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After controversy over Modi documentary in India, BBC faces boycott calls in UK for sympathetic documentary on ISIS bride Shamima Begum

OpIndia Staff
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After controversy over Modi documentary in India, BBC faces boycott calls in UK for sympathetic documentary on ISIS bride Shamima Begum

After facing massive controversy in India over its documentary on PM Modi titled ‘India: The Modi Question’, BBC is now facing boycott calls in its home country over another documentary. Netizens from UK are outraged that BBC has tried to create sympathy for ‘ISIS bride’ Shamima Begum in its latest documentary titled The Shamima Begum Story. Like the documentary on PM Modi, this documentary was also broadcast on BBC Channel Two and its streaming service iPlayer.

The documentary is a follow-up of the ten-part podcast by BBC on Shamina Begum, which was titled I’m Not a Monster, The Shamima Begum Story. After the podcast was released, BBC was accused of giving platform to an ISIS terrorist. In the name of ‘retracing her journey’, the channel had tried to portray as a vulnerable young woman, which was seen as an attempt to garner sympathies in her favour to overturn a ban on her return to the UK imposed by the government.

The outrage against the publicly funded broadcaster have now gone up after the documentary was aired, with several UK citizens threatening to not renew their subscriptions. People, including politicians, also demanded that the funding to the channel should be scrapped for defending ISIS terrorists.

MP Scott Benton tweeted, Disgraceful decision by the BBC to give Shamima Begum a platform. Absolutely indefensible. Who on earth at the BBC makes these decisions? Time to #ScrapTheLicenceFee.

Veteran media executive and former Sun editor Kelvin Calder MacKenzie tweeted, “We are forced to pay a £159 BBC licence fee and yet had to view the corporation embrace the PR effort of Shamima Begum who wants you to know she’s no longer an ISIS wag but has seen the error of her ways. It won’t work. She wanted the ISIS world. She must live with it.”

“Defund the BBC. They are no longer fit to be our state broadcaster,” Tweeted a Reform party politician.

“When you look at all the people who have been cancelled, it’s unbelievable the BBC are giving terrorist Shamima Begum a platform to tell her story. Who makes these decisions???” Tweeted conservative politician Andrew RT Davies.

Several people said that while it is true that Shamina was a minor when she joined ISIS, she stuck to her decision even after she became an adult. Photojournalist Michael Martin tweeted, “Sickened to have watched the BBC’s airing of ‘The Shamima Begum Story’. As a 15yo British girl who was indoctrinated by ISIS, she was a victim. As an adult willing to live in Syria and join ISIS she was no longer a victim. She’s previously defended the UK ISIS terrorist attack.”

Michael also said that the BBC documentary didn’t mention that Shamina Begum was accused of being involved in the torture of female ISIS captives. She was allegedly a member of the all-female ISIS ‘Hisba’ sadistic ‘morality police’ which tortured women and girls in Syria, he said.

A large number of social media users echoed similar voices, asked to scrap the funding of BBC, and vowed to cancel their subscriptions. One Twitter user said: ‘I won’t be renewing my licence, it’s taking the p**s.’ Another user said, ‘What is happening with the BBC? Are you kidding me? Won’t ever pay my TV licence again… She’s a terrorist with no remorse, she doesn’t deserve to have her story heard like she is a victim.’ 

One user, who has included ‘Defund the BBC’ in the user name, tweeted, ‘Anyone who has a BBC TV licence should cancel it today. Their support of Shamima Begum is nothing short of terrorism and treachery.’

“Why are you wasting licence payers fees on this girl. She knew what she was doing,” Tweeted one Joee. “So the BBC has decided to show a programme on over an hour long about Shamina Begum how dare they waste licence payers money on this shite,” said another Twitter user Denise.

“The BBC presenting Shamima Begum as a “vunerable young girl”.  All beautifully staged, with ominious music back track, moody shots, tearful pieces to camera etc. Maybe they should involve some of the families of the people beheaded and tortured by her ISIS mates?” said one Jimmy Krankz.

One user went one step ahead and cancelled his subscription and filed a complaint, saying that he won’t be allowing his licence fee to be used in this way and that he has cancelled his direct debit.

