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‘Shehar ko Karbala bana Denge’: JDU MLC Rasool Balyavi threaten to wage a war if comments are made against Prophet Muhammad

OpIndia Staff
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‘Shehar ko Karbala bana Denge’: JDU MLC Rasool Balyavi threaten to wage a war if comments are made against Prophet Muhammad

Gulam Rasool Balyavi, a Janata Dal (United) MLC Thursday, vowed that Islamists would wage a war and turn every city into a ‘Karbala’ if any finger was pointed at Prophet Muhammad. Balyavi made the remark while addressing a crowd in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand.

During his address, he alluded to the benign remark made by former BJP politician Nupur Sharma last year about Prophet Muhammad and Islam, which triggered a sequence of death and rape threats directed at her by Islamists across the world. He stated that Muslims will not tolerate insults to their master.

“We are in Karbala ground…if you disrespect our Prophet, we will turn cities into Karbala,” The JDU leader said, essentially calling upon Islamists to kill anyone who is branded a blasphemer by Islamic fundamentalists.

He further went on to slam the ‘secular’ political parties for not demanding an arrest of Nupur Sharma. “I don’t want to name any party. Not a single so-called secular leader demanded the arrest of this crazy woman,” the JDU leader said.

Gulam Rasool Balyavi stated that Muslims will not hesitate because their life and breath belong to the Prophet. He stated that Muslims believe that there would be a day when only the Prophet and no other people will be alive.

According to reports, the JDU leader instructed his supporters to block Ranchi’s highways. He exhorted Muslims to demonstrate to the authorities that they may be buried beneath the ashes, but they are not extinguished.

After facing backlash for openly threatening Hindus with violence, the JDU leader defended his vile statement by saying that ‘Karbala’ refers to sacrificing everything for the sake of humanity and brotherhood. He said people from the Muslim community are being kept behind bars after being labelled as terrorists and called for a “Muslim safety act” to be brought for the community’s safety.

Kabala battle was fought between Shia and Sunni Muslims

For the uninitiated, the Battle of Karbala was a conflict in which adherents of Islam’s two main sects, Shias and Sunnis, bayed for each other’s blood in order to establish religious authority. Shias were considered heretics and apostates by Sunnis. The Battle of Karbala was fought between the army of the second Umayyad Caliph Yazid I, representing the Sunni sect and a small army led by Husayn ibn Ali, Prophet Muhammad’s grandson. Sunni and Shia Muslims have distinct perspectives on the Battle of Karbala. For Shia, it represents the irrevocable split with Sunni Islam.

Supreme Court to hear petitions challenging the constitutional validity of polygamy and nikah halala: Details

OpIndia Staff
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Supreme Court to hear petitions challenging the constitutional validity of polygamy and nikah halala: Details

On Friday, 20th January 2023, the Supreme Court said a five-judge bench will hear a batch of five-judge petitions challenging the constitutional validity of polygamy and nikah halala practice among Muslims. Addressing the replies filed by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay, one of the petitioners, Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, and Justice PS Narasimha said a new five-judge bench will be reconstituted on the matter.

Two judges of the old constitutional bench, Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice Hemant Gupta, have retired. Last year, Ashwini Upadhyay filed a petition in this regard in the Supreme Court. While hearing this, the CJI said, “Many more important cases are pending with the bench of five judges. So, we are setting up another constitutional bench and will take into account the matter.”

The constitutional bench had sought responses from stakeholders

On August 30 last year, a five-judge bench comprising Justices Indira Banerjee, Hemant Gupta, Surya Kant, MM Sundaresh, and Sudhanshu Dhulia was hearing the case. The bench had issued notices to the National Human Rights Commission, the National Commission for Women, and the National Commission for Minorities, asking them to file their replies on the matter. Shortly thereafter, on September 23 and October 16, Justice Banerjee and Justice Gupta retired respectively, necessitating the formation of a new bench to hear eight petitions against polygamy and nikah halala.

Petitions of Muslim women to be heard

BJP leader and lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay and some Muslim women, including, Naisa Hasan, Shabnam, Farzana, Samina Begum, and Mohsin Kathiri, have filed petitions challenging the constitutional validity of polygamy and nikah halala. All these petitions have sought that these practices of Muslim society should be declared unconstitutional and illegal. The petitioners contended that practices such as polygamy and nikah halala violate the fundamental rights of Muslim women.

What are polygamy and nikah halala traditions?

According to Sharia or Muslim personal law, a Muslim man has the right to have four wives in polygamy. At the same time, in the process of nikah halala, a divorced Muslim woman has to first marry another person and then divorce her to remarry her husband. The Supreme Court decided to hear this petition in July 2018 after which other similar petitions were referred to the Constitutional Bench.

PM Modi starts distribution of title deeds or ‘Hakku Patra’ to over 52,000 members of the Lambani nomadic community in Karnataka

OpIndia Staff
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PM Modi starts distribution of title deeds or ‘Hakku Patra’ to over 52,000 members of the Lambani nomadic community in Karnataka

On Thursday, January 19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi distributed title deeds or ‘Hakku Patra’ to over 52,000 eligible beneficiaries from the Lambani nomadic tribes residing in northern Karnataka. 

