to comment. But in this, there is nothing for the BJP to hide and nothing to be afraid of,” Shah said in an exclusive interview with ANI. The Hindenburg-Adani row has turned into a major political controversy with the Congress and other opposition parties making allegations of favouritism and crony capitalism against the government. They raised the issue during the budget session of parliament demanding a joint parliamentary committee probe. 

The opposition parties have also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue. 

They have sought questions over the investment of LIC and some public sector banks in the Adani group. The government has rejected the allegations with PSUs and regulatory bodies also issuing statements about their following the norms and acting to their mandates. 

The Centre on Monday informed the Supreme Court that SEBI had agreed to constitute a committee to protect investor interests following Hindenburg’s report on Adani Group. 

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed a bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud that SEBI is completely equipped to deal with the situation that took place due to a recent report by Hindenburg Research. 

Mehta also said that the government has no objection to appointing a committee to suggest how to ensure investors are protected in the future. However, he said that remit of the committee is important since it has an effect internationally and that the government will provide names in a sealed cover. 

Asked about Rahul Gandhi’s recent speech in Lok Sabha, which was almost entirely concerned the Adani group, Shah said it is for the Congress leader or his script writers to decide what speech he wants to give. 

“What speech he wants to give is for him or his speech writers to think,” he said. 

Reacting to Rahul Gandhi’s “crony capitalism” allegation against BJP, Shah said. “There is no question. Nobody has been able to level such allegation against the BJP till date. During their (Congress) era, agencies be it CAG or CBI, they had registered cases taking cognizance of corruption. There were scams of Rs 12 lakh crore.” 

Asked about allegations of Congress and other opposition parties of BJP “capturing institutions”, Shah said they should go to the court noting that courts are not under influence of BJP. 

“Court ‘humare kabze mein nahi hai,” he said. 

“Why don’t they go to the court? Even at the time when Pegasus issue was raised, I had said go with proofs to the court…They only know how to create noise. Those who approached the court, the court took cognizance of Pegasus and also delivered its judgement. The investigation was also done,” he added. 

Asked about BJP spokespersons indicating that there is such “conspiracy” ahead of elections, he said it is for them to reply. 
“Thousands of conspiracies cannot harm the truth. Truth shines bright like the sun. They have been doing it since 2002 against PM Narendra Modi. And every time, he has emerged stronger, truthfully and by gaining more popularity among people every time,” he said when asked if there is a conspiracy in the wake of Hindenburg report and BBC documentary. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his speech at the Lok Sabha in reply to the debate on the motion of thanks on the President’s address had lashed out at the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre, saying that it converted “every opportunity into a crisis” during its 10 years at the helm between 2004 and 2014. PM Modi said UPA’s term at the helm between 2004 and 2014 was “full of scams”.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Renaming cities associated with Mughals is ‘well-thought decision’, says Amit Shah, calls it establishing tradition

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Renaming cities associated with Mughals is ‘well-thought decision’, says Amit Shah, calls it establishing tradition

Reacting sharply to allegations of erasing history of Mughals and changing the names of the cities associated with them, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said that the BJP state governments have taken “well-thought decisions” which are within their statutory rights. 

Shah, however, said that the BJP does not want to remove anybody’s contribution to history. The Home Minister’s remarks came in response to allegations that the BJP is attempting to rewrite the country’s history in which the BJP-ruled states have renamed or are planning to rename cities whose names are associated with Mughal history. 

“The contribution of no one should be removed, neither do we want to remove them. But if someone wants to establish the tradition of the country then no one should have any objection,” he said in an exclusive interview with ANI. 

“We have not changed the name of even a single city which previously did not have an old name. Our governments have taken well-thought out decisions. Every government has its statutory rights,” Shah added. 

Notably, Bharatiya Janata Party MP Sangam Lal Gupta recently urged Amit Shah to change the name of Uttar Pradesh’s capital city of Lucknow to “Lakhanpur or Laxmanpur”. 

Stating that the city was earlier named as Lakhanpur and Laxmanpur in the Treta Yug, the BJP MP claimed that Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula had renamed it Lucknow. 

