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‘Hindu Jan Aakrosh Morcha’ – Hindu organisations organise a massive march against ‘love jihad’ in Mumbai, demand anti-conversion laws

OpIndia Staff
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‘Hindu Jan Aakrosh Morcha’ – Hindu organisations organise a massive march against ‘love jihad’ in Mumbai, demand anti-conversion laws

On January 29, almost a lakh Hindus participated in ‘Hindu Jan Aakrosh Morcha’ in Mumbai organised on behalf of Sakal Hindu Samaj, Mumbai, to raise their voice and concerns against ‘love jihad’ and ‘land jihad’. The march started from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Park in Dadar and ended at Prabhadevi’s Kamgar Maidan. Sakal Hindu Samaj is the umbrella body of Hindu organisations.

Hindu organisations, Utsav Mandals and NGOs working for the welfare of citizens and Hindus participated in the march. The Hindus also raised their voice against the noise from illegal loudspeakers in mosques. They also demanded action against alleged land grabbing in the name of religion. The participants of the march chanted slogans against love jihad, and demanded anti-conversion laws.

Notably, the march was conducted peacefully, and all regulations laid out by the authorities were followed for the smooth completion of the event. The police made arrangements for the rally, and diverted traffic from some roads on the route of the rally.

As per the schedule, the march started at 10 AM. Speakers, especially women from different sections and backgrounds, took on the stage and expressed their concerns over increasing cases of love jihad. Hyderabad MLA T Raja Singh was the keynote speaker at the event. He made a passionate speech and urged Hindus to stay united.

Leaders and workers of Hindu outfits, including Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), were also present at the event. Several leaders and MLAs of BJP and Eknath Shinde faction of Shiv Sena also participated in the rally. Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar, MLA Pravin Darekar, MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar, MLA Nitesh Rane were among the BJP leaders who participated in the rally.

The march covered an area of 4 KM. Both videos and photos of the massive march went viral on social media platforms.

Speaking to OpIndia, VHP spokesperson and JT Secretary, Mumbai to Goa, Shriraj Nair, said, “Almost one lakh Hindus participated in the march and raised their voice against love jihad and land jihad. The government should bring anti-conversion laws to save Hindus from the atrocities.” “We started the march at 10 AM sharp at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Park. The program ended after 4 KM march at Prabhadevi’s Kamgar Maidan at around 4 PM.”

BJP MLA Nitesh Rane said that there has been an attempt to oppress Hindus, and Hindus need to come together and give a message.

The BJP and Shiv Sena (Shinde) leaders attacked the Uddhav Thacheray faction of Shiv Sena for not participating in the rally. They said that Uddhav Thacheray has left Hinduism, and now he only has to ally with AIMIM.

However, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut attacked the Hindu Jan Aakrosh Morcha, saying that Hindus are having to protest when the country is being ruled by two Hindu leaders, Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. He said that even in Maharashtra it is claimed to be a pro-Hindu govt now, but it is unfortunate that the public has come out in the streets. ‘This shows that Hindus are not getting justice from the leaders who consider themselves as Hindutva leaders,’ Sanjay Raut said.

‘Despite the rule of powerful Hindu leaders in Kashmir, Kashmiri Pandits are clamoring for justice. Mulayam Singh Yadav, who opened fire on Hindus, was felicitated by the Center with the Padma Vibhushan. This protest march is also going on to protest this. Therefore, this protest march should be welcomed,’ Sanjay Raut said.

The Print tries to whitewash the violent Goan inquisition by Portuguese invaders. Here is the truth that the publication tried to gloss over

OpIndia Staff
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The Print tries to whitewash the violent Goan inquisition by Portuguese invaders. Here is the truth that the publication tried to gloss over

On the occasion of India’s 74th Republic Day celebrations, propaganda news outlet ‘The Print’ published an article that attempted to gloss over the brutal Goan inquisition by Portuguese invaders.

The opinion piece, authored by one Anirudh Kanisetti, tried its best to portray the colonisers as highly accommodative of the natives. At the very onset, the author insinuated that ‘real history’ was somehow different and that Abrahamic religions were in fact willing to compromise with Indians.