While addressing a gathering in Malkhed, Kalaburagi PM Modi stated that the Karnataka government has taken a significant step towards social justice in the ‘holy’ month of January when the Indian constitution came into force and the Indian citizens were ensured equal rights in independent India. 

PM Modi congratulated the residents of the nomadic community of the five districts of Kalaburagi, Yadgiri, Raichur, Bidar, and Vijayapura and said that this would ensure a bright future for the sons and daughters of such families living in “tanda” inhabitations.

Notably, a Hakku Patra in Kannada means “Claim Letter”. The words “Hakku” mean “the right”. A legal document known as a “Hakku Patra” details a person’s legitimate inheritance or ownership of a particular property.

The Prime Minister stated in his address that the members of nomadic tribal communities have endured challenging days, but the time has come for them to live comfortably and with dignity. He mentioned initiatives like housing assistance and scholarships for youths of the Lambani community. He added that issues brought on by the nomadic way of life are also being addressed.

PM Modi added that the measures taken today were recommended in 1993 but were stalled due to vote-bank politics by the political party that remained in power for the longest time. They only used Lambanis for votes but never worked for their betterment.

The Prime Minister emphasized that after the ‘tanda’ habitations are recognized as villages, the development of basic amenities in the villages will soon follow. After receiving their title deeds, the families would be able to live freely and getting bank loans would be much faster and easier. The Prime Minister announced that Banjara (nomadic) community in Karnataka can now take advantage of the Svamitva Scheme under which the Central Government is distributing property cards for rural homes across the country.

Moreover, PM Modi also mentioned initiatives like Ayushman Bharat, which offers free medical benefits up to Rs 5 lakh and free rations, saying “when basic needs are met and dignity is restored, new aspirations take birth as people rise above daily contingencies and work to raise the standard of living.” The Prime Minister claimed that Jan Dhan accounts brought this underserved sector into the financial mainstream. In a similar vein, Mudra Yojana provided about 20 crores in unsecured loans to OBC, SC, and ST groups, encouraging the emergence of new business ventures from these groups. PM Modi added that 70% of Mudra beneficiaries are women.

The prime minister stated that this government had formed a special development and welfare board for semi-nomadic (Ardh Ghumantu) and nomadic (Ghumantu) communities. PM Modi noted, “Our government is working to link these families with every welfare scheme.”

PM Modi highlighted that the double-engine government views the tradition, culture, food, and dress of every society residing in India as its strength and that his government is committed to preserving this power. “Whatever your names are, Suhali, Lambani, Lambada, Labana, and Baazigar, you are culturally vibrant and rich, the pride and strength of the nation.

BBC leans on discredited testimonies of Sanjiv Bhatt, RB Sreekumar and Teesta Setalvad to frame PM Modi in 2002 Gujarat Riots case: Details

OpIndia Staff
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BBC leans on discredited testimonies of Sanjiv Bhatt, RB Sreekumar and Teesta Setalvad to frame PM Modi in 2002 Gujarat Riots case: Details

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) released a documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday—a hitjob aimed at reinforcing its longstanding propaganda against PM Modi and trying to frame him in riots that erupted across Gujarat after a Muslim mob set ablaze a bogey of Sabarmati Express resulting in the death of 59 people, including children and women.

In its bid to lend credence to its documentary, the BBC publicised it as based on the secret inquiry carried out by the UK government, which summarily rejected the claims as PM Rishi Sunak trashed the report and said he disagreed with the characterisation of PM Modi. The Indian government too slammed the documentary, calling it a piece of propaganda to promote a discredited narrative.

Nevertheless, the documentary predictably became the talk of the town as those opposed to the Modi government instantly lapped up the documentary and accused the former Gujarat CM of watching over the riots and restraining the police from taking disciplinary action—a hackneyed allegation already rejected by the apex court of the country.

While BBC attempted to market the documentary, available only to those living in the UK, as based on new ‘evidence’, it cited testimonies of discredited officers and dubious individuals to project the guilt of Gujarat Riots that were triggered by the burning of Sabarmati Express bogey on PM Modi. The documentary by the national broadcaster of the UK included testimonies and allegations made by disgraced former IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt, RB Sreekumar, and Teesta Setalvad—known anti-Modi detractors whose submissions have been challenged and rendered invalid by the Supreme court of India. 

Fake allegations by jailed ex-IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt

The BBC cites ‘explosive’ claims made by ex-IPS Sanjiv Bhatt, the former police officer who was convicted and is currently serving jail time over a custodial death. The fact that the BBC documentary hinges on testimonies of disgraced and discredit individuals like Bhatt speaks volumes to the inherent bias and underlying propaganda of the British broadcaster.