Shah, when asked about the allegations of writing a “re-imagined history” of Jammu and Kashmir, and erasing former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s contributions, said that Article 370 was included in the Constitution by the government of the first prime minister of the country and this had caused great loss to India. 

“Article 370 was implemented because of Nehru ji. Since 1950 it had been on our agenda that it should not have been implemented. It caused a great loss to the country. Now with the manner in which development work is going on in Jammu and Kashmir, the way terrorists and terror attacks are decreasing this is being proved. You can see data. There are many changes which are happening in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said. 

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

BJP will cross majority mark before noon, says Amit Shah on Tripura elections

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BJP will cross majority mark before noon, says Amit Shah on Tripura elections

Expressing confidence of BJP getting full majority in the Tripura assembly elections, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said that the BJP is seeking a mandate to make the state prosperous in the next five years building on the development initiatives of the party-led government. Responding to questions about a possible hung assembly in Tripura, Amit Shah said that the constituencies in Tripura are small and “you will see that before 12PM on counting day, the BJP would have crossed the majority mark.” 

In an exclusive interview with ANI, he also said that BJP’s ‘ChaloPaltai’ slogan in the last election was not a slogan to come to power in the state but to change the situation in Tripura. The BJP created a record in 2018 by ousting the Left Front government which ruled Tripura for 35 years from 1978. The state will go to the polls on February 16 for its 60-member assembly. 

The BJP is contesting 55 seats while its ally Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT) is contesting the remaining five seats. 
Shah said Congress and CPI-M joining hands shows that they are not in a position to defeat BJP on their own and “it is very good position” for the party. 

“We will increase our seats and also our vote share in Tripura. Congress and the Communist party have come together as they have accepted that they can’t defeat BJP alone. We will form government with full majority in the state,” Shah said.

“‘ChaloPaltai’ slogan was given to change the situation in Tripura, and we’ve done that. Earlier when the Left was in power in Tripura, government employees were paid under Pay Commission, but we implemented the 7th Pay commission in the state without increasing fiscal deficit. We eliminated violence in Tripura and also took strict action against drugs business from across the border in the state,” he added. 

Shah also outlined the “effective steps” of the state government to end violence in the border state and tackle the drug menace and added that these have sent a good message among people. 

“There is no violence in Tripura. Time has come to make Tripura prosperous. The double-engine government has taken several steps to fulfil its promises,” he said. 

Asked about Manik Saha replacing Biplab Deb as Tripura Chief Minister in May last year and if it sent a signal of the BJP’s central leadership controlling the state unit, Shah said that Deb is an MP and has several key organisational responsibilities in the central BJP. 

He said changes are sometimes made if the national parties need leaders at the central level. 

“I feel this is promotion, it should not be looked at from any other angle,” he said. 

Home Minister said that the BJP-led government has taken steps to strengthen local languages in the northeastern states and added that there is no big official programme in Delhi without participation of artists from the northeast. 

He said under PM Modi’s leadership, several steps have been taken for the welfare of people in the northeast. 

“There is peace in the Northeast today, there has been peace agreement with several militant organisations.” 

He referred to the agreement to end the Bru-Reang refugee crisis in Tripura and with National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT). 
Shah said PM Modi’s initiatives have helped the tribal population. 

“The tribal communities are experiencing development now. Today, we have the first tribal President in the country. The benefits being given to poor families are also being extended to the tribal community without any discrimination. They realize that they were misled earlier” 

Shah said before the year 2024, all state capitals in the Northeast region will get rail and air connectivity and this is not a small achievement. 

“Nearly over 8,000 cadres of militant outfits have surrendered arms and joined the mainstream. The northeast was known for blockade, protests, bomb explosions and insurgency. Today roads are being built there, airports are being built. Where there was one airport in a state like Tripura, we are building a second here. The Prime Minister has undertaken various developmental projects for the northeast region,” he said. 

On Karnataka, Shah said the party will come back to power with full majority. 

“The BJP will form its government in Karnataka with a full majority. I have seen the pulse of the people and the popularity of PM Modi. The BJP will get a huge mandate,” he said. 