Shamina Begum now lives at the Al-Roj camp in northern Syria, run by the Syrian Democratic Forces. She told the BBC said that living in the camp is worse than being in a prison, as she does not know whether she will be able to get out of the camp or not.

She agreed that she had joined a terror group, but said she does not think there is public anger against her, and the anger is against ISIS. ‘We went to ISIS, that was it. It was over, it was over and done with,’ implying that the matter should be considered as over and people should forget that she was a member of ISIS.

Shamima Begum narrated her journey to Syria, saying how she had researched to find information to join ISIS, and how she had planned her journey. She said that ISIS handlers were guiding them online, telling what to do and what not to do.

‘You are talking about corruption? First, go and wash your face with Dettol’: Nirmala Sitharaman takes a dig at Congress over corruption charges

OpIndia Staff
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‘You are talking about corruption? First, go and wash your face with Dettol’: Nirmala Sitharaman takes a dig at Congress over corruption charges

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman slammed the Congress party on Friday for accusing the Centre of corruption. During the general debate on Budget 2023-24 in the Lok Sabha, the union minister stated people who accuse the BJP of corruption should first cleanse their face with Dettol.

“Arre Corruption ke upar aap… Dettol se muh saaf kardo bhaiya. Congresswale. Corruption ke upar aap, Corruption ke upar aap aap baat kar rahe ho. (You will speak on corruption, clean your mouth with Dettol first. You will speak on corruption, what are you saying?), expressing sheer disbelief, the Union Minister said that a party with a history of corruption should not counsel others.

Sitharaman’s remark came after she noted that the Congress party in Himachal Pradesh raised the Value Added Tax (VAT) on diesel after assuming office last year.

“You increased VAT on diesel in Himachal Pradesh. This is the culture of Congress. They will level allegations, walk out from the house but will not listen,” she said.

Further taking a dig at the Congress government in Rajasthan, the finance minister said, “Rajasthan mein gadbad hai bhaiya, pichle saal ka budget iss saal padh rahe hain. Mistakes can happen to anyone, but I pray to God that such a situation should not arise in front of anyone that someone has to read the previous year’s budget.”

Notably, the Union Finance Minister’s aforementioned remark came in the wake of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s major gaffe while presenting the state budget in the assembly on Friday, which elicited hilarious responses on social media as well as from members of various opposition parties.

CM Ashok Gehlot reads last year’s budget in assembly

On Friday, CM Ashok Gehlot started reading the budget and kept reading it for several minutes before his party leaders and other ministers realised that the budget sounds familiar and asked him to stop. As per reports, the CM kept reading the old budget for nearly 7 minutes.

BJP leader Rajyavardhan Rathore shared the footage.

The opposition had started mocking Congress and laughing in the assembly. The budget session was halted for several minutes as the Congress leaders ran around to locate the current year’s budget papers.

‘If you want to live in this era, then create chaos’: watch the video of PFI member’s speech cited by Maharashtra ATS in its chargesheet

OpIndia Staff
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‘If you want to live in this era, then create chaos’: watch the video of PFI member’s speech cited by Maharashtra ATS in its chargesheet

On the 2nd of February 2023, Maharashtra Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) filed a charge sheet against 5 PFI terrorists, who were arrested during nationwide raids against the proscribed Islamic organization, for being involved in unlawful activities and conspiracy against the nation. The five accused – Mazhar Khan, Sadiq Shaikh, Mohammad Iqbal Khan, Momin Mistry, and Aasif Hussain Khan were arrested by the Mumbai unit of the Maharashtra ATS for their association with PFI.

In this charge sheet, Maharashtra Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) cited a YouTube video in which one of the accused is seen delivering an instigating speech. The video is uploaded from the YouTube channel ‘The Janta Talks’. Accused Mazhar Khan appears in this video wearing a yellow shirt.

He said, in this video, “The atmosphere of hatred in the country is increasing rapidly. We all have seen that Hindu festivals are being used to increase the atmosphere of hatred. The Prime Minister of our country has worked for 18-18 hours without getting tired, without taking any breaks to accomplish this atmosphere. This is now a new India. Welcome to New India.”