He also cast aspersions on the valour of the natives and Hindu kings, who resisted foreign invasions. “We might like to believe that Indians only converted away from Hinduism by force after many acts of valiant ‘resistance’…It is completely isolated from real, complex historical dynamics,” he alleged.

By citing historian Kirti N. Chaudhuri, Anirudh Kanisetti then tried to contextualise the colonisation by claiming that there was a “dangerous vacuum in maritime networks” in the Indian Ocean.

Screengrab of the article by Anirudh Kanisetti on The Print

“It was at this crucial juncture that the Portuguese finally discovered how to bypass the gunpowder empires that controlled West Asian gateways to the Indian Ocean. Within mere decades, they implemented a leaner, meaner version of earlier grand strategic doctrines,” he wrote.

The Print columnist then went on to eulogise the strategies adopted by the Portuguese to colonise Goa. “Instead of periodic raids and tribute missions, they worked with permanent fortresses on land and moved warehouse fortresses to the seas — galleons”, he added.

The Print columnist also adored how the colonisers could demand tributes on their own accord and execute raids whenever it pleased them. “Situated in the estuary of the great river Mandovi, toward the centre of India’s West Coast, Goa was a natural target for Portuguese attention,” Anirudh Kanisetti suggested.

Like a true colonialism apologist, he claimed that a war-torn province (referring to the present-day State of Goa) was “fortified and transformed into a sprawling city, half-European and half-Indian” by the Portuguese.

Portuguese were different from other Europeans, suggested Anirudh Kanisetti

“As Portugal’s power grew, so did Goa’s. Within the century, Goa had become one of Asia’s largest cities, larger even than distant Lisbon, and was declared the seat of the Archbishopric of all Asia in 1557. The Portuguese were clear that they were here to stay,” he emphasised.

Later in his propaganda-laden piece, Anirudh Kanisetti claimed that the Portuguese were different from other Europeans, who believed that it was their right to rule and spread Christianity into the world.

He downplayed the brutal tactics, adopted by the invaders, and wrote, “In practice, Portuguese people made many compromises on Indian shores.” The Print columnist suggested that the invaders appeased the Brahmins by stalling the education of the socially backward Hindu communities.

“Brahmins and landowners, had much less to gain from conversion—often fleeing en masse when they faced discriminatory measures by the Portuguese and persecution from the Goa Inquisition. Their eventual conversion required changes in Portuguese approaches — the education of lower castes gradually ceased, thus retaining the older social order,” he said.

The Print columnist downplays predatory evangelical conversions

“Conversions were not always forceful. Professor Xavier writes that locals might have seen the Virgin Mary (for instance) as yet another local goddess,” The Print columnist goes on to downplay the atrocities committed by the Portuguese on the natives.

He also portrayed the appropriation of Hindu deities to further predatory Christian evangelist practices as a noble gesture. “The Christian Pelican, used as a metaphor for Jesus, is represented as an Indian hamsa or mayura bird,” he added.

“The Virgin Mary, carved in ivory imported from Portuguese holdings in Africa, is depicted with sari-like drapes with thick, Indian ornamented edges. Nagas are carved on wooden candlesticks that once decorated church altars,” Anirudh Kanisetti further eulogised the colonisers.

He concluded, “The infant Jesus, in a uniquely Indian variation, is depicted sitting and dozing, head resting on his palm in a motif likely derived from the sleeping Vishnu.”

The real history of the Portuguese Inquisition of Goa

The Portuguese inquisition of Goa started when Vasco Da Gama returned to Portugal after discovering the route to India via Africa’s Cape of Good Hope. Upon his return to Portugal in 1510, Gama told the Portuguese royals about the undiscovered route to India, which gave the Portuguese an opportunity to colonise the Western coast of India and particularly Goa.

Pope Nicholas V soon issued a diktat which gave the kingdom of Portugal a monopoly on forcing Christianity upon the locals of the newly discovered areas (and mainly India), along with the monopoly to trade on behalf of the Roman Catholic Empire in Asia. Soon after, the Portuguese sent troops to capture a portion of Goa and set up a colony in the coastal city.

In Goa, the Portuguese were angered by the locals following a religion (Hinduism) other than Christianity and ordered all temples within the colony to be closed; this marked the beginning of the bloody Goan inquisition that comprised gross human rights violations and mass executions of the local Hindu, Jew and Muslim populations.