Bhatt had famously claimed that he had attended a meeting chaired by then Gujarat CM, Narendra Modi, wherein he asked authorities to “let Hindus vent out their anger against Muslims so that repeat of Godhra-like incident never happens in the state”.

Bhatt stated that this meeting occurred following the Sabarmati train burning incident in which 59 Ayodhya Kar Sevaks died. At the time of the alleged encounter, Bhatt was the superintendent of police in the state intelligence bureau.

However, an SIT constituted by the Supreme Court to probe the Gujarat riots arrived at conclusions diametrically opposed to Bhatt’s assertions. The SIT discovered that Bhatt was not present at the meeting that he claims Modi scheduled in order to teach Muslims a lesson. 

The SIT discovered that the government was quick enough to summon the army on February 28th. The fact that the 54 bodies had to be taken to Ahmedabad since the relatives of these people resided in and around the city refuted Bhatt’s last assertion. Bodies were transported in a van guarded by police officers who were replaced three times throughout the 130-kilometre travel.

The SIT also submitted that Bhatt was not credible and had never been any “witness” in the meeting at chief minister Modi’s residence.

Furthermore, the Nanavati-Mehta report also concluded that Bhatt lied about the meeting at chief minister Modi’s residence. The report said that Bhatt forged a document using a fax machine to bolster his lies.

“On consideration of the evidence, it clearly appears that Bhatt is not telling the truth with regards to what happened in the meeting held on 27 February 2002, at the CM’s residence. Claims made by him of being present in the meeting appear to be false”, states the report.

Teesta Setalvad and RB Sreekumar, hatchers of the conspiracy

Teesta Setalvad, a self-described rights activist, was one of the co-petitioners who sought a criminal prosecution for then-Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and 62 other ministers for their alleged involvement in the riots. When the Supreme Court dismissed Zakia Jafri’s petition last year, it made a critical note about Setalvad’s role in the case. The Supreme Court ruled that ‘activist’ Teesta Setalvad used petitioner Zakia Jafri’s emotions for “ulterior motives.”

The court even said there is a need for further investigation into Teesta Setalvad as she was using Zakia Jafri’s feelings in the case for her own benefit. The court noted, “It is submitted that Ms Teesta Setalvad, for reasons best known to her and out of vengeance, was interested in continuing with her tirade and persecution on the basis of unsubstantiated allegations in the complaint in the name of the quest for justice with real purpose to keep the pot boiling and sensationalise and politicise the crime.”

Former Gujarat DGP and current Aam Aadmi Party politician RB Sreekumar were also among those who deliberately attempted to tarnish the reputation of Narendra Modi and the Gujarat government during the 2002 riots. Similar to Sanjiv Bhatt, Sreekumar had also claimed that CM Narendra Modi had ordered to go slow against the Hindu mob after the Godhra massacre. But just like SIT had found that Bhatt was not present at the meeting where Modi was alleged to have made those comments, Sreekumar was also not present in that meeting. In fact, he had said that he had heard it from others later.

It is notable that RB Sreekumar is also accused of the framing of ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan in the fake espionage case. Sreekumar was the IB deputy director when the Kerala police had filed the false case based on doctored inputs provided by the IB. He was also in news for filing a defamation case against Narendra Modi and Rajnath Singh, which was dismissed.

Setalvad, Sreekumar, and Bhatt have been charged under IPC sections 120 B (criminal conspiracy), 468 (forgery), 471 (using a forged document or electronic record as genuine), 194 (giving or fabricating false evidence with intent to procure conviction of capital offence), 211 (false charge of offence made with intent to injure), and 218 (public servant framing incorrect record or writing with intent to save a person from punishment or property from forfeiture). 

Teesta Setalvad, the self-proclaimed ‘activist’ was arrested by the Gujarat ATS in June 2022 in a case of forgery, influencing witnesses, and the investigation of the Gujarat riots in 2002 that occurred in the aftermath of the Godhra Train burning incident, when 59 Hindus were burned to death after a Muslim mob set ablaze a Sabarmati Express bogey carrying passengers from Ayodhya. Teesta Setalvad is accused of coaching witnesses and making ridiculous accusations in several cases related to the Gujarat riots in 2002. The SC granted her interim bail in September 2022. 

In July 2022, the Special Investigation Team that has been probing the allegations of evidence fabrication in the 2002 Gujarat riots case against Sanjiv Bhatt informed an Ahmedabad sessions court that a political conspiracy against Narendra Modi was hatched at the behest of former Congress leader Ahmed Patel.

The report submitted by the SIT revealed that tainted IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt, along with former DGP R B Sreekumar and ‘activist’ Teesta Setalvad accepted a total of Rs 30 lakhs from Ahmed Patel, the political advisor of the Congress president Sonia Gandhi, to frame then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi and destabilise his government following 2002 Gujarat riots.

