Amit Schandillia, a columnist with Shekhar Gupta’s ThePrint and an author published by Harper Collins Publishers India, dehumanised PM Modi and his ailing mother after he visited the UN Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre in Ahmedabad earlier this week.
On Wednesday, PM Modi paid a visit to his ailing mother, who was admitted to the hospital earlier in the day after she suffered health complications.
A day later, Schandillia, a columnist with ThePrint, an online portal infamous for platforming tendentious personalities and carrying out hit jobs against PM Modi and the BJP, posted a tweet dehumanising the Prime Minister and his mother.
“He who can sell his dying mother, can sell anything,” tweeted Schandillia, in an apparent reference to media reports on PM Modi’s visit to his ailing mother.
Source: Twitter
Schandillia’s insinuation reflects the contempt the ‘liberal’ class has for PM Modi and his mother, whose meetings are often used by the Left as accessories to reinforce their anti-Modi agenda. A son’s visit to his unwell mother should not have been a cause of concern, but not for propagandists like the Harper Collins author, who had no qualms in characterising PM Modi’s meet with his ailing mother as a political gimmick, which turned out to be their last meeting.
Unfortunately on Friday morning, Heeraben Modi, PM Modi’s mother, passed away. She was 100 at the time of her death. PM Modi took to social media to pen a heartfelt note to pay tributes to her mother after her death.
Islamists, leftists, and Congress trolls celebrate the death of PM Modi’s mother Heeraben
And soon after her death, a raft of Islamists, leftists, and Congress supporters echoed sentiments reflected in Amit Schandillia’s tweet posted a day earlier. A bunch of depraved social media users rejoiced at the death of PM Modi’s mother, with some of them abusing her for giving birth to the Prime Minister.
If that was not enough, some Congress supporters even brazened out the hate directed at PM Modi and his deceased mother, drawing parallels to the criticism directed at former PMs of the country, namely, Rajiv Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, and Jawaharlal Nehru. But they overlook a basic fact: Heeraben Modi was a private citizen, while the three former PMs were public figures accountable to the public.
While liberals go gaga over Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Sonia Gandhi or the latter’s participation in Congress party’s boondoggle ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, PM Modi and his mother are not only degraded and dehumanised but also deprived of the respect that a pious relationship like the one shared by a mother and her children warrant.
For his detractors, attacking PM Modi and everyone associated with him is fair game—subject to mockery and ridicule regardless of the gravity of the situation. This perverse mentality is what drove Amit Schandillia to deprive Heeraben Modi and her son PM Modi of their mother-son relationship and attack the two over their meeting on Wednesday.
Amit Schandillia uses the language of Pulwama terrorist
As it turns out, Amit Schandillia also does not feel any compunction in using the same language as used by the Pulwama terrorist, who killed 40 CRPF soldiers after ramming an explosive-laden car in the CRPF cavalcade in February 2019.
Source: Twitter
Pulwama terrorist Adil Ahmed Dar referred to Hindus as ‘cow urine drinkers’ while justifying killing Hindus in the video released after the attack. Schandillia, however, feels no hesitancy in using the same language as Dar, remorselessly using ‘gaumutra’ jibes on Twitter, even though Islamists and terrorists routinely cite it to dehumanise Hindus and justify attacks against them.
Heeraben Modi, the mother of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, breathed her last on Friday (December 30) at the U N Mehta Institute of Cardiology & Research Centre in Ahmedabad. She was 100 years old. She was hospitalised on December 28 after her health situation deteriorated, and while she had started to recover yesterday, she passed away at 3.30 AM.
PM Modi rushed to Ahmedabad this morning and performed the last rites of his mother along with his brothers and other family members. Modi was seen carrying the mortal remains of his mother to the crematorium for the last rites. Before that, he paid floral tributes to his mother at her residence.
After performing the last rites, PM Narendra Modi returned to work, and remotely launched several development projects in West Bengal. While he was scheduled to visit Kolkata for the same, he joined the events through video conferencing due to the death of his mother, for which he apologised to the people of West Bengal.