In 1541, idol worship was forbidden in the Portuguese colony of Goa and over 350 temples were destroyed by the Portuguese soldiers. It had been officially declared that being a believer of any religion other than Roman Catholicism was forbidden for residents of Goa.

The infamous Francis Xaviers and Martin Alfonso were sent to Goa by King John III of Portugal in 1542 to initiate the process of converting Goan residents to Roman Catholicism. On their arrival in Goa, they were enraged by the New Christians of Goa secretly practising their previous religions (either Judaism, Hinduism, or Islam), while also upholding their Hindu values and traditions.

A disturbed Francis Xavier wrote to King John III of Portugal on 16th May 1546 to impose an inquisition on Goa in an attempt to ‘discipline’ the residents and make them follow Catholicism.

The inquisition banned apostasy and banned the sale of books in the Konkani, Marathi, Sanskrit, and Arabic languages. The use of Konkani was also forbidden in the colony of Goa.

Upon the imposition of the inquisition in Goa, life became comparable to hell for the local Hindu population, who were often on the receiving end of persecution and were targeted in particular by the sadistic Christian missionaries.

The Christian missionaries called the Hindus ‘uncultured’ and ‘savages’, who worshipped black idols ‘resembling demons’; they took it upon themselves to force Hindus into leaving their religion and succumbing to Christianity.

An inquisition office was thereby set up which aimed to discriminate against Hindus on all matters possible.

“Greatest to ever hold a tennis racquet”, Stefanos Tsitsipas hails Novak Djokovic as the Serb cruises to a record 10th Australian Open title

ANI
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“Greatest to ever hold a tennis racquet”, Stefanos Tsitsipas hails Novak Djokovic as the Serb cruises to a record 10th Australian Open title

Sublime Novak Djokovic put up a dominant show against Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece to win the men’s singles final match 6-3, 7-6(4), 7-6(5) here at the Rod Laver Arena to claim the record-extending 10th Australian Open title. 

With this victory, the Serbian tied Rafael Nadal’s record of 22 Grand Slam crowns. With his victory over Tsitsipas, the 35-year-old returned to the top spot in the ATP Rankings for the first time since last June. 

Djokovic defeated Tsitsipas, who would have taken the top spot himself with a win in Sunday’s final, to record his 10th straight tour-level victory. Djokovic will now replace Carlos Alcaraz as World Number 1. 

Despite Tsitsipas saving two break points from 15/40 to hold for 1-1 in the first set, Djokovic’s customarily reliable and accurate groundstrokes dominated the early going. The Greek was unable to duplicate the escape in the fourth game, when Djokovic secured the sole break of the set, as he repeatedly applied pressure to Tsitsipas’ backhand.

Tsitsipas’ thunderous serve and massive forehand only slowly started to go off as he realised he needed to alter the pace of the game. The third seed took advantage of the fervent atmosphere at Rod Laver Arena to increase his level on many occasions in the second set when the Greek responded to winning critical games by encouraging his supporters in the crowd.

Nevertheless, Djokovic managed to prevail despite Tsitsipas earning the only break point opportunity of the set (which also served as a set point) at 4-5, 30/40. Despite dropping three straight games to give up a 4/1 advantage, he arrowed a magnificent forehand winner to save the set point and remained composed to win the tie-break.

With his lone break of the match coming in the first game of the third set, Tsitsipas once more made a comeback threat. But Djokovic answered right away, as he has frequently throughout his career on stages this size. Prior to sealing a third set that was dominated by serve and his historic victory with a powerful tie-break performance, he broke back in the following game.

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

Gujarat: Altaf lures a Hindu girl by promising to become a Hindu, abandons her after she gets pregnant

OpIndia Staff
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Gujarat: Altaf lures a Hindu girl by promising to become a Hindu, abandons her after she gets pregnant

A case of love Jihad has come to the fore in Khambhalia town of Dwarka district in Gujarat wherein a Muslim youth lured a Hindu girl to marry him saying that he will convert to Hinduism. An FIR has been filed against the accused Altaf, his mother, his sister, and a cousin at the Khambhalia police station.

Accused Altaf Misaria, a resident of Khambhalia Nagar, met and befriended a 31-year-old Hindu girl residing in Jamnagar in 2021. The two soon entered into a relationship.