Portal uses wrong translation of PM Modi’s Gujarati comment to accuse him of misogyny, netizens expose their lies

OpIndia Staff
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Portal uses wrong translation of PM Modi’s Gujarati comment to accuse him of misogyny, netizens expose their lies

On Thursday, January 19, a portal named South Asian Journal took to Twitter to share a clip from PM Modi’s old interview as Gujarat Chief Minister. The portal used a 0.11-second excerpt from Modi’s interview where he was speaking in Gujarati to further its anti-Modi agenda.

The magazine misconstrued Modi’s comments in the video, implying that he made a sexist remark against women, a blatant lie which was soon exposed by some alert Gujarati-speaking Twitter users.

“Modi’s misogynistic remarks against women caught on camera #BBC,” the caption on the video shared by South Asian Journal on January 19 read. The magazine quoted Modi as saying in the interview, “The World has come a long way but women still haven’t got any brain.”

However, the South Asian Journal’s attempt to denigrate Modi by twisting his interview was quickly exposed by social media users.

Janki, a Twitter user, deconstructed what Modi said in Gujarati during the interview, which the magazine maliciously labelled as a “misogynistic” remark against women.

Replying to South Asian Journal, Janki tweeted, “SPREADING FAKE NEWS – Modi ji here says in Gujarati “Duniya kya ni kya pahochi gayi, October mahino aayo j nathi.” Meaning- World has reached where from where, Duniya kaha se kaha pahoch gayi, October mahina abhi tak aaya nahi. Nothing about women or misogynist has been said by him here.”

Another user tweeted, “Translation : He is saying, the world has gone from where to where but October month hasn’t come yet – It’s a sarcasm btw and he isn’t disrespecting any woman!! Stop your crap!!”

So basically, Modi remarked in jest, “The world has come a long way, however, October is yet to arrive,” which the magazine conveniently misinterpreted as “The World has come a long way, but women still don’t have any brain,” in order to depict Modi as misogynistic and sexist.

It’s worth noting here how the leftist magazine cherry-picked a section of the interview in which Modi was seen turning around and chuckling at someone when passing the sarcastic remark to build the narrative that he has no regard for women and was ridiculing them while passing the remark. The truth, however, is that Modi made an innocuous comment in jest, which is why he chuckled after stating what he did.

South Asian Journal, interestingly, used the hashtag #BBC in its caption, a pretty clear indication that it was attempting to offer support to BBC’s latest hitjob against PM Modi, which India sharply condemned, calling it a “propaganda piece” aimed to peddle a discredited narrative.

Not only India, in fact, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had also dismissed the villainous portrayal of PM Modi in the controversial BBC documentary series on him.

Recently, UK’s National broadcaster BBC aired a two-part series attacking PM Narendra Modi’s tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister during the Gujarat riots of 2002. The documentary tried to question whether the Godhra carnage was actually an attack by Muslims, and repeated claims by Teesta Setalvad, Sanjiv Bhatt and many others about the Gujarat riots, which have been termed as lies by the Supreme Court of India. The documentary sparked outrage and was removed from select platforms.

South Asian Journal sought to do the same by misquoting Modi in an interview he did while he was Gujarat’s chief minister in order to back BBC’s ugly propaganda against Modi.

It is notable that while the portal is named South Asian Journal, its main focus is on India. While it follows accounts of several media houses on Twitter, it also follows openly anti-India persons and organisations like Rana Ayyub, Indian American Muslim Council, Hindutva Watch etc, apart from some Muslim groups.

While the about us page on its website says ‘South Asian Journal is a portal dedicated to news and events concerning the South Asian Diaspora Community,’ the website has no information on its editors, or who runs it.

BJP accuses DCW chief Swati Maliwal of staging the ‘dragged by car’ video with the help of ABP news, Maliwal claims ‘victim blaming’

OpIndia Staff
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BJP accuses DCW chief Swati Maliwal of staging the ‘dragged by car’ video with the help of ABP news, Maliwal claims ‘victim blaming’

A day after AAP leader and Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) Chief Swati Maliwal claimed that she was dragged by a drunk drive for 10-15 metres by trapping her hand in the car window, BJP has accused her of staging the incident. BJP leaders have alleged that Swati Maliwal staged the incident with the help of ABP news to defame the Delhi police.

BJP leader Shazia Ilmi said that it is very unfortunate that Aam Aadmi Party and ABP news conducted a sting operation with the help of Swati Maliwal. ‘Their objective was clear, somehow defame the Delhi police, but this conspiracy by them failed completely due to the alertness of Delhi police,’ Ilmi said.

The BJP leader added that the point to be ponder is, why a channel to increase its TRP or a political party for political benefits will use a serious matter like women’s safety. This is very serious question from a moral point of view, she added.

Another BJP leader Harish Khurana also made similar allegations of staged incident, questioning why Maliwal was doing at 2-3 am in the night by trying to pull out keys from cars. He also asked why Maliwal was silent for 14 hours. He alleged that the DCW chief was trying to hit the morale of Delhi police using the ‘staged video’.