PM Modi paid tributes to his mother on Twitter, saying that he always felt the trinity in his mother, which included the journey of an ascetic, the symbol of a selfless Karmayogi and a life committed to values. ‘A glorious century rests at the feet of God,’ he said.
शानदार शताब्दी का ईश्वर चरणों में विराम… मां में मैंने हमेशा उस त्रिमूर्ति की अनुभूति की है, जिसमें एक तपस्वी की यात्रा, निष्काम कर्मयोगी का प्रतीक और मूल्यों के प्रति प्रतिबद्ध जीवन समाहित रहा है। pic.twitter.com/yE5xwRogJi
Heeraben Modi was born on June 18, 1922, in Visnagar city in the Mehsana district of Gujarat. She was married to a tea vendor named Damodardas Mulchand Modi when she was a teenager, and the couple moved to Vadnagar town a few kilometres away from their village. According to Narendra Modi, his mother’s childhood was ‘extremely difficult’ due to poverty, and the poor financial condition continued after her marriage also.
Narendra Modi is the third child in the family that has a total of 5 brothers and a sister. Sombhai Modi is the eldest son of Heeraben Modi and Damodardas Modi, while Amrit Bhai Modi is the second child. The fourth brother after PM Modi is Prahlad Modi, while the fifth sibling Basntiben Hashmukhlal Modi is the lone sister, and Pankaj Modi is the youngest in the family.
Heeraben Modi lived with her youngest son Pankaj Modi and his family at Raysan village near the Gandhinagar city of Gujarat. Pankaj Modi is a retired government employee.
Heeraben played a pivotal role in the life of young Narendra Modi. This becomes evident from the heartfelt note that the Prime Minister penned on his mother’s centennial birthday.
“Maa…this isn’t a mere word but it captures a range of emotions. Today, 18th June is the day my Mother Heeraba enters her 100th year. On this special day, I have penned a few thoughts expressing joy and gratitude,” PM Modi had tweeted.
Maa…this isn’t a mere word but it captures a range of emotions. Today, 18th June is the day my Mother Heeraba enters her 100th year. On this special day, I have penned a few thoughts expressing joy and gratitude. https://t.co/KnhBmUp2se
The Prime Minister began his note by paying tribute to all mothers. He spoke about the importance of a mother in a child’s life. He wrote that it is a mother’s penance that shapes a good human being. Her love instils human qualities and empathy in a child, opined the Prime Minister.
Talking about the qualities of his mother, PM Modi said that she was hardworking and meticulous in her younger days, and continues to be the same. “In my Mother’s life story, I see the penance, sacrifice, and contribution of India’s matrushakti. Whenever I look at Mother and crores of women like her, I find there is nothing that is unachievable for Indian women. Far beyond every tale of deprivation, is the glorious story of a mother, far above every struggle, is the strong resolve of a mother… I have never been able to muster the courage to write at length publicly about your life until now… I bow at your feet,” the PM had written.
“Mother – is not just any other word in the dictionary. It encompasses a whole range of emotions – love, patience, trust, and a lot more. Across the world, irrespective of country or region, children have a special affection for their mothers. A mother not only gives birth to her children, but also shapes their mind, their personality, and their self-confidence. And while doing so, mothers selflessly sacrifice their own personal needs and aspirations,” wrote the PM.
He wrote that it is a mother’s penance that shapes a good human being. Her love instils human qualities and empathy in a child, opined the Prime Minister, adding, “A mother is not an individual or a personality, motherhood is a quality. It is often said that the Gods are made according to the nature of their devotees. Similarly, we experience our mothers and their motherhood according to our own nature and mindset.”
“In Vadnagar, our family used to stay in a tiny house which did not even have a window, let alone a luxury like a toilet or a bathroom. We used to call this one-room tenement with mud walls and clay tiles for a roof, our home. And all of us – my parents, my siblings and I, stayed in it. My father made a machaan from bamboo sticks and wooden planks to make it easier for Mother to cook food. This structure was our kitchen. Mother used to climb on the machaan to cook, and the entire family would sit on it and eat together,” PM Modi had recalled.