The accused further said, “In this India, the police, the administrators, and the courts no longer matter. In this India, there will be only a crowd that picks up arms in their hands, shouts provocative slogans in front of mosques in Muslim areas, violates the beliefs of Muslims, and will continue to put saffron on mosques while giving dirty abuses to Muslims. If Muslims try to stop them by mistake, then stones will be thrown, and Muslim shops will be burnt, that is, a ruckus will be created. After that, the police will come forward and arrest the Muslims. Then in the end, the administrator will come forward with his bulldozer, and the shops and houses of Muslims will be reduced to stones. The law and the government are being flouted. Those who have taken the oath of the constitution are doing this.”

This video was published on YouTube on 19th May 2023, 3 days after a Shivling was found during the survey of the disputed structure at the Gyanvapi complex in Varanasi. The accused used it to provoke Muslims.

Mazhar Khan said, “Everyone is trying to prove themselves as the biggest Hindutva income con in this country. Take the matter of Gyanvapi mosque now. The Place of Workship Act in 1991 was blown up by the lower court of Banaras itself. According to the Places of Working Act 1991, the temple or mosque in India will be kept in the same condition after 1947, that is, its nature will not be changed. This law was passed by Parliament in 1991 and the Allahabad High Court also showed no interest in preventing this matter. Even the Supreme Court also avoided the matter and gave time to the lower court of Banaras to complete its decision. The proceedings of the Sessions Court of Banaras have also been completed and now the report will also be filed in the court.”

He compared it with Ayodhya’s Ram Janmabhoomi case. He said, “A similar action was also seen in the Case of Babri Masjid, how the lower court of Ayodhya described the Babri Masjid case as a disputed case. Then in the name of court action, the case was kept pending. Political parties were given a chance to play their politics in this matter. The same game is now being played at the Gyanvapi Mosque. However, if the court wanted, it could have dismissed the case without hearing it. The Supreme Court could also have dismissed the case by taking a strong stand on the case and expressing displeasure over the action of the Sessions Court of Banaras. But from the bottom to the top, everyone is engaged in proving themselves to be Hindus. Who cares about the law and the order?”

Appealing to Muslims in India, Mazhar Khan concluded by saying, “You have seen this situation before how the Babri Masjid case was made disputed and the Babri Masjid went away step by step. We just depended on the trust of the courts and did not fulfill our responsibility. Our silence became the strength of our enemies, and one day we also saw that heart-wrenching scene, the Babri Masjid was martyred in front of our eyes. After that, even from the courts, we completely lost the Babri Masjid. Now the same game is being toured again. We are seeing another mosque becoming Babri Masjid with our own eyes. Will we remain silent this time too? Will you keep giving the Sangh Parivar a chance to play the game with your silence? Or will you even fulfill your responsibilities? We can respond to the moves of the Sangh Parivar by coming out on the streets and protecting our rights in a jamboree style. This silent mood will not let us live. This silent mood will not allow us to live. If you want to live in this era, then create chaos.”

Kerala Police instruct Vellayani Bhadrakali temple to remove saffron decorations put up for a festival, claim it will create law and order situation

OpIndia Staff
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Kerala Police instruct Vellayani Bhadrakali temple to remove saffron decorations put up for a festival, claim it will create law and order situation

In another incident of targeting Hindu temples in Communist-ruled Kerala, a temple has been asked to not use saffron decoration during a festival. Recently, police visited the Vellayani Bhadrakali temple located on the southern outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala and instructed the temple authorities to avoid saffron-coloured buntings, flags other fabric on the premises for the upcoming Mohotsav. According to the police, the temple should use fabrics, flags and buntings of all colours, not just saffron, even though traditionally the temple is decorated with saffron during the festival.

In protest against the police instruction, devotees later set up a tent for a police post for the festival using saffron fabric. The temple authorities also have refused to remove the saffron flags and buntings. The devotees have alleged that the police are helping the anti-Hindu elements in the state.

This enormous Devi temple is situated next to Vellayani Lake, a wetland that draws a significant number of pilgrims during the Kaliyoottu Mahotsavam, which is held once every three years. It is managed by the Travancore Devaswom Board of the Kerala government, and it has a number of committees that are chosen annually by residents of the Kalliyoor panchayat nearby.

The triennial festival is scheduled to start on February 14, 2023, and will be the first one to be held in the last six years. The 2020 festival had to be interrupted due to the Wuhan virus pandemic. However, this year’s enthusiasm and preparations for the festival have also been dampened due to the unnecessary issue that has cropped up from the side of the local government. 