The video of the incident has emerged on social media, and it does raise some questions. Many netizens pointed out that when the car stopped, Swati Maliwal went forwards to talk to him. When the car returned, she went to the drivers side to talk, when the driver allegedly trapped her by rolling up the window as she had allegedly put her hand inside the car, and the car drives away. However, the video stops at that time, it does not show Swati Maliwal being dragged by the car.

ABP News played this video in their report on the incident, along with other videos. The channel was accompanying Swati Maliwal on the night, and the channel said that the incident was caught on ABP News cameras. The channel also showed other footage from the night featuring the DCW chief.

While Swati Maliwal has claimed that the driver was forcing her to get into the car, the voice of the driver is not audible in the video. Moreover, it shows her approaching the car immediately after it stopped in front of her, and then she starts talking to the driver. Weirdly, when the driver offers to drop her, she keeps asking him where will he drop her. She then moves the driver’s side and asks the same question.

Several social media users have questioned what was the need for her to walk over to the driver’s side in the middle of the road, and then why put her hand inside the car. It is also notable that Swati Maliwal’s voice is unusually crystal clear and loud for a video shot from distance on a highway. Probably she was wearing a lapel mic, as the ABP news team was accompanying her in the night.

However, Swati Maliwal has denied the allegations, saying that she called the police immediately after the incident and got the driver arrested. She alleged that she is being questioned for being a member of AAP. She said that people who questioning her for moving to the driver’s side and putting her hand inside the car are indulging is victim shaming.

The DCW chief said that she was patrolling the streets of Delhi in the night to access women’s safety issues in the city, and claimed that she experienced several unwanted attention from several drivers. While she said that the accused was arrested withing a hour, she complained that her call to police was connected only on the third attempt, and wondered whether other women victims will get so many chances to call the police.

It is notable that the accused identified as Harish Chandra, a resident of Sangam Vihar, was arrested immediately after the complaint was lodged with the police. The police informed that the 47-year-old accused was in an inebriated state when he allegedly misbehaved with the DCW chief, adding that he has been detained on charges of molestation and voluntarily causing hurt.

An FIR has been filed under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 341 (wrongful restraint), 354 (criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty), and 509 (act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) as well as sections of the Motor Vehicle Act. Apart from arresting accused Harish Chandra, police also seized the car involved in the incident.

As Netizens and BJP question Rahul Gandhi for wearing a jacket in J&K after saying he is not scared of cold, Congress says it was a raincoat

OpIndia Staff
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As Netizens and BJP question Rahul Gandhi for wearing a jacket in J&K after saying he is not scared of cold, Congress says it was a raincoat

The Congress party has claimed that Rahul Gandhi was wearing a raincoat during his Bharat Jodo Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir, after videos and photographs of the Congress MP wearing a ‘jacket’ over his familiar T-shirt viral earlier today. The matter became a subject of discussion because earlier Rahul Gandhi had said that he does not wear winter-wear because he does not fear coldness.

Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi was seen wearing a ‘jacket’ in the Jammu and Kashmir leg of the Bharat Jod Yatra on Friday, 20th January 2023. Earlier, Congress supporters had hailed the Waynad MP for being cold-resistant when he was seen wearing a T-shirt in the chilling weather of Delhi during his Bharat Jodo Yatra. Congress leader Salman Khurshid went on to call him a superhuman for wearing just a T-shirt in the cold weather.

The Jammu and Kashmir leg of the Bharat Jodo Yatra started on Friday from Hatli Morh in the Kathua district of the border state. While wearing only a T-shirt in the cold weather of northern India, Rahul Gandhi had said that he decided to wear only T-shirts during the Congress’ ongoing Bharat Jodo after meeting poor girls shivering in torn clothes in Madhya Pradesh. He had also said, “I do not wear a sweater because I am not scared of cold. I will wear a sweater once I start feeling cold.”

However, as he reached Jammu and Kashmir, he was seen wearing what looked like a black jacket in Jammu and Kashmir.

Netizens were quick to notice the change in Rahul Gandhi after Congress had touted his t-shirt-wearing stunt as a mark of bravery and empathy. Sakshi Singh wrote, “Finally Rahul is feeling cold & Rahul is wearing a sweater. But I feel bad for Rahul’s PR team who were bent upon proving Rahul a “Great man” for not wearing a sweater in cold. Hypocrite!”

Rajesh Ranjan posted, “Seems that Rahul Gandhi is afraid of the cold today. Because one who fears the cold can only feel the cold.”

Manoj Pradhan tweeted, “How come a Tapaswi like RG felt cold today? Is it rightwing who Has adulterated the climate of Kashmir?”

It is notable that on January 8, Congress supporters danced shirtless in the biting cold in Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra (BJY) after the Congress leader was hailed as Prime Minister candidate for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections for wearing just a t-shirt.

However, later the Congress party claimed that Rahul Gandhi was wearing raincoat as it was raining, and he took off if after the rain stopped. Jammu and Kashmir Congress also posted a video on Twitter where Rahul Gandhi is seen taking off the raincoat/jacket while walking on the road during his Bharat Jodo Yatra.