PM Modi then went on to pen down his mother Heeraben’s qualities, stressing how hardworking and meticulous she was in her younger days and continues to be the same. “I can fill many reams of paper recalling anecdotes about Mother’s focus on cleanliness,” wrote the Prime Minister, sharing how her focus on cleanliness.
The PM’s blog also had a special mention of how his mother had a deep respect for those involved in cleaning and sanitation. “I remember, whenever someone would come to clean the drain adjacent to our house in Vadnagar, Mother wouldn’t let them go without giving them tea. Our house became famous amongst safai karamcharis for tea after work.”
Recounting PM Modi’s meetings with his mother
In September 2014, Prime Minister Modi visited his mother’s home in Gandhinagar on the occasion of his 64th birthday. On that day, he also travelled 23 kilometres from Ahmedabad in a single vehicle and forwent security. It was also his first visit to Gujarat’s capital city after becoming the Prime Minister.
When Narendra Modi touched Heeraben’s feet and sought her blessing before leaving, she gave Modi Rs. 5001 as a birthday gift to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for Jammu and Kashmir.
In May 2016, PM Modi was able to spend quality time with his mother, Heeraben at the 7Race Course Road in New Delhi. He was ecstatic to be able to show his mother his home’s gardens and also lent an ear to all her stories about Gujarat.
In January 2017, he skipped his morning yoga session to meet his mother at her Gandhinagar residence.
Skipped Yoga & went to meet mother. Before dawn had breakfast with her. Was great spending time together.
Earlier in May this year, the duo was seen having lunch together. PM Modi also sought blessings from his mother. He had also expressed regret that he could not spend his 72nd birthday with his mother in Gandhinagar this year.
Gujarat: Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets his mother Heeraben Modi at her residence, in Gandhinagar pic.twitter.com/4CvlnsPQtm
According to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, there have only been two occasions when Heeraben Modi accompanied him publicly i.e. once during Ekta Yatra (1991) and another during the oath-taking ceremony as Gujarat CM in 2001.
Only a handful of people know that Heeraben Modi donated ₹25,000 from her savings to the PM Cares Fund (also called Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund or PM-CARES Fund) or that she was the inspiration behind the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana.
It took many by surprise when she went to the bank herself to exchange the demonetised notes or dispel rumours surrounding Covid-19 vaccination to the elderly. Heeraben Modi lived a simple life, an attribute that became the guiding principle in PM Modi’s life as well.
She was also a fortunate mother, who had the opportunity to witness the progress of his son from a BJP Karyakarta to Gujarat Chief Minister and then to India’s Prime Minister.
Despite renunciation of societal family roles at a young age, PM Modi never lost touch with his mother. When her health deteriorated, he rushed to Ahmedabad to meet her at the hospital.
Within hours of completing the last rites of his mother, the Karmayogi in Narendra Modi did not allow him to take the day off. He virtually inaugurated several developmental projects in West Bengal, totalling ₹7,800 crore. For someone whose ‘work is worship’, the pillar of a strong mother has been lost forever.
In a landmark achievement of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government of India, the country has a notable landmark- 1,50,000 Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs) have been operationalised before 31st December, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) said on Friday. With this, the country has achieved the goal of establishing 1.5 lakh AB-HWCs by 31st December 2022, which was set in 2018.
According to the website of AB-HWC, India has now 153,530 functional Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness in the country.
A statement issued by the ministry said that fulfilling the principles of “Antyodaya”- leaving no one behind, 150,000 Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs) are transforming the delivery of comprehensive primary health care services which are universally free and cater to all age groups from birth to death, through a continuum of care approach.