According to the reports, the Kerala Police have demanded that the temple’s administrators switch out their customary saffron-coloured buntings (torons), flags and other fabric for multicoloured ones since they worry that lining the temple’s approach road with solely saffron-coloured decorations might cause a law-and-order issue.

The Vellayani Bhadrakali temple authorities are enraged as it is blatantly disrespectful to religious sensibilities to have government officials interfere in a custom that the temple has maintained for centuries. At first, the temple administration thought that the instruction was regarding the ban on plastic flags, and therefore they used cloth buntings and flags. But later they found out that the objection was on the saffron colour.

The saffron buntings had just been raised on the approach road to the temple, according to Sreekand Kalliyoor, a member of the temple’s festival committee, and festival arrangements were moving along with great enthusiasm, when the police showed up in the middle of the morning on January 7 to give their outrageous instructions.

Rageesh Kumar, the Nemom Station House Officer (SHO) and Inspector of Police, made the demand while being escorted by a sizable police force. When the temple officials inquired as to why the saffron flags had to be changed, they were told that the police had received a telephone complaint over the colour of the torons and as a result, wanted them changed to multi-coloured ones to prevent a law-and-order issue.

The complainant’s identity was kept a secret, and the SHO orally gave directions. The representatives of the temple received no written complaint or directive. Reports mention that the police departed after the temple refused to remove the saffron torons.

The following day, on February 8, four senior members of the advisory and festival committees for the Vellayani temple met with Anil Jose J, the Deputy Collector (General) ADM, at Kudappanankkunnu Civil Station, Thiruvananthapuram, for a regularly scheduled meeting in the evening to review the festival’s planning and preparations.

Rageesh Kumar, the Nemom SHO, was present at this meeting. The matter of the SHO asking the temple officials to swap out the saffron flags for multicoloured ones was brought up during this discussion. However, no decision was made in either direction, and the discussion over saffron torons came to a deadlock.

Later, N Gryan, General Convenor of the temple festival committee while in a debate on JanamTV said that when they brought up the issue with Deputy Collector Anil Jose J. that evening, SHO silently mouthed “saffron, saffron, saffron.” Kalliyoor adds that they could not comprehend why a simple saffron bunting would cause so many problems.

Also, AH Hafem of the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) said on the February 8 debate that the saffron colour could cause law and order problems. So, the saffron colour decoratives at the temple now are being opposed by both the local administration and the Communist party functionary.

According to a Swarajya Magazine report, the Vellayani temple has been targeted for a few years now as it is the stronghold of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Vellayani temple lies within the boundary of Nemom assembly and Veteran BJP leader O Rajagopal had polled heavily in this segment in the 2014 general elections. Further, the temple lies in the Kalliyoor panchayat, the area which the BJP attained in the local body polls of 2015 and 2020.

Earlier, the temple was attacked on a similar issue in the year 2017. The temple authorities then had been asked to take down the saffron flag hoisted on the entrance of the temple. The festival committee then didn’t want to engage in an argument so had decided to take down the flag.

ISIS mouthpiece ‘Voice of Khurasan’ glorifies SIMI and PFI members, calls them innocent

OpIndia Staff
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ISIS mouthpiece ‘Voice of Khurasan’ glorifies SIMI and PFI members, calls them innocent

The mouthpiece for the international terrorist organisation Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) came out in favour of the Popular Front of India. The 20th edition of ‘Voice of Khurasan’, an English language magazine published by the Afghanistan-based Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP), was released in the past week. A four-page piece with the headline ‘Crackdown on Popular Front of India: Lessons for Indian Muslims’ was published in a magazine of 45 pages. The publication defended the arrest of the members of outlawed extremist organisations, The Students’ Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and Popular Front of India (PFI), by labelling them “innocents.”

The four-page paper critiques the police administration’s actions towards PFI and SIMI. The magazine notes that during the past seven decades, violent fundamentalist Hindu governments have targeted Muslims. Following this pattern, PFI activists were arrested and banned across the country.

However, they attempted to portray it as an unjustified and illegal assault on the PFI workers. ISIS’s mouthpiece gives PFI even more accolades by stating that it has made a name for itself as an organisation that addresses the plight of Indian Muslims.