J&K Congress tweeted, “Rain over, Raincoat gone”.

Before that, the party had tweeted, “It’s a raincoat not jacket”. Some videos of the yatra show that there was light rains when Rahul Gandhi was seen in the ‘jacket’.

Note: This report has been updated with additional information.

BBC and its documentary on Prime Minister Modi: The bugle has been sounded and the 2024 campaign has officially begun

Ganesh R
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BBC and its documentary on Prime Minister Modi: The bugle has been sounded and the 2024 campaign has officially begun

The bugle has been sounded. And who else is more qualified to do it than BBC? After all, we are still the white man’s burden. They carried it stoically for well over 300 years and did so much good for us, just as the Mughals did before them. And the Nehru dynasty did after them, making great sacrifices along the way. Blessed with such rulers, it is a miracle we are still so poor. Obviously, something to do with the fact that we are Hindu. That’s why they called it the “Hindu rate of growth”.

It is said that to repeat the same thing over and over and expect different results is the definition of insanity. This “Gujarat” formula has been tried in 2014 and again in 2019 not to speak of numerous state elections. We know the results. 

The BBC documentary, raking up the Gujarat riots of 2002 is in many ways not just the opening ceremony for the games that will follow – a British version of “Khela Hobe” – but a hail Mary pass. Let me elaborate later.

Incidentally when BJP talks about Nehru, Indira Gandhi and their monumental failings, our liberal media reminds us we are in 2022 and says why we should talk about them. But they have a perpetual license to talk about what Savarkar said in 1921 or Gujarat in 2002. Just as PM Modi still wants to win, the family too still wants to rule in the name of the same Nehru and Indira, even proudly declaring “I am her grandchild”. 

Why did I call it a hail Mary pass?

Put simply, the CONLEFT ecosystem is staring into the abyss. 

1. The biased propaganda of vicious lies around COVID has completely failed. The commission agents pimping Pfizer have gone quiet. Daily deaths of over 300 in the USA, a resurgence in China, pictures of despair and stories of deaths in hundreds of thousands, further reinforce the average Indian’s conviction that India under Modi did a fairly decent job. Under so many constraints and under relentless attacks. As well as sabotage indigenous vaccines and the vaccination drive all the time. Even now the mandatory “mishandled COVID” is tagged in every article on Modi (but not Biden, of course) but few believe them.

2. The CONLEFT ecosystem’s violent opposition to remote voting by migrants shows their desperation – after all, the migrants know which prosperous states run by which fascist looters chased them out of their homes at mere hours’ notice when COVID stuck, forcing them to walk miles without basic care. They even started false rumours of buses waiting at the border, when they could have given a simple meal to tide over the crisis. And they know who cared for them when they got back home. This is why they don’t want migrant labour to vote. The woke left in the US which wants even illegal immigrants to vote, will of course go along with this denial of democratic rights and do their own propaganda spreading FUD on EVMs.

3. The fiscal prudence in managing the epidemic while keeping the poor relatively better off through food security has not just kept the economy on a sound footing to recover strongly – it has given considerable headroom for spending in the crucial pre-election year. Along with booming tax revenues and overall optimism. Unlike other countries that over-spent on dubious doles and are facing enormous pressure, Nirmala Sitharaman can spend her way to victory if she chooses to. This scares the stuff out of our spendthrift liberals – who are now desperately trying to put on fiscal conservative masks. This budget will be interesting, to put it mildly. Prediction: Expect NRI charlatan economists to start giving sound bites on why spending is bad.

4. Economy is hitting the right notes, that too at the right time. Many leading, as well as lagging indicators, are positive. Indian Railways has earned as much this year as last – two full months of the fiscal still left. Of course, a lot can go wrong between now and May 2024 but as each month passes even a global recession triggered by real mishandling of COVID by liberal demigods – Biden and Xi may strike just a bit too late (but still in good time to defeat Biden in November) And as I pointed out earlier, there is enough fiscal capacity to tackle that.

5. The massive infrastructure spending boom is producing tangible results that ordinary Indians, long used to third-rate facilities, can touch, feel and take selfies with. Wide and fast expressways, Vande Bharat trains, Dedicated freight corridors, new airports and terminals, clean and improved train stations, electricity in places that never saw it in 70 years and so much more. They can see the frantic activity and progress instead of the loot and scoot waste they were used to. The older ones know that it was ABV that started it and UPA derailed it. They have seen the good and the bad. Obviously, a lot needs to be done but they know who can deliver it.

6. India is asserting itself, networking to protect its interest and not the Nobel prize for the family, arming itself and getting ready to defend itself. Ten years of deliberate and criminal neglect of the defence sector and the corruption that surrounded arms procurement are now in the past. This is a serious and previously unseen challenge to Chinese hegemony that the left simply can’t digest. 