The accused told the Hindu girl that the two cannot get married as he is Muslim, Altaf Misaria, in order to win the victim’s trust, promised to become a Hindu and marry her.

After luring the girl with a promise of marriage, the accused took her to Rajkot and Jamnagar on numerous occasions over the course of two years and established sexual relations with her multiple times. After the victim became pregnant, Altaf abandoned her saying he did not want to have a relationship with her.

Victim abused and threatened by Altaf’s family

The victim went to Altaf’s house after the accused refused to get married, where the accused’s mother Maroon, sister Mumtaz, and cousin Sophia threw her out after abusing her and threatening to kill her if she returned.

However, the accused later reconciled with the Hindu girl by telling her that he would convert to Hinduism and marry her, following this, the two started living together. However, soon the victim’s unborn child died in the womb. After this, the accused left the victim again. Based on the girl’s complaint, the Khambhalia police registered a case against Altaf, Maroonben, Mumtaz, and Sophia under sections 376 (n), 323, 504, 506 (2), and 114 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The police shared that further investigation into the case is underway. 

Amid BBC documentary controversy, PM Modi warns against “attempts to foment divide” at NCC’s 75th anniversary

OpIndia Staff
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Amid BBC documentary controversy, PM Modi warns against “attempts to foment divide” at NCC’s 75th anniversary

As part of National Cadet Corps (NCC) 75th anniversary celebration, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the gathering at the Cariappa Parade Ground in New Delhi, on Saturday, congratulating NCC members on their contributions to progress of the country. 

Speaking at the occasion, the Prime Minister said that pointless efforts are being made to create ‘rift’ among the citizens of the country. He called on the people to stay united for the sake of India’s development.

Addressing the NCC cadets who participated in the Republic Day celebrations, he remarked, “This is the period of fresh opportunities for the young of India. It is apparent that India’s time has arrived everywhere.”

The Prime Minister said that to keep India from advancing and from upholding its motto of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat,’ several justifications and divisive themes are being dredged up. Despite millions of such attempts, they will fail.

There would never be divisions among Indians, he emphasized, “despite such efforts.” “Maa ke doodh main kabhi darar nahi ho sakti,” he said in Hindi.

PM Modi stated, “The mantra of unity is our medicine against these attempts.” He asserted, that the only way to lead the nation to new heights in the world is via our togetherness as a nation.

“The way to India’s growth must be clear of these obstacles,” according to PM Modi, who also urged Indians to “live for our country and experience its achievement.” He added by saying, “The least we can do is this.”

The PM’s call for cohesion comes as a controversy over the BBC documentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots has arisen. The provocative documentary, which the central government rejected as ‘propaganda’ and a ‘reflection of a colonial mindset,’ was attempted to be screened by students at numerous campuses, including Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Delhi University, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) Mumbai, and the Opposition parties in some places.

The Center removed the documentary ‘India: The Modi Question’ from social media because it allegedly endangered national security and public order. The government was criticized by the opposition for censoring the documentary and requesting that social media companies take down relevant connections, charging that this amounted to encouraging censorship and stifling dissent.

Lieutenant General Gurbirpal Singh, the director general of the NCC, attended the function with the prime minister. Later, they looked over the Guard of Honour and the NCC members’ march past. 196 participants in the competition came from 19 different nations. Later, to celebrate NCC’s 75 successful years, the prime minister also unveiled a special day cover and a 75/- denomination commemorative coin. A cultural programme with the subject ‘Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat’ was also presented at the event.

Among those present at the event were Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

Pakistan: Houses of minority Hindus, Christians, and Shias demolished in Rawalpindi cantonment area

ANI
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Pakistan: Houses of minority Hindus, Christians, and Shias demolished in Rawalpindi cantonment area

Authorities in Pakistan’s Rawalpindi have demolished houses of a minority community, a Hindu and a Christian family, who were living in the area for the past 70 years.

As per the sources, at least five houses were demolished in the Cantonment area of Rawalpindi on January 27 that belonged to a Hindu family, a Christian family, and the Shias. Their belongings were thrown on the streets in the neighbourhood. 

The Hindu family was forced to take shelter in a nearby temple, whereas the Christian family and Shias were forced to live without any shelter. Sources reveal that the victims’ families tried to take a stay order from the court, but authorities used force to demolish their houses.