Ensuring the reach of healthcare services to the innermost regions of the nation through various initiatives, AB-HWCs have surpassed 8.5 teleconsultations via e-Sanjeevni, where nearly 4 lakh teleconsultations take place on a daily basis, the statement further said. The ministry added that more than 86.90 crore beneficiaries have been cumulatively screened for non-communicable diseases, including 29.95 Crore for Hypertension, 25.56 Crore for Diabetes, 17.44 Crore for Oral cancer, 8.27 Crore for Breast Cancer and 5.66 Crore for Cervical Cancer.
In light of expansion of AB-HWCs, the number of essential medicines has increased to 172 at Primary Health Centres – Health Wellness Centres (PHC-HWC) and 105 at Sub Health Centres – Health Wellness Centres (SHC-HWC). Moreover, essential diagnostics have also expanded to 63 at PHC-HWC and 14 at SHC-HWC. AB-HWCs also encompass wellness sessions on Yoga, Zumba, cyclathons, walkathons, and provide guidelines on diet, physical activity, positive parenting, tobacco, alcohol cessation among other aspects to imbibe a mindset for community well-being, according to the health ministry.
More than 1.60 crore wellness sessions have been conducted at these centres, the statement added. AB-HWCs have also operationalized 2-3 centres in the urban sphere under the umbrella of Urban Primary Health Centre-Health and Wellness Centre (UPHC-HWC), strengthening outpatient care, and covering a population of 15,000 to 20,000.
PM Narendra Modi applauded the efforts of the nation in accomplishing this feat before the set deadline, and said that these centres will serve to provide citizens all across the nation to easily access and avail primary healthcare facilities.
1,50,000 हेल्थ एंड वेलनेस सेंटर!
PM @NarendraModi जी ने दिसम्बर 2022 तक, देश में डेढ़ लाख AB-HWCs शुरू करने का लक्ष्य रखा था। मुझे बताते हुए खुशी है की आज हमने यह लक्ष्य प्राप्त कर लिया है।
Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya congratulated the nation on this achievement and expressed his joy stating that India had successfully achieved the goal of setting 1.5 lakh AB-HWCs by 31 December 2022. He informed that PM Modi had set this deadline in 2018 with the goal of ensuring good health facility for the person standing last in the queue.
Ayushman Bharat (AB) is an attempt to move from a selective approach to health care to deliver a comprehensive range of services spanning preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative care. It has two components which are complementary to each other.
The first component of the initiative is the Health & Wellness Centres (HWCs), which have been created to deliver Comprehensive Primary Health Care, that is universal and free to users, with a focus on wellness and the delivery of an expanded range of services closer to the community. The second component is the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) which provides health insurance cover of Rs. 5 lakhs per year to over 10 crore poor and vulnerable families for seeking secondary and tertiary care.
HWCs are envisaged to deliver expanded range services that go beyond Maternal and child health care services to include care for non-communicable diseases, palliative and rehabilitative care, Oral, Eye and ENT care, mental health and first level care for emergencies and trauma , including free essential drugs and diagnostic services.
On Friday, Ayyappa Swamy devotees protested across the state of Telangana seeking action against Atheist Bairi Naresh, who used disparaging language against Lord Ayyappa Swamy. Bairi Naresh made derogatory statements against Lord Ayyappa Swamy in a public gathering conducted two days earlier in the Kodangal Constituency.
The video of the derogatory comments made by Bairi Naresh went viral over social media attracting massive criticism from the Lord Ayyappa Swami devotees. Police complaints demanding strict action have also been filed against Bairi Naresh for hurting the sentiments of Ayyappa devotees and making obscene remarks against the Hindu God.
One of the complaints was lodged by a woman identified as Karate Kalyani who stated that it has become a vogue to degrade Hindu Gods for publicity and requested harsh punishment against Naresh for hurting Hindu sensibilities. She said that the statements were made with the objective of ‘seriously hurting’ Hindu feelings.
The complaint has been filed under section 153A of the Indian Penal Code Section 153A. (IPC). Naresh who is a Dalit leader and head of ‘Bharata Nasthika Samajam’ allegedly remarked negatively about Lord Ayyappa’s birth and made other disparaging statements during a meeting of different Dalit organizations.