Answering another query on some major states going to the polls this year, he said BJP is strong in Rajasthan, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh and will win all four. 

“We repeated our governments in Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. We will repeat our government in Tripura also,” he said answering a query. 

Asked about JD(S) accusing BJP of dynastic politics, he said there are people who are second or third-generation politicians in the BJP also but it is not that the party chief will be from such a family only, or the entire family will become an MP or an MLA. “What kind of comparison is this? You have finished the entire democratic system,” he said. 

“Even the people of Mandya are now shifting from dynastic parties and accepting BJP’s politics of development. This is a good sign for Karnataka,” he said. 

Shah, who visited Puttur in Karnataka and inaugurated ‘Bharat Mata Mandir’, said he welcomes any allegation made against him regarding the visit in the poll-bound state. When asked if the BJP has begun a campaign of nationalism in the state, Amit Shah said he welcomed such allegations. 

“I accept and welcome all the allegations if they are levelled against me for going to the Bharat Mata Mandir,” he said. 
He said the place has pictures of Tantya Tope, Savarkar and also Param Vir Chakra recipient Lance Naik Albert Ekka. “I thank the trust which made it.” 

Karnataka is expected to go for polls in the first half of this year. 

Polling for the Meghalaya and Nagaland Assembly polls will be held on February 27. The counting of votes in the two states along with Tripura will take place on March 2.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Adani Group hires US firm Grant Thornton to conduct an independent audit of its companies: Reports

OpIndia Staff
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Adani Group hires US firm Grant Thornton to conduct an independent audit of its companies: Reports

Three weeks after ‘Hindenburg Research’ published a report targeting the Adani Group, the Indian conglomerate has availed the services of US-based firm Grant Thornton LLC.

As per a report by Reuters, the accounting and advisory organisation has been hired to conduct an independent audit of some of the companies run by billionaire businessman Gautam Adani.

The development comes after the Hindenburg Research report and the subsequent media speculations over the Adani Group wiped out $120 billion market value from 7 listed subsidiaries of the Adani group. Citing sources, Reuters reported that Grant Thornton LLC will evaluate whether Adani Group complied with global corporate governance standards.

The report added that the accountancy organisation will also evaluate issues pertaining to internal controls, related party transactions and legal compliance. Meanwhile, on Monday (February 13), Adani Group assured its investors that it had strong cashflows and fully funded business plans.

Gautam Adani had also enlisted the services of Wachtell, a highly-priced legal firm in the United States, to defend against claims made by short-seller Hindenburg Research, a report published in Financial Times had said earlier.

According to the report, Wachtell was approached by the Adani conglomerate through the office of the Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas firm, which is spearheading the defence of Adani Group.

On January 24 this year, the US-based investment research firm published a 32,000-word report, accusing the Adani Group of stock manipulation and use of tax havens.

The Adani Group trashed the Hindenburg Research report as a “malicious combination of selective misinformation and stale, baseless and discredited allegations”.

On January 29, the Adani group slammed Hindenburg Research with a 413-page report, dismissing allegations levelled by the latter. The Adani group pointed out how the US-based investment research firm sought to benefit from its report attacking the Indian conglomerate.

Liberals cancel actor and comedian ‘Aiyyo Shraddha’ for meeting PM Modi

OpIndia Staff
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Liberals cancel actor and comedian ‘Aiyyo Shraddha’ for meeting PM Modi

On February 13, actor and comedian Aiyyo Shraddha (Shraddha Jain) shared her experience of meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She was one of the famous personalities from Karnataka that met the PM during his visit to the poll-bound state. In a tweet, she said, “Namashkar, yes, I met the Honourable Prime Minister of our Country. His first word to me was ‘Aiyyo!’. I am not blinking, that’s my ‘O My Jod, he really said that this is really happening!!!!’ look. Thank you @PMOIndia!”