7. As if that is not enough, manufacturing is slowly but surely taking off. Even if we are #2 or #3 behind Indonesia or Vietnam, just the fact that some factories and supply chains move to India is yet another challenge to Chinese dominance. Desperate attacks on PLI by the dynasty’s upper caste elite charlatans and sycophants are getting shriller by the day. Now they are trying to link it to climate change and bizarrely – human rights. Yes, they prefer factories to remain in China a paradise of democracy.

Faced with this and other headwinds, the leftist ecosystem is sending out SOS to their global pals. Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of the party. They KNOW that if they fail in 2024, their goose is cooked. 

For one, the anti-Hindu pogrom will take a multi-decade hit. Yes, they managed to keep it going and found alternative sources of funding.  But it sure helps if they control the Delhi durbar. 

“Our Chairman” Xi Jinping’s agenda for South Asia will take a hit too along with that of his all-weather allies in ‘Pindi if 2024 is lost. Left has a stake in chaos, anarchy and despair as it knows it cannot win in any country or even state where there is growth, development and hope.

The sickening scatological sycophancy by the leftist “intellectual” class that accompanies the Rahul Gandhi yatra shows the lack of options better than anything else. Especially as the kattar imandar image of the Yugpurush has almost become a joke. All loose talk of the third front has been kept on the back burner to be revived when Congress makes a useful idiot out of them and not the other way around as they hope. 

The fact that Rahul Gandhi is their only hope should tell you enough about their state of despair.

Given this background, it is no surprise that the global woke left will start its own symphony orchestra to sing songs they believe will re-enable dynastic dacoity and bring back the good old days. Expect more synchronised campaigns from NY Times, Washington Post and Al Jazeera. It has just started. Woke left that outraged over “Russian conspiracy” and “interference” will openly interfere in our elections and their coolies here will happily cheer and redistribute this propaganda. Who cares if our own judiciary in their own rule negated the vicious lies? What matters is what an Islamist MP of UK Parliament or white journalist says.

After all, if one thing didn’t change all the way from the time of Babur, it is the fact that there is no shortage of serfs ready to do the bidding of the invaders and colonisers.

Who is Dhirendra Shastri of Bageshwar Dham: Read about the spiritual leader who has asked Hindus to stay away from the conversion mafia

Shraddha Pandey
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Who is Dhirendra Shastri of Bageshwar Dham: Read about the spiritual leader who has asked Hindus to stay away from the conversion mafia

Bageshwar Dham and its Mahant Dhirendra Krishna Shastri are in news recently. Dhirendra Krishna Shastri has been charged with promoting superstition, but he has rejected all accusations, claiming they are a part of a conspiracy against him. He claimed that his Gharwapsi programs, in which converted Hindus are brought back to Hinduism, have offended some people.

According to Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, those who oppose Dharma are behind all of this. “These are the same people who demanded proof of Lord Ram’s and Ayodhya’s existence. Sanatani sadhus are targeted continuously.  These individuals have had issues with us ever since we started bringing converted people back to Hinduism. We had declared in Chhatari’s Katha that there would be conspiracies against us. However, we don’t fear them. They can continue to speak against us.  They are barking from a distance if they will come in front, they will get wet,” Shastri said.

“Sanatanis are waking up for Sanatan,” he has also claimed. “The fact that opponents of Dharma are speaking against us demonstrates this. I have stopped speaking on this issue altogether. If they have any issues,  they can come and see and understand our Darbaar. We have not received any legal opposition from them.”

Allegations against Dhirendra Krishna Shastri

Notably, From January 5 to January 11, Mahant Dhirendra of Bageshwar Dham travelled to Nagpur for Ramkatha. This Katha was originally scheduled to last until January 13. However, the Katha ended two days earlier due to some reasons.

After this Katha concluded, Shyam Manav, the national convenor of the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti, accused Dhirendra Krishna Shastri of promoting ‘superstition’.  He allegedly challenged Dhirendra Krishna Shastri. 

Shyam Manav had announced a reward of 30 lakh rupees on Dhirendra Krishna Shastri for showing miracles during the Darbaar. Later, he also filed an FIR against Shastri.

Responding to Shyam Manav’s allegations, Dhirendra Krishna Shastri said, “When I have in Nagpur for seven days why didn’t he challenge then, why he didn’t send any letter or a person?”

Shastri went on to say that “If you come here to Raipur, better inform us beforehand. Don’t come here, leave, and then claim that you didn’t meet us. Inform Nitendra Choubey or Keshav Mehta ji that we are from such and such a place and want to meet Dheerendra Krishna Shastri.”

He said, “These people have not spared Lord Ram, so we are commoners,” in a statement to Sudarshan News. We don’t need to run away or feel threatened by them. We all sincerely hope that you will check your facts before listening to any of these people speak. Then trust them because this is a cautiously thought conspiracy.

He further said, “We are bringing the converts back to Hinduism. They are spending crores on conversion. So what would be wrong with spending 10 crores on us?  

Reportedly, Dhirendra Shastri brought 300 people back into Hinduism during a Gharwapsi program on Christmas last year.