The devotees launched a protest in the city of Hyderabad and others hours after the video of the incident went viral over the internet. Reports mention that some of the devotees reached the Hyderabad Police station and demanded action against Bairi Naresh.
Amid the protest, Naresh was also apparently caught and manhandled by Lord Ayyappa Swami devotees in Hyderabad. He was ultimately rescued by the Police. The video of the incident was shared by the local media.
Meanwhile, Bandi Sanjay, the state president of the Bharatiya Janata Party, criticized the governing Bharatiya Rashtra Samithi (BRS) administration and demanded action in the case. “Anybody can abuse Hindu Gods in Telangana and get exonerated because the state encourages blasphemy without taking any action! KCR claims to be True Hindu & his Hindutva is real BUT so far what action is taken on insults against Gods Vishnu, Shiva & Ayyappa done in Kodangal?” he tweeted demanding strong action against ‘offender’ for hurting religious sentiments of Hindus.
BRS govt gives security to Munawar Faruqui who insults goddess Seethamma & permission to others to hold meetings & make derogatory remarks on Lord Ayyappa Swamy’s birth.@BJP4Telangana demands strong action against offender for hurting sentiments of Hindus.
The protest by the devotees was also held outside the Parigi Police Station in Vikarabad, seeking action against Naresh for disrespecting Hindu Gods and hurting the sensibilities of Ayyappa Swamy devotees. They also urged that the Preventive Detention (PD) Act be used against Naresh. Ayyappa Swamy followers also took to the streets to protest at Ambedkar Chowk in Ichoda, Adilabad district.
They further staged a dharna in front of the Karayankhed Police Station in Sangareddy district, asking that Naresh be charged for his controversial remarks on Ayyappa Swamy.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a practicing Kerala High Court advocate and Popular Front of India (PFI) Martial Arts and Hit Squad Trainer as 14th accused in a case linked to the banned outfit, the agency said on Friday.
The accused identified as Mohammed Mubarak AI, a resident of Ernakulam district in Kerala, was arrested on Thursday subsequent to the searches conducted at 56 locations in Kerala. The case was registered suo-moto by the agency on September 19 this year.
In a statement, the NIA said the arrested accused, Mohammed Mubarak AI is a PFI Martial Arts and Hit Squad Trainer, and that he is a practicing advocate in the Kerala High Court.
The agency said it recovered an assortment of arms, concealed in a badminton racket bag from the house of Mohammed Mubarak AI during the searches conducted on Thursday.
Besides, an axe, swords and sickles were also seized in the raid from the House of the accused, said the NIA.
“Investigations have confirmed that the PFI was raising, training and maintaining Hit Squads in different States and districts to target leaders and members of other communities,” said the NIA.
On Thursday, the NIA conducted searches at 56 locations in Kerala that included residences of the group’s seven State Executive Committee members, seven Zonal Heads and 15 Physical Training Instructors-Trainers.
The anti-terror agency also searched the houses of seven cadres trained in the use of knives, daggers, swords and other types of weapons to carry out murderous violent acts and 20 other suspects in the districts of Trivandrum (3), Kollam (3), Pathanamthitta (3), Kottayam (2), Alappuzha (3), Ernakulam (13), Thrissur (2), Palakkad (1), Malappuram (7), Kozhikode (4), Kannur (9) and Wayanad (6).
The agency said the raids were part of its ongoing case which is related to unlawful and violent activities being carried out by the PFI, its office bearers, cadres, members and affiliates.
The NIA said that the PFI has been found “justifying the use of criminal force and encouraging vulnerable youth to join terrorist organisations”.
Earlier on September 22 this year, NIA had conducted searches at 24 locations in Kerala, including offices of PFI and residences of 13 accused.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
On Wednesday, December 28, Mount Mary church in Mumbai’s Bandra reportedly received a threat mail warning about an attack by the Islamist terrorist organisation Laskhar-e-Taiba.