Many PFI supporters embraced the flag of Tawhid (Islamic monotheism) in various parts of the world, and many of them may have gained Shahada (martyrdom for Islam), according to this article, which extols the virtues of a fundamentalist organisation which is banned in India for indulging in anti-national activities.

According to sources, ISIS is trying to gain some foothold among the other Islamist groups and inspire them to band together for their terrorist agenda by backing PFI and making their most recent pronouncements.

The publication of the article coincides with the ongoing PFI investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Bihar.

PFI conspired to turn India into an Islamic state by 2047: Maharashtra ATS

Even after a five-year ban was placed on the activists and members of the Popular Front of India (PFI) the previous year, there has been a constant crackdown on them. Arrests are being made all around the country, from Madhya Pradesh to Maharashtra and most recently in Bihar. In its chargesheet, the Maharashtra ATS made it quite explicit that PFI members intended to bring Islamic rule to India by 2047.

The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) mentioned a seven-page booklet titled ‘India 2047, Towards Rule of Islam in India’ that was allegedly found in Mazhar Mansoor Khan’s Vikhroli home in its 1,113-page chargesheet, which was submitted on February 2. The booklet aims to establish “Islamic rule” in India. According to the ATS, the recovered document contains instructions on how PFI members can topple the ruling dispensation.

Neelesh Purohit, a cyber intelligence analyst, says, “PFI cadre have training sessions for fighting, swording and insurgency kind of attacks. The cadre is highly radical in nature against the government. After banning PFI, the trained well-charged cadre has no option to work in the same manner which is a good chance for outfits like ISIS. As a result of which ISIS wants to mobilize PFI fighters into the organisation to start Jihad against India.” He continues, “It was suspected PFI was recruiting Indian youths for ISIS so that they could carry forward the agenda of the global terror group.”

‘Voice of Khurasan’ is a tool of ISIS which the Jihadi outfit uses to spread its message across Central and South Asia. It urges loyal adherents to carry out attacks on the group’s behalf throughout the world. This journal encourages younger extremists to support the goals of both ISIS and Al Qaeda.

Lucknow District court allows Hindu litigants to appeal for a survey of Teele Wali Masjid

OpIndia Staff
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Lucknow District court allows Hindu litigants to appeal for a survey of Teele Wali Masjid

On Thursday, February 9, a District Court in Lucknow held that a lawsuit of Lord Sheshnagesh Tileshwar Temple situated in the complex of the disputed Teele Wali Masjid on the Laxman Teela along Gomti river is maintainable. 

The bench of additional district judge-I (ADJ-I) Prafull Kamal has permitted Hindu litigants to appeal at a lower court for a survey of the Teele Wali Masjid. The contention by the Muslim litigants that the case cannot be maintained was rejected by the ADJ court. The revision petition was filed by Sunni Central Waqf Board pleading that the case was time-barred under the Places of Worship Act 1991.

ADJ Kumar upheld the senior division civil judge’s order dated September 25, 2017, which stated that the case was maintainable and should be decided on grounds of merit.

The next hearing in the case will be held on February 17.

The Hindu litigants had argued that Lakshman, Lord Ram’s younger brother, had constructed the “Lakshman Teela” on the disputed mosque complex site where the present Teele Wali Masjid stands. There are ancient temples dedicated to Sheshnagesh Tileshwar and other Hindu deities that were allegedly demolished in 2013 in an attempt to alter the site’s religious character. In the original lawsuit filed in 2013, the Hindu plaintiffs sought a survey of the mosque complex to be conducted.

In 2013, Lord Sheshnagesh Tileshwar Mahadev Virajman, Laxman Tila Sheshnag Teerth Bhoomi, and others filed a civil claim in a lower civil court, alleging that a Hindu sacred edifice was demolished to make place for a mosque during the era of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. The Hindu petitioners claimed that a portion of the property where the mosque stood was theirs and should be given to them.

According to advocate Harishankar Jain, who is also involved in the cases of the Gyanvapi complex and the Mathura mosque, the whole complex is the site of Sheshnagesh Tileshwar Mahadev, which was destroyed during Islamic tyrant Aurangzeb’s reign.