Later, DD News shared a video clip of Shraddha where she talked about her experience meeting the PM. She said, “Meeting the Prime Minister of our country… how do you put it quickly in words. I am still in a few days. He met me, and we shook hands as I entered the room, he said, ‘Aiyyo!’. Aiyyo is a prefix to my social media handle, it’s called Aiyyo Shraddha and the fact that he remembered it and he remembered my face and Aiyyo, and he said Aiyyo! In fact, if the photographers have clicked that picture, it’s a picture of him going Aiyyo and me going [makes expressions of surprise] because I did not expect him to say that. It was a very wonderful warm chat. He told us how proud he was about how the South Indian film industry has showcased the beauty of our country, the richness of our country.”

Following her tweet, while many netizens congratulated her, the so-called liberals rushed to cancel the comedian for meeting the PM. Congress worker Armaan said, “Wow, so now you will start propaganda and justify 40% commissions?”

Twitter user Sachin Pawar said, “So, Shraddha…did u discuss important issues like Unemployment, Layoffs, Economy, Chinese Intrusions with Modi..or did he give tips to u on how to be a better comedian?”

Human Rights Guy said, “You seem proud!!! Ask him how it felt to spend 8000 crores on buying his flights in the middle of a pandemic when 5 -8 million Indians died.” Interestingly, both the statements by the Twitter user were propaganda and have been busted several times.

Twitter user Nita Kumar said, “I used to watch her videos for a while when she tried to highlight issues, till I sensed that she was careful to avoid topics uncomfortable for Modi & co. Stopped watching her immediately. Today my stand is validated.”

Who is Aiyyo Shraddha?

Shraddha Jain, popular as Aiyyo Shraddha on social media platforms, is an influencer and actor best known for her clean comedy. Her recent video on layoffs became a sensation on social media and gained a lot of traction. Based out of Bengaluru, she often posts videos on events in different sectors.

PM Modi met famous personalities from Karnataka

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the Aero India 2023 show in Bengaluru. PM Modi also met several other famous personalities from the state, including actors, entrepreneurs and sportspersons.

Chinese ship throws ‘military grade’ laser on Philippines Coast Guard vessel, temporarily blinding the crew

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Chinese ship throws ‘military grade’ laser on Philippines Coast Guard vessel, temporarily blinding the crew

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has accused a China Coast Guard ship of pointing a “military grade” laser at some of its crew, temporarily blinding them, reported CNN.The incident took place in contested waters of South China last week. 

The PCG vessel was supporting a rotation and resupply mission of the Philippine Navy in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea in the Spratly Islands chain, known in China as the Nansha Islands, China calls the shoal Renai Reef, on February 6. The Chinese ship also “made dangerous maneuvers” in approaching within 150 yards (137 meters) of the Philippine vessel, the Philippine Coast Guard alleged in a statement posted on its official Facebook page, with photos purporting to show the laser’s green beam, reported CNN. 

The China Coast Guard (CCG) ship with bow No. 5205 illuminated a green light twice toward the BRP Malapascua, causing temporary blindness to crew members on duty at the bridge or main command center at past 6 p.m. as the ship reached 19.5 kilometers (10 nautical miles) from the shoal, the PCG said. 

“The PCG condemns any actions that harm and jeopardize the safety of everyone regardless of nationality,” PCG commandant Adm. Artemio Abu said. 

The Chinese ship crossed the bow of the PCG ship at a distance of 7.4 km (4 nautical miles) as if to warn BRP Malapascua to stop or alter course. 

Meanwhile, China’s Foreign Ministry said Monday the Philippine vessel “trespassed into the waters of Renai Reef without the permission of the Chinese side,” reported CNN. 

“The Chinese maritime police vessel defended China’s sovereignty and maritime order in accordance with China’s domestic law and international law,” spokesperson Wang Wenbin said, without specifying what action the Chinese side took. 

Notably, China claims “indisputable sovereignty” over almost all of the 1.3 million square miles South China Sea, as well as most of the islands within it. That includes the Spratlys, an archipelago consisting of 100 small islands and reefs also claimed in full or part by the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan. 

The Philippines calls the area the West Philippine Sea and in 1999 intentionally grounded a navy transport ship, the BRP Sierra Madre, on Second Thomas Shoal, which is still manned by Filipino marines to enforce Manila’s claim to the area. 

Beijing has been trying for years to prevent the Philippine Navy’s resupply missions in Ayungin Shoal and has displayed new tactics over the past few months. 