The church authorities have lodged a complaint at the Bandra Police Station. Police have registered a case under section 505 (3) of IPC against an unknown person.
Mumbai | The Mount Mary church in Bandra yesterday received a threat email warning of an attack by the terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba. Police have registered a case u/s 505(3) of IPC against unknown persons; probe underway: Police
In the complaint filed with Bandra Police, the church stated that on December 28, a church official received an email mentioning a threat of terror attack by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
The email was sent at around 7:28 pm by the sender who identified himself as a terrorist.
Notably, the church official received another mail at 7:29 pm following the first one. In the second mail, the sender claimed to be the mother of the child who allegedly sent the threatening email. In the email, the mother apologized for the first mail saying that it was sent by her mentally ill child.
Mumbai | Another email received following the first one where the sender claimed to be mother of the child who allegedly sent the first threat email. In it,the mother apologized saying that her child is mentally ill so he sent such a message. Police trying to verify matter:Police
In a sensational new twist to the death of former DMK Rajya Sabha MP D Masthan, the Guduvanchery police on Friday said he was strangled to death by five persons, including relatives, in a car at Palaveli in Chengalpattu district of Tamil Nadu.
The police said the MP’s death was not from a ‘cardiac arrest’ as claimed earlier. “On December 22, the former Rajya Sabha MP Masthan died in a car he was travelling in. He was on his way to extend an invite to his son’s marriage in Trichy, along with his cousin Imran Bhasha,” the Guduvanchery police said in a statement on Friday, adding that preliminary investigation had indicated that he died after suffering a cardiac arrest.
“The probe revealed that midway into the drive, four persons — Tamim alias Sulthan, Nazir, Thoufeek Ahmed and Lokeshwaran — joined Imran Bhasha in the car and strangled Masthan to death. We understand that he was killed for monetary reasons,” the police said, adding, “All the accused persons have been arrested.”
Masthan was rushed to a hospital but was declared brought dead.
According to reports, Masthan’s son, suspecting foul play, had insisted on a police investigation into his father’s death and even sought his autopsy report. He had lodged a complaint at Guduvancheri police station.
Later, Tambaram Commissioner Amalraj formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case.
“Imran Bhasha, who was driving the car, gave incoherent statements while being questioned, giving rise to suspicion,” the police said, adding that Bhasha, along with four others, killed him for financial reasons.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
In Atpadi Maharashtra, Christian Preachers Sanjay Gele and his wife Ashwini have sparked a wave of anger after their video of allegedly trying to cure a patient in the ICU using ‘miracle’ went viral. As the act of the Christian preacher was exposed, BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar demanded a probe into the assets of Sanjay Gele in the assembly on 30th December 2022.
A wave of anger has erupted in Atpadi after a video of the alleged Christian preachers Sanjay Gele and his wife Ashwini went viral. The incident broke out after a video surfaced of the missionary religious activity they had committed by breaking into Varad Hospital in the city for the purpose of conversion. BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar today raised an objection in the assembly and demanded a probe into the assets of Sanjay Gele. Padalkar also told the House that there was illegal conversion and construction of a church in Atpadi.
Deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis replied after the notice raised by Padalkar. Fadnavis promised to conduct an inquiry by the government into the conversions and construction of the church through the Gele family and take action. Earlier, while pointing out, Gopichand Padalkar said, “Sanjay Gele and his wife Ashwini are both taking advantage of people’s ignorance and naivety in Atpadi. They are trying to convert by luring them. They have built an illegal church in Atpadi. Action should be taken against the Christian preachers and the construction of illegal churches should be removed. The Gele family owns luxurious hotels, JCBs, and Pokeland machines and land in many places. The source of this wealth should be investigated and action should be taken. The public sentiment in this regard is very strong. If action is not taken, there may be a law and order problem.”