The Secretary Home Ministry through the Union of India, the Lucknow Circle of the Archaeological Survey of India, the State of Uttar Pradesh Principal Secretary Home, District Magistrate Lucknow, Director General of Police UP, Senior Superintendent of Police Lucknow, Superintendent of Police West Lucknow, Inspector Chowk, CEO of Sunni Central Board, Chief Executive Officer through the Waqf, and Maulana Fajalurrehman have been named as respondents in the case.

The Places of Worship Act, 1991

The Places of Worship Act, 1991 was passed by the PV Narasimha Rao-led Congress regime to maintain the status quo of the religious character of places of worship as it was in 1947, except in the case of the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute, which was already in court. It was also to provide for the maintenance of the religious character of such a place of worship as on that day.

The Act states that a site of worship’s religious character must remain the same as it was on August 15, 1947. The law also states that nobody ever shall translate any religious denomination’s holy site into one of a distinct denomination or section.

The law also asserts that each and every lawsuit, appeal, or other proceedings pertaining to changing the character of the area of worship pending before any court or authority on August 15, 1947, will be terminated as soon as the legislation becomes effective, meaning there cannot be any further legal proceedings.

The act also imposes a positive obligation on the state to maintain the religious character of every place of worship as it existed at the time of independence.

Exemptions

There is a legal exception. If the change of status occurred after the cutoff date of August 15, 1947, legal action may be taken under the Places of Worship Act, 1991. This saves court cases, lawsuits, and appeals involving the possibility of status that were filed after the cutoff date.

Additionally, any place of worship that is an ancient monument, historical site, or archaeological site protected by the 1958 Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act is exempt from the statute.

Any lawsuit that has been successfully resolved, any dispute that has been settled amicably between the parties, or any conversion of place that occurred prior to the commencement of the Act.

PFI was planning to radicalise Lakshwadeep Muslims with the ‘Islam is under attack’ trope, reveals ATS chargesheet

OpIndia Staff
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PFI was planning to radicalise Lakshwadeep Muslims with the ‘Islam is under attack’ trope, reveals ATS chargesheet

Maharashtra Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) filed a 600-page charge sheet against PFI terrorists on February 2, 2023, detailing how the accused were working towards turning India into an Islamic nation by 2047. In the chargesheet, the ATS alleged that a PDF file was recovered from the mobile phone of the main accused Mazhar Mansur Khan containing a draft Draft Booklet detailing a roadmap for ‘Regaining the glory of Islam by 2047’.

On one of its pages, the document stated that the PFI discussed gathering Muslims from Kashmir and Lakshadweep together to carry out its nefarious plot to convert India into an Islamic state by 2047.

The chargesheet read that the PFI document stated that because Lakshadweep and Kashmir have a 70% Muslim population, it can target them to further their plans. It further stated that there is a need to instil terror in their minds that Islam is under attack.

The document revealed that the PFI was using fear as a tool to brainwash and rope in members of the Muslim community. They were pushing the propaganda of Muslims being in danger and atrocities being heaped upon them. Using this trope, they wanted to train Muslims to use arms. The banned organisation was also disseminating the idea that Islam was under attack and that unless Muslims banded together against the Hindus, they would be obliterated.

This was the same narrative they intended to tell to the Muslims of Lakshadweep and Kashmir in order to bring them together. They had also reached out to members of their community in other parts of the country, notably the Northeastern states.

The chargesheet further revealed that fear-mongering among Muslims was created by using propaganda material in the form of pamphlets and speeches. Some had even acquired jobs as reporters and cable operators in order to spread the word.

PFI terrorists called ‘Agnipath’ a scheme for ‘Muslim genocide’ where Hindus would be trained to take Muslims on

Earlier in the day, OpIndia reported how the Maharashtra ATS chargesheet revealed that the PFI was spreading propaganda about Agnipath being a scheme for “Muslim genocide.”

This propaganda was also being used by the PFI to mobilise Muslims against the Indian state.

The message was titled, “Agnipath ya Sanghiyo ki bandar sena” (Agnipath or an army of monkeys by Sanghis).