A Hindu victim said, “They are mafias and came in a group of at least 100 people. They even harassed us, attacked us as we tried to counter them. They are so powerful that no FIR was registered at the police station”.

He added, “We tried to oppose them in a court, but the Cantonment Board has only one judge, Naveed Akthar, who takes their favour. We were having all the papers as we have been living here for over 70 years. They have not given us any notice and no time to save our household goods. We have no option but to take the family to a temple”.

Minorities in Pakistan have been facing persecution for the past several decades. The authorities, police and even judiciary remain mute spectators on the harassment of minorities in the country.

Speaking to ANI, Dr Amjad Ayub Mirza, an expert on Pakistan’s Affairs said, “Persecution of Hindus and minorities in Pakistan is not something that is new to us. Since the inception of this illegal and fake country that was created in the name of religion by dividing the living body of Hindustan, we have seen persecution of Hindus, Sikhs, Christians and Shins now, and has been at the forefront of Pakistan’s atrocities against its own people.”

There are innumerable incidents of persecution of minorities in Pakistan, especially for abduction and forced conversion of young girls.

Recently, UN experts expressed alarm at the reported rise in abductions, forced marriages and conversions of underage girls and young women from religious minorities in Pakistan and called for immediate efforts to curtail the practices and ensure justice for victims.

Noting Pakistan’s previous attempts to pass legislation that will prohibit forced conversions and protect religious minorities, the experts deplored the ongoing lack of access to justice for victims and their families.

Reports suggest these so-called marriages and conversions take place with the involvement of religious authorities and the complicity of security forces and the justice system.

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

Indore: PFI-linked woman caught recording court proceedings of Bajrang Dal leader, VHP demands strict action

OpIndia Staff
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Indore: PFI-linked woman caught recording court proceedings of Bajrang Dal leader, VHP demands strict action

On January 28, Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s (VHP) state president Sohan Vishwakarma demanded strict action against a woman identified as Sonu Mansuri, who was caught recording a video of court proceedings at the district court in Indore. She was posing as a junior advocate. It has been alleged that 30-year-old Mansuri has been linked to the banned Islamic organisation Popular Front of India. As per a press statement released by VHP, lakhs of rupees were also recovered from Mansuri. The organisation has said that she might be part of a bigger conspiracy. A case has been filed under Sections 420, 419, 120B and other relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Female advocate caught recording video

OpIndia accessed videos of a woman who was caught recording court proceedings in court number 42 in the district court, Indore. After caught, she was handed over to the police. In the video, it was revealed that she was carrying lakhs of unaccounted cash and a few documents. The woman was identified as Sonu Mansuri. It was alleged in the video that one Advocate Noojahan Khan had sent her to record the video. Mansuri, who identified herself as a junior advocate, claimed that she was regularly sent to the courtrooms by Jahan. It is unclear for what purpose she recorded the video and if she had done it before.

When asked if she had sent the recording to Noorjahan, she denied it. Mansuri first claimed the money belonged to her, then said it was to give someone. Investigation into the matter is underway.

Speaking to News Agency Press Trust of India (PTI), Additional Commissioner of Police Rajesh Raghuvanshi said that an advocate asked Mansuri to record the video and gave Rs 3 lakh for the work. She recorded the video during the hearing of the case related to Bajrang Dal leader Tanu Sharma. She was caught by Advocate Amit Pandey and Sunil Vishwakarma, representing Sharma. ACP Raghuvanshi said, “The advocates got suspicious and, with the help of women lawyers, caught the woman. They then alerted the MG Road police, who detained her on Saturday evening and formally arrested her at night.”

He said the video was supposed to be sent to PFI via advocate Noorjahan Khan, who sent Monsoori to record the video. “Further investigation is on, and Sonu is being interrogated to extract more information about her link with the PFI. She will be produced in a court on Sunday afternoon,” he added. ACP Raghuvanshi said advocate Noorjahan Khan would also face action if the police find substantial evidence.

VHP sought investigation in connection to a possible bigger conspiracy

In the statement, Vishwakarma said Mansuri was recording the video illegally, and money was recovered from her possession. Calling it an indication of a bigger conspiracy, Vishwakarma demanded a detailed investigation into the matter. He also urged the police to find out which organisation she belonged to and who were the people who asked her to record the video.