Except for the small wooden boats chartered by the Navy, the CCG has been preventing Philippine military and law enforcement vessels from entering the shoal. 

The reported incidents, disclosed to the public for the first time, follow a pattern of Chinese forces harassing other countries with lasers. 

Last year, the Australian government said a Chinese warship aimed its laser at a Royal Australian Air Force jet 105 km from Australia’s northern coast. But China denied this. 

In February 2022, Australia alleged a People’s Liberation Army Navy warship “illuminated” an Australian P-8A aircraft, a reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare plane, as it was flying over the Arafura Sea, the body of water between Australia’s Northern Territory and the island of New Guinea to the north. 

At the time, China said the Australian claims were “not true,” reported CNN.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Remembering the Pulwama attack and how the Hinduphobic slur of ‘Gaumutra’ has been normalised by liberals ever since

Dibakar Dutta
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Remembering the Pulwama attack and how the Hinduphobic slur of ‘Gaumutra’ has been normalised by liberals ever since

On February 14, 2019, a convoy of vehicles carrying Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel to Srinagar via National Highway 44 came under a suicide bombing attack.

A 22-year-old Adil Ahmad Dar, a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist from Kakapora in Jammu and Kashmir, rammed his explosive-laden vehicle into a bus carrying the CRPF personnel. 40 of our jawans were martyred.

While India was still mourning the attack, a video of Adil went viral on social media. Recorded prior to the suicide bombing, it gave out a clear message that the Pulwama attack was not just limited to the Indian State but was also an act of vengeance against the Hindu majority.

In the video, the Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist dehumanised the Hindu community as ‘Hindustan ka Napak mushrikon‘ (impure idol worshippers of India) and ‘Gae ka Peshab Peene Walon’ (cow piss drinkers).

Islamists, who live in their make-believe world of religious supremacy, tend to look down upon adherents of Dharmic Faiths. They believe all Hindus are idolaters, drink the urine of cows and are doomed for Hellfire.

The selective usage of slurs targeting the Hindu community, which considers cows as sacred, made it clear that the Pulwama attack was not just another case of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. It was also on Hindus, the ‘cow piss drinkers’

The normalisation of gaumutra jibes in Indian political discourse

It has been 4 years since that incident and Adil Ahmad Dar’s video resulted in serving more than one purpose. Besides striking terror in Hindus, it gave new ammunition to the Indian liberals to abuse, belittle and dehumanise the community.

In February last year, ‘motormouth’ TMC MP Mahua Moitra made the ‘Gau Mutra’ jibe to mock the Modi government. She had tweeted, “Am speaking this evening in Lok Sabha on President’s Address.”

“Just wanted to give early heads up to @BJP to get the heckler team ready & read up on imaginary points of order. Drink some gau mutra shots too,” Mahua Moitra remarked.

In May 2021, she stirred controversy by calling India the ‘Susu Potty Republic’. Then too, she had used the cow urine jibe to attack the central government.

Screengrab of the tweet by Mahua Moitra

In February 2022, DMK leader Dr DNV Senthilkumar S mocked the BJP-ruled States in the North by making the ‘gau mutra’ jibe on the floor of the parliament.

“According to NEP, gross enrollment ratio has to be 50 per cent which Tamil Nadu has achieved long ago. If they want to implement this policy, they should implement the Dravidian model for the development of the country,” he had remarked.

“Why is their policy being thrust upon us? We reject it. If they want to implement it, they should do it in their gau mutra States”, he said in his 6-minute long speech.

In October 2020, former Hindutva icon Uddhav Thackeray hit a new low after he attacked BJP with crass, Hinduphobic references to Gaumutra (cow urine) and gobar (cow dung). The Shiv Sena supremo made derogatory remarks while addressing the annual Shiv Sena Dusshera Mela.

“Those who cast aspersions on our government, themselves have their mouths filled with cow-dung and Gaumutra. They have been trying to sling cow dung at us, in a desperate hope that it will stick but it did not because we are clean. It is them whose mouth and clothes reek of Gaumutra and cow-dung,” Uddhav Thackeray was heard as saying.