There was an incident where an 18-year-old girl from the intensive care unit of Varad Hospital in Atpadi town of the Sangli district in Maharashtra was being treated and both Sanjay and Ashwini Gele had put their hands on her head and said prayers. A complaint in this regard was filed by Sampatrao Namdev Dhanawade.
According to the complaint, Sanjay Gele and his wife Ashwini Gele falsely informed that they were relatives of patients in the intensive care unit of Varad Hospital with the intention of allegedly curing the patient by sorcery by pretending to have divine power in their body. The couple also entered the ICU without permission. Sonali Shivdas Jire (age 18, a resident of Mapatemala in Atpadi) was the patient they targeted. They ran their fingers over her forehead and pretended to be undergoing a finger surgery by reading religious text on a tab.
A case of witchcraft and sorcery has been registered in this regard. Atpadi police arrested alleged Christian preacher Sanjay Gele in Sangli on Wednesday. Atpadi police inspector Sharad Memane and colleagues carried out the operation. A trap was laid on Wednesday night and Sanjay Gele was arrested in Sangli. His wife Ashwini is still absconding. The accused, Sanjay Gele, was produced before the Atpadi court and was remanded in police custody till the 31st of this month.
This was the first time that the type of conversion and spreading of superstitions came to light in the taluka. The incident has exposed the hidden work of the Gele couple. People from various communities and Hindutva organizations had demanded immediate action against the couple and their arrest. The incident was strongly condemned by taking out a march. On December 25, a day-long bandh was observed in Atpadi town.
The Atpadi police have arrested suspected Christian preacher Sanjay Gele. However, a massive rally was taken out on 30th December 2022 by the Sakal Hindu Samaj demanding an inquiry into all his affairs so far and wealth of Sanjay Gele. The participation of women in this march was significant. BJP MLA Ram Satpute joined the rally.
In Jafarabad, a Muslim-dominated area in the Balrampur district of eastern Uttar Pradesh, a Hindu woman has filed a complaint against her Muslim neighbours for allegedly pressurizing her to convert to Islam.
On Monday, an FIR was filed against the seven accused identified as Shahajadi, Moharma, Sahiba, Amirzade, Irfan, Sonu and Afreed under relevant sections, including the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021.
According to the FIR, complainant Deepa Nishad has alleged that Muslim women spit on a temple built in her house and said that “your temple has been desecrated, now you have become Muslim.”
In her complaint, Deepa Nishad alleged that the neighbouring Muslim families harass her to convert to Islam, and she was also being pressurised to sell her house or leave the locality. Nishad allegedly was also receiving death threats for the same.
Acting upon Deepa Nishad’s complaint, Balrampur has so far arrested three women accused (Shahajadi, Moharma, and Sahiba).
Victim Deepa Nishad stated that her home is surrounded by Muslim families’ homes. Amirzade and Irfan, two of the seven accused, frequently threatened to kill her if she did not convert to Islam or sell her house and leave. In her complaint, the victim also claims that the accused Irfan, Sonu, and Afreed repeatedly threatened and assaulted her and her family members for refusing to convert to Islam.
Circa: 2022 In Secular New India.. Darra hua mzlmans dragging & beating up a hindu woman for refusing to convert to Izlam Balrampur, UP pic.twitter.com/Uc3oRAoNeZ
Recalling the incident that took place on December 17, Deepa said that she and her sister were beaten. Accused Amirzade also gave his mobile number to Deepa and pressurised her to talk to him over call.
Moreover, the accused Muslim women would often spit on the temple inside victim Deepa’s house and sometimes throw water.
As per an India Today report, victim Deepa has released videos of Muslim women hurling abuses at her and threatening her family.
Reportedly, all the accused women denied pressuring the Hindu victim to change her religion. However, when the video of them spitting on the temple was shown to them, they had no answer.
Tulsi Ram, Deepa Nishad’s brother, reportedly claimed that he was being pressured by his Muslim neighbours to drop the case. He also stated that he was recently attacked while returning home.