He added that photographs of Hindu youth were circulated on social media platforms with provocative slogans, including ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’ threatening to set Indore on fire. He said, “A video has come to our notice in which Jihadi elements can be seen openly inciting people to massacre. Some anti-national journalists are also involved in propagating the videos. We demanded action on such elements from the government and administration. However, so far, no action has been taken. The situation in the country is deteriorating. Those who are planning such anti-national activities should be arrested soon, and strict action should be taken against them. Otherwise, Vishwa Hindu Parishad will not back down from taking to roads for the rights of the Hindu community, and the administration’s inaction will be responsible for it.”

Speaking to OpIndia, Ravi Kasera, Associate Head of Publicity, VHP, said that the organisation has demanded strict action against those who have threatened the Hindu community. “On January 30, activists across state will be giving memorandum to the administration demanding strict action against those who raised ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’ slogans and attacked members of the Hindu community in Indore and other parts of the state and country.”

Delhi: Two detained in connection to pro-Khalistan graffiti in Vikaspuri

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Delhi: Two detained in connection to pro-Khalistan graffiti in Vikaspuri

The Delhi Police on Saturday detained two persons on suspicion in connection to pro-Khalistan-related graffiti that appeared on public walls in parts of the national capital. 

“Khalistan Zindabad” and other anti-national slogans cropped up as graffiti, written in Gurmukhi and Hindi, were seen on public walls at least 10 locations in the national capital ahead of the Republic Day celebrations in Delhi on January 19. The graffiti had appeared in Vikaspuri, Janakpuri, Paschim Vihar, Peeragarhi and other parts of West Delhi on Jnauary 19. 

“Two persons in connection with pro-Khalistan related graffiti that appeared in the area of Vikaspuri, Janakpuri, Paschim Vihar, Peeragarhi and other parts of West Delhi 10 days ago,” the Police sources said. 

According to the police, these graffiti were pasted in the lone and dark areas of the city. 

“A banned organisation made the attempt and we have taken up action against them,” the police said adding that the regular mention of Khalistan hints at the availability of their sleeper cell in the city. 

Following the information, the Special Cell of Delhi Police filed an First Information Report (FIR) under relevant sections and started investigating the matter. 

Later, a case under Sections 153-B and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was registered against unidentified persons.

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

OBC Mahasabha members burn copies of Ramcharitmanas in support of Samajwadi Party leader Swami Prasad Maurya

OpIndia Staff
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OBC Mahasabha members burn copies of Ramcharitmanas in support of Samajwadi Party leader Swami Prasad Maurya

On Sunday, January 29, Akhil Bharatiya OBC Mahasabha burnt the copies of Ramcharitmanas written by poet and saint Tulsidas in the Vrindavan Yojana of the PGI Kotwali area of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. The OBC Mahasabha members announced their support to Samajwadi Party leader Swami Prasad Maurya who recently stirred controversy by saying that the Ramcharitmanas should be banned. 

In the viral video, the protesting OBC Mahasabha members alleged that the holy Hindu scripture contains several Chaupai (verses) against women and the Shudras. The video has since gone viral on social media.

This comes after Samajwadi Party leader Swami Prasad Maurya claimed that certain portions of the Ramcharitmanas “insult” a large section of society on the basis of caste and demanded that these be “banned”.

On January 22, Maurya, while speaking to a news channel, said that Ramcharitamanas, written by Goswami Tulsidas in the 17th century, promoted social discrimination and spread hatred.

“Religion is meant for the welfare of humanity and for strengthening it. If there is any insult to a section of society due to certain lines in the Ramcharitamanas on the basis of ‘jaati’, ‘varn’ and ‘varg’, then it is certainly not ‘dharma’, it is ‘adharma’. There are certain lines in which names of castes such as ‘teli’ and ‘kumhaar’ are mentioned,” said the SP leader. He added that Tulsidas wrote the book for his own pleasure while demanding a ban on the “objectionable portions” of the Ramcharitmanas.

On January 24, an FIR under sections 153A, 295A, 298, 504, 505(2) of the IPC was registered against Swami Prasad Maurya in connection with his remarks on Ramcharitramanas. 