The message said that the Agnipath scheme would recruit Hindus between the ages of 17 and 21, and impart arms training and army training to them. After their 5 years stint in the army, they would be walking, out in the world, with arms training. The Agnipath scheme was likened to “Satan Israel like policy” where in every corner of the country, Hindus with army training would form groups. “This would be an army of rioters, who, because of their army training, would not run away if push comes to shove”, the message said.

Rahul Gandhi said in parliament exactly what PFI claimed in propaganda against the Agnipath scheme: Details

OpIndia Staff
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Rahul Gandhi said in parliament exactly what PFI claimed in propaganda against the Agnipath scheme: Details

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi keeps echoing comments made by Islamist groups in the name of criticising the Narendra Modi government. In the latest such incident, he repeated claims made by the banned Islamic group PFI while attacking the Agnipath scheme of the Indian defence forces. Rahul Gandhi said that Angipath Scheme will create unemployed youths trained in guns, which echoes PFI’s claims that the scheme is a ploy to train Hindu youths in weapons to attack Muslims.

During his speech in the motion of thanks to the President’s address in Lok Sabha on 7 February, Rahul Gandhi claimed that people criticised the Agnipath scheme during his Bharat Jodo Yatra. He said that youths told him that after 4 years of service as Agniveers, they will lose their jobs, and they will not get pensions or any other benefits after retirement.

Claiming that retired army generals have criticised the scheme, Rahul Gandhi said that the retired officers have said that thousands of youths will be given training in weapons, and after some time they will be put into society. ‘There is unemployment, there will be increased violence in the society’, Rahul Gandhi said citing unnamed retired army generals.

A clip of Rahul Gandhi’s speech was shared on Twitter by Twitter user named iMac_too, who pointed out that the Congress leader’s comments are similar to PFI’s claims on the Angipath scheme.

In his speech, Rahul Gandhi further claimed that senior Army officers have said that they believe that the scheme didn’t come from within the army, idea came from outside. Then Rahul Gandhi claimed in the parliament that the Agnipath scheme came from the RSS and the home ministry. “Senior army officials said this, I am not saying,” he claimed. It is notable that Rahul Gandhi kept referring to the Agnipath scheme as Agniveer scheme. Actually the scheme is named Agnipath, and the soldiers recruited under the scheme are called Agniveers.

Rahul Gandhi further claimed that the scheme has been imposed on the army, and it will weaken the army. He also claimed that the Agnipath scheme was imposed on the army by NSA Ajit Doval. He said that army officers said that they do not want the scheme, but it was forced on them.

With these words, Rahul Gandhi claimed that as the Agniveers will become unemployed after their term in the service is over, they will create violence in the society, as they have training in weapons. This claim is almost similar to what PFI had alleged about the new recruitment scheme for defence forces.

According to a charge sheet filed by Maharashtra Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) against several PFI members, the group had described Agnipath scheme as a tool for “Muslim genocide”. From the messages send by the PFI members, it was found that they were spreading propaganda against the scheme to mobilise Muslims against the Indian state.

The message said that the Agnipath scheme would recruit Hindus between the ages of 17 and 21, and impart arms training and army training to them. After their stint in the army is over, they would be walking out in the world with arms training. PFI claimed that Hindus with training in the army will form groups to attack Muslims.

Just like Rahul Gandhi said that the idea of Agnipath scheme came from the RSS and it was forced on the army, PFI also said that Agnipath scheme is an extension of the RSS module to impart arms training to Hindus. PFI even compared the scheme to Israel’s policy on Palestinians, saying that this recruitment scheme will train Hindus to commit genocide against Muslims.

Contrary to Rahul Gandhi’s claim that army officials didn’t want the Agnipath scheme, the fact is that the top brass of the three services has backed the scheme. They say that they need young soldiers, and the scheme is perfect to reduce the average age of the soldiers. The scheme is also vital to keep the bulging pension bill in the defence forces under control, which put a constraint on the upgradation and procurement of weapons and other required items.

The full speech of Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha can be watched below:

Google engineer develops GitaGPT, a Bhagavad Gita-inspired AI chatbot for those seeking spiritual guidance

OpIndia Staff
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Google engineer develops GitaGPT, a Bhagavad Gita-inspired AI chatbot for those seeking spiritual guidance

OpenAI has introduced cutting-edge AI technology for long-form question-answering, known as ChatGPT. This AI is capable of providing conversational answers to even the most complex questions. And just in line with ChatGPT, there’s an even more specialized platform available to offer spiritual guidance. The latest addition to the AI chatbot scene is GitaGPT, promising to deliver answers drawn straight from the revered Hindu scripture Bhagavad Gita.