Even as the world was swept by the menace of the coronavirus pandemic in Match 2020, the social media coordinator of the Mahila Congress did not hold back from making a ‘gau mutra’ barb.

While quoting a tweet which said that far-right hucksters were selling fraudulent coronavirus ‘cures’, Lavanya Ballal retweeted it with the caption, “India has Gau Mutra”.

Not just politicians, but even liberal journalists have been at the helm of throwing Hinduphobic slurs randomly on the internet to win arguments. In June 2021, NDTV journalist Saurabh Shukla.

He was responding to a tweet posted by journalist Rohini Singh when Shukla made the gau mutra (cow urine) jibe. Journalist Prashant Kumar posted a tweet informing that the Delhi government has permitted the home delivery of liquor in the state.

Rohini Singh congratulated Prashant on his tweet, to which Shukla responded that Prashant Kumar lived in Ghaziabad, where he would be delivered gau mutra at home instead of liquor.

Screengrab of the tweet by Saurabh Shukla

Amit Schandillia, a columnist with Shekhar Gupta’s ThePrint and an author published by Harper Collins Publishers India, also did not feel any compunction in using the same language as used by the Pulwama terrorist Adil Ahmad Dar.

Amit Schandillia
Screengrab of the tweets by Amit Schandillia

In September last year, the Development Executive of Dharma Productions, Shreemi Verma, came under fire for her tweets mocking Hindus with ‘Gau Mutra’ jibes. 

“If Modi does a gau mutra shots party at 8 pm, it’ll be pretty wild,” read one of her tweets. Another tweet stated, “2 parts lime 3 parts tequila and a dash of gau mutra.”

On April 27, 2021, she wrote, “If this situation doesn’t require urgency, then what does? lack of gau mutra? is that when we should panic?” This was the time when India was gripped by the deadly second wave of the Covid pandemic.

In November 2020, ‘author’ Ravinder Singh was seen using the language of the terrorists while mocking Covid-19 vaccines. Responding to ‘journalist’ Rohini Singh’s tweet on coronavirus vaccines, Ravinder Singh said why would we (Indians) need vaccines when we have Gaumutra (cow urine) as a cure.

Singh was expressing concern about whether state governments in India had reserved their share of vaccines when countries around the world were doing so.

Screengrab of the tweet

‘Raksha Bandhan’ movie writer Kanika Dhillon was also found invoking ‘Gau mata’ in multiple tweets to take potshots at the ruling dispensation at the Centre.

In April 2021, she had tweeted, “Dying in the parking lot after waiting for a hospital bed…Yeh aache din hai! India super power hai! Aur gau mata ka mutra peene see Covid chala jayega (These are the good days…India is a superpower. And drinking cow’s urine will cure Covid-19).”

Screengrab of the tweet by Kanika Dhillon

The disparaging reference to ‘cow piss’ has been made prior to real-life acts of violence and harassment against Hindus in the United Kingdom and the United States. Even Rishi Sunak, the British Prime Minister, was demonised with the Hinduphobic slur for doing Gau Puja and visiting temple.

The ‘Gau Mutra‘ jibes are now a regular phenomenon in the Indian social media space. The Hindu community has to brave the casual, dehumanising slur not just from anonymous trolls but prominent politicians and public figures who have no qualms in using the language of an Islamic terrorist.

Needless to say, the Indian liberals have managed to get away with little to no consequences. ‘Gau Mutra /Gae ka peshab‘, a term once used to orchestrate an act of terror by the Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist, is normalised as a form of speech and expression.

Boat with 69 Rohingyas from Bangladesh lands in Car Nicobar of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

OpIndia Staff
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Boat with 69 Rohingyas from Bangladesh lands in Car Nicobar of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

There is a constant influx of Rohingyas into India. 69 of them arrived from Bangladesh around 10:30 in the morning, at Malacca Jetty in Car Nicobar, the northernmost of the Nicobar Islands. According to reports, the refugees moored their boat, named ‘Ma-Babar Doa’ (blessings of parents), at the inoperational Malacca Jetty.