In a video byte tweeted by Balrampur Police, Balrampur Superintendent of Police (SP) Rajesh Kumar Saxena said “a woman has alleged that her neighbours have pressured her to change her religion, sell her house, assaulted her and her family for refusing to do so.”
#BalrampurPolice थाना रेहरा बाजार पुलिस द्वारा थाना स्थानीय पर पंजी0 मु0अ0सं0 257/22 धारा-147/323/506/295 भा0द0वि0 व 3/5(1) उ. प्र. विधि विरुद्ध धर्म संपरिवर्तन प्रतिषेध अधिनियम 2021 से सम्बन्धित 03 अभियुक्त गिरफ्तार उक्त प्रकरण के संदर्भ में #SPBalrampur की बाइट pic.twitter.com/xk2qk7wuH2
“Three accused women have been arrested and efforts are being made to arrest the other four accused,” SP Saxena added.
In another tweet, Balrampur police informed that a case has been registered under Section-147, 323, 506, 295 of the Indian Penal Code and the Law Against Religion Conversion Prohibition Act 2021.
#BalrampurPolice प्रकरण के संबंध में थाना रेहरा बाजार बलरामपुर पर मु0अ0सं0 257/22 धारा-147/323/506/295 भा0द0वि0 व 3/5(1) उ.प्र. विधि विरुद्ध धर्म संपरिवर्तन प्रतिषेध अधि0 2021 पंजी0 करते हुए अभियुक्तगण गिरफ्तार कर।मा0न्यायालय के समक्ष प्रस्तुत किया गया जहाँ से उन्हे जेल भेजा गया।
“In relation to the case M.A. No. 257/22, Police Station Rehra Bazar Balrampur, M.A. registered FIR under section-147/323/506/295 of I.P.C. and Law Against Religion Conversion Prohibition Act 2021 and arrested the accused. The arrested accused were presented before the honourable Court from where they were sent to jail,” Balrampur Police tweeted.
Two days after Tamil actor Siddharth alleged that Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel harassed his family and ‘deliberately’ spoke to them in Hindi, an airport staffer has now rubbished his claims.
While speaking about the matter to Daily Thanthi, the official informed that the officer-in-duty at that was a Tamil woman. “Siddharth arrived at Madurai Airport with his family to go to Chennai. At 4:15 PM he reached the CISF security force’s checkpoint,” the official was quoted as saying.
“Siddharth was asked to remove his mask and show his ID card. This is standard security practice. The belongings of Siddharth and his family were searched. A woman CISF personnel hailing from Tamil Nadu was on duty when Siddharth’s checking happened,” the official further informed.
The Madurai airport staffer emphasised that the female officer-in-charge hailed from the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu, she is a native Tamil speaker and she did not speak to Siddharth or his family in Hindi.
The official said the Tamil actor was miffed with the ‘recurrent’ searches. At that time, a Telegu-speaking officer intervened to pacify the situation, following which Siddharth reportedly stormed off the boarding area with his family members.
“None of the CISF personnel spoke in Hindi and behaved harshly towards Siddharth. Siddharth’s allegations are false. The footage from his arrival at the airport to his departure has been recorded on the CCTV camera.”, the official told Daily Thanthi.
The Background of the Controversy
On Tuesday (December 27), Siddharth alleged that he and his family members were harassed by Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, stationed at the Madurai airport.
In a now-disappeared Instagram story, Siddharth claimed that the jawans spoke in Hindi despite being asked to talk in English. “Harassed for 20 minutes at empty Madurai airport by CRPF,” he wrote.
“They made my senior parents remove coins from their bags! And repeatedly talked to us in Hindi before being told to speak in English. Rude AF (as f*ck),” he continued his tirade.
Screengrab of the Instagram story by Siddharth, image via Republic TV
“When we protested they said in India this is how it is. Jobless people showing off power,” Siddharth concluded with a ‘vomit’ emoji. The actor, who has been out of work for some time now, had courted several controversies in the past, including rude, derogatory remarks towards ace badminton champ Saina Nehwal and actor Samantha.