The GitaGPT was developed by Sukuru Sai Vineet, an engineer at Google, utilizing the powerful GPT-3 language model. This AI technology was specifically trained on the Bhagwad Gita, the 700-verse Hindu scripture, to deliver its remarkable results.

“GitaGPT is a GPT-3 powered app that generates answers to your life issues from the Bhagavad Gita,” reads the description.

GitaGPT, the AI bot draws upon the timeless knowledge and wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita, one of Hinduism’s ancient scriptures, to offer users guidance and enlightenment in their life choices.

By utilising the profound wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita, GitaGPT provides its users with a distinctive viewpoint and a deeper comprehension of their inquiries. GitaGPT offers individuals a unique perspective on life’s big questions, like life purpose and ethical dilemmas, by providing answers informed by the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita. The goal is to give users insightful and meaningful guidance to help them navigate their lives.

GitaGPT provides answers to deep philosophical conundrums of life

The creator of the AI tool, Vineet, shared a few examples of how the chatbot worked.

In one of the interactions, the question was posed, “What is the purpose of life?” The GitaGPT bot responded with, “The Bhagavad Gita explains the meaning of life as seeking liberation from ageing and death, seeking refuge in the divine, and realizing the knowledge of the self and all action. It involves dedicating oneself to the divine and performing actions as an offering, with a detached and knowledgeable mindset. The ultimate aim is to attain the brilliant Supreme Being.”

Besides, the chatbot also quotes specific verses from the Hindu scripture from which the answer is inspired.

We tried checking for ourselves but GitaGPT seems to be under beta testing as it did not answer our question.

Source: https://www.gitagpt.in

However, its launch has had the internet buzzing about a chatbot that could impart life lessons drawn from the Hindu scripture Bhagavad Gita and share timeless knowledge with the enquirer.

Animal Welfare Board of India withdraws appeal to celebrate February 14 as ‘Cow Hug Day’

OpIndia Staff
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Animal Welfare Board of India withdraws appeal to celebrate February 14 as ‘Cow Hug Day’

Just two days after issuing an appeal to celebrate February 14 as ‘Cow Hug day’ the Animal Welfare Board of India has withdrawn the appeal. On Friday, the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) under the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying of the Ministry of Fisheries issued a notification saying that the appeal has been withdrawn.

The notification uploaded on the website of the Animal Welfare Board of India said, “as directed by the Competent Authority and Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying the appeal issued by the Animal Welfare Board of India for the celebration of Cow Hug Day on 14th February, 2023 stands withdrawn.” The notification has been signed by Secretary Sujit Kumar Dutta.

It is notable that on 8th February, AWBI issued an appeal to all cow lovers to celebrate Valentine’s Day also as cow hugging day, saying that hugging cows would bring emotional richness and would increase individual and collective happiness.

The board, which criticized the glitz of western civilization, said that Vedic traditions are nearly gone as a result of the development of western culture over time. The Animal Welfare Board of India stated that cows are known as “Kamdhenu” and “Gaumata” because of its nourishing nature like mother, the giver of all providing riches to humanity.

It stated, “In view of the immense benefit of the cow, hugging with cow will bring emotional richness hence will increase our individual and collective happiness. Therefore, all the cow lovers may also celebrate the February 14 as Cow Hug day keeping in mind the importance of mother cow and make life happy and full of positive energy.”

The appeal also garnered the support of Union minister Giriraj Singh, who advocated for everyone to have a positive attitude toward cows. Giriraj Singh, the minister for rural development in the Narendra Modi-led government, responded, “It is a commendable initiative,” when questioned about the directive that was released on the guidance of the department of animal husbandry and dairying.

However, now the government decided to withdraw the appeal to celebrate ‘Cow Hug Day’ on February 14. Earlier it was reported how Islamists and liberals had insulted the idea by sharing memes and vile comments on social media. Some said that cow was going to kiss bhakts on Valentine’s Day while others shared images of beef to criticize the government’s effort.

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