“Offering Chaadar at Dargah is faith, but faith in Lord Hanuman is superstition”

Shastri continued by asserting that he would not do anything to harm or defame the reputation of Hindus, even if he has to sacrifice his life. He contended that if an FIR is filed for spreading his religion, then FIR should be lodged against all the worshippers of Lord Hanuman in the country.

Dhirendra Shastri has also posed the question, stating that “In India, offering chadar (at Dargah) is called faith, but devotion towards Lord Hanuman is a superstition. In India, lighting a candle is considered an act of faith, whereas tying a Kalava, reciting the Hanuman Chalisa, or talking about Sanatan are considered superstitions. Where does this hypocrisy come from?”

About Bageshwar Dham and Mahant Dhirendra Krishna Shastri

The Bageshwar Dham Temple is situated in the Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh. The temple is devoted to Lord Hanuman. 26-year-old Dhirendra Krishna Shastri originally was Dhirendra Krishna Garg. Shastri is the Mahant (head priest) of the temple and is popularly called ‘Bageshwar Dham Sarkar’. 

According to the information available on the website of Bageshwar Dham, Shastri is the successor of his grandfather Dada Guruji Maharaj who was a ‘Siddh’ saint. In recent years, Dhirendra Shastri gained popularity among devotees and on social media. A court or Darbaar is held at the Bageshar Dham every Tuesday and Saturday, wherein Dhirendra Shastri demonstrates his ‘miracles’ to solve the problems of the devotees of Lord Hanuman. Shastri has, however, always claimed that it is the power and miracle of Lord Hanuman that blesses the devotees and that he is only a medium and holds no supernatural powers. 

In a video shared on the official Instagram page of Bageshwar Dham, Dhirnedra Shastri addressing the Nagpur controversy said that he is being targeted since he started raising the issue of Gharwapsi. He also questioned Shyam Manav if he has ever questioned people of other religions over the alleged superstitions. 

“Ever since I have raised the issue of Gharwapsi for Sanatan Dharma, they are conspiring against us, we don’t have to stop and fear anyone, we have to be cautious. I want to ask the committee convenor in the Nagpur issue, have you ever raised your voice against the priests and people of other religions who convert Hindus? Is praying to your deity superstition (Jaadu-Tona)? I urge all the followers of Sanatan Dharma to stand united I again request you to raise your finger against the superstitions of other religions also,” Shastri said in what he called his last video about the controversy.

Shastri who enjoys immense popularity across social media platforms has often urged Hindus to refrain from visiting Dargahs and Churches and stay true to Sanatan Dharma.

Hamline University Professor sues varsity after she was called ‘Islamophobic’ and fired for showing Muhammad’s painting for academic purpose

OpIndia Staff
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Hamline University Professor sues varsity after she was called ‘Islamophobic’ and fired for showing Muhammad’s painting for academic purpose

On Tuesday (January 17), a former liberal arts Professor named Erika López Prater sued Hamline University for damaging her professional and personal reputation and subjecting her to religious discrimination.

The development comes weeks after she was fired by the varsity for displaying two historic paintings of Prophet Muhammad to her students during a global art history class. 

“Among other things, Hamline, through its administration, has referred to Dr López Prater’s actions as undeniably Islamophobic…Comments like these, which have now been published in news stories around the globe, will follow Dr López Prater throughout her career, potentially resulting in her inability to obtain a tenure track position at any institution of higher education,” her attorneys informed.

They pointed out how the university overlooked the ‘academic purpose’ of the paintings and went on to label her as Islamophobic, based on the complaint of a Muslim student. The attorneys had served the lawsuit to the varsity, post which the Hamline administration characterised its action against Erika López Prater as a ‘misstep.’

Hamline university concedes action against Professor as ‘misstep’

A joint statement was released by Hamline University President Faynesse Miller and Board of Trustees chair Ellen Watters.

“Like all organizations, sometimes we misstep. In the interest of hearing from and supporting our Muslim students, language was used that does not reflect our sentiments on academic freedom,” the statement read.

“Based on all that we have learned, we have determined that our usage of the term ‘Islamophobic’ was therefore flawed. Higher education is about learning and growing. We have certainly learned and continue to grow as we generate new knowledge to share with all of our Hamline community.”

In a bid to undo the damage, the varsity has now decided to hold two public sessions about ‘academic freedom and religion’ and ‘academic freedom and student care.’

The Background of the controversy

Erika López Prater was fired for showing the picture of Prophet Muhammad to her students during a global art history class at Hamline University in Minnesota in the United States.

As per reports, the incident took place on October 6, 2022, during which the Professor was teaching Islamic art to her students. She had warned them in advance about her plan to show two historic paintings of the last Islamic Prophet Muhammad.

One painting dated back to the 14th century (created by Persian scholar Rashīd al-Dīn) while another painting was made in the 16th century (by Mustafa ibn Vali).

Soon after, several Muslim students took offence to the display of the historic paintings and claimed that the professor’s actions constituted Islamophobia.

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