The boat was occupied by 19 men, 22 women and 28 children. They claimed that they landed in Andaman and Nicobar as a result of severe weather and their boat ran out of fuel. Furthermore, they revealed that two weeks prior, they had left a relief camp. 

The coast guard, police and a disaster management team reached the location as soon as they had the information. Security personnel brought food, water and medicines for them. Officials confirmed that the medical assessment of these individuals is underway and that nothing can be disclosed at the moment. Moreover, this information has been shared with the Ministries of Home Affairs and External Affairs. The jetty is being kept off-limits to the general public.

Car Nicobar has an Indian Air Force (IAF) base which is located in IAF Camp village.

A boat carrying 66 Rohingyas from Bangladesh, was intercepted in January 2020 close to Tarmugli Island, around 34 km away from North Sentinel Island, which is off-limits and home to the isolated Sentinelese tribe.

Human Rights Watch estimates that there are 40,000 Rohingya people in India and at least 20,000 of whom have registered with the UN Human Rights Commission.

‘Jan Ki Baat’ opinion poll predicts BJP’s return to power in Tripura

OpIndia Staff
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‘Jan Ki Baat’ opinion poll predicts BJP’s return to power in Tripura

Jan Ki Baat has released the results of its latest survey ahead of the crucial Tripura elections, scheduled to be held in the state on 16 February 2023 to elect 60 members of the Tripura Legislative Assembly. According to the opinion poll, the BJP, which ended 25 years of Left rule in 2018, would retain control of the state.

In its survey, which sampled 10,000 people, across all districts, the polling agency predicted a comfortable return for the Manik Saha-led Bharatiya Janata Party government in the state of Tripura. The survey predicts BJP to win between 30-35 seats in the upcoming Assembly polls while CPI(M) together with its ally Congress, which drew a blank in 2018, could get 13-16 seats, almost half of what has been predicted for the ruling party.

The Tipraha Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance (also called Tipra Motha), meanwhile, might bag 13-11 sets as per the poll survey. It is worth mentioning that the Tipra Motha has been advocating for Greater Tipraland, which would see the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council and some adjacent areas become a separate state from Tripura.

Image source: Jan Ki Baat

If we analyze the percentage of the vote share of BJP and other parties, based on the aforementioned predicted number of seats, Jan Ki Baat predicts a vote share of 39-42 percent for the incumbent BJP government in the state. The CPI(M) and Congress alliance is expected to receive 38-41 percent. The Tipra Motha, led by Pradyot Debbarma is expected to receive 16-21% while other parties 1-2%.

Image source: Jan Ki Baat Twitter handle

Broadly, breaking down the vote share district-wise, the survey predicts that BJP will bag 3 out of 6 seats in the North Tripura district. Similarly, it predicts BJP to bag 4 out of 9 seats in the Siphaijala district, 4 out of 7 in the South Tripura district, 3 out of 6 seats in the Dhalak district, 2 0f the 5 seats in the Uninakoti district, 4 out of 6 seats in the Khowa district, 10 out of 14 seats in the West Tripura district and 3 out of 7 seats in the Gomati district.

Further predicting the vote share based on demography, the poll predicts that 60% of Bengali Hindus favor BJP coming to power. 70% of Bengali Muslims in the state, however, are seen backing the CPI(M)-Congress alliance.

In terms of tribal vote share, Tipra Motha seems to be bagging the maximum share. The Debarma tribe in the state, as indicated in the poll, has extended its support for the Tipra Motha, with the party bagging 75% of their votes. Meanwhile, 55% of the Tripuri tribe is seen to be backing the incumbent BJP government in the state.

Jan Ki Baat opinion poll had predicted the return of BJP in Tripura in 2018

In 2018, the NewsX Jan ki Baat opinion poll suggested that NDA may get 35-45 seats in the final tally. The main opposition, which is the CPI(M), was expected to get 14-23 seats in the 60-seat assembly. The state was considered a red bastion until 2018. As predicted, by winning 44 out of 60 seats, the BJP subsequently formed the government with Biplab Kumar Deb as the Chief Minister. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) only got 16 seats and Congress drew a blank.

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