The Samajwadi Party leader again sparked controversy on January 27 by calling Hindu seers as ‘Aatanki’, ‘Mahashaitan’, and ‘Jallad’.

In a tweet posted on January 27 in Hindi, the SP leader wrote, “Recently, some religious contractors have declared a reward for those who cut my tongue and head; if someone else had said the same thing, the same contractor would have called him a terrorist, but now these saints, mahants, religious leaders, and caste-specific leaders have declared a reward for those who cut my tongue and head. What do you call such people aatanki, mahashaitan or jallads.”

It is notable that Swami Prasad Maurya had courted controversy back in 2017 as well when there was a national debate going on around the regressive practice of Triple Talaq (banned in 2019). At that time, Maurya made controversial remarks about Muslims when he said that Muslim men use triple talaq to satisfy their lust by changing wives. 

“These talaqs have no basis. If someone only for satisfying his lust keeps changing his wives and forces his own wife and children to beg on the streets, then no one will call this as right,” Maurya had said back then.

While country struggles for food, Pakistan focuses on strengthening ‘blasphemy’ laws that are used to target minorities

OpIndia Staff
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While country struggles for food, Pakistan focuses on strengthening ‘blasphemy’ laws that are used to target minorities

Religion and the outward manifestation of religiosity in public life have grown exponentially as Pakistani culture has become more archaic and conservative over the past few decades. Now, the country’s parliament has made tightening its draconian anti-blasphemy statute a priority, amid the ongoing economic crisis as Pakistan witnesses large-scale flour riots to massive power cuts.

The country, which is ironically a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council, has an atrocious history of human rights violations and persecution of its minorities. The blasphemy laws have served as a useful tool for Pakistan when it comes to targeting minorities, and now those rules are getting even stricter.

Minorities have been regularly targeted in Pakistan. So much so, that a minority lawmaker even cried in the Pakistani parliament over the state of the country’s minorities.

Pakistan’s stringent blasphemy laws, which are frequently used to settle personal scores or persecute minorities, were further strengthened this past week by the Parliament. This has raised concerns among human rights activists about the possibility of an increase in such persecution, particularly of religious minorities, including Hindus and Christians.

The laws, which currently carry the death penalty for anyone found guilty of insulting Islam or the Prophet Muhammad, can now also be used to punish those found guilty of insulting those associated with him.

The Criminal Laws (Amendment) Act 2023, which was unanimously approved by the Pakistan National Assembly last week, increased the minimum sentence for individuals who disrespect the holy figures of Islam.

What modifications were made to the blasphemy law?

Anyone found guilty of disparaging the Prophet Muhammad’s wives, companions, or close relatives will now be subject to a fine of 1 million rupees ($4,500), 10 years in prison, and the term may be increased to life in prison. Additionally, it turns the accusation of blasphemy into a non-bailable crime.

According to the bill’s sponsor and lawmaker from a religious political party, Abdul Akbar Chitrali, “the punishment for offending these hallowed persons was nearly nothing prior to the new laws.”

Zahid Akram Durrani, the deputy speaker, praised the parliamentarians for carrying out what was widely regarded as their religious obligation and dubbed the legislation “historic.”

What concerns do advocates for human rights have?

Human rights activists said they were very disturbed by the most recent development. While the stated goal of this bill is to curb sectarianism, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Chairperson (HRCP) Hina Jilani stated, “HRCP believes it is likely to exacerbate the persecution of Pakistan’s beleaguered religious minorities and sects,” expressing grave concern over the toughening of already harsh blasphemy laws.

The HRCP claimed that making blasphemy a non-bailable offense directly contravenes Article 9’s guarantee of the right to personal liberty.

These amendments are likely to be weaponized disproportionately against religious minorities and sects, leading to bogus FIRs, harassment, and persecution, given Pakistan’s problematic history of the abuse of such laws.

According to Saroop Ijaz, senior counsel for Human Rights Watch in Asia said that, “the new legislation is very worrying.” He added that the current blasphemy laws in Pakistan have fostered and supported legal discrimination and persecution in the name of religion for many years.

Before legal proceedings can be completed, those accused of blasphemy against Islam run the possibility of becoming the target of mob justice, being fatally tortured, or being shot by enraged mobs. Many times, personal animosities or land disputes have given rise to frivolous blasphemy charges.

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