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Uddhav Thackeray Shiv Sena’s out-on-bail Sanjay Raut opens his mouth again, says more pandits killed after release of Kashmir Files than by Islamists in 90s

OpIndia Staff
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Uddhav Thackeray Shiv Sena’s out-on-bail Sanjay Raut opens his mouth again, says more pandits killed after release of Kashmir Files than by Islamists in 90s

Uddhav Thackeray Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Raut, recently released from jail on bail, has opened his mouth against and waded into the controversy stirred after Israeli filmmaker and Palestinian sympathiser, Nadav Lapid, called the Kashmir Files movie by Vivek Agnihotri a “propaganda” movie.

On November 29, an Israeli filmmaker and International Film Festival of India (IFFI) jury chairman Nadav Lapid called filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri’s film ‘The Kashmir Files’ “vulgar” and “propaganda”. During his closing remarks at the festival, he said he was “shocked” and “disturbed” by the inclusion of the film in the competition section. The 53rd edition of IFFI was held in Goa between November 20 and November 28.

When asked about the comments made by Lapid, who was once accused of hating his own motherland, Israel, Sanjay Raut said that he agreed with the comments made by the IFFI jury chairman. Commenting on Kashmir Files, Sanjay Raut claimed that there were more Kashmiri Hindus who were murdered after the release of the movie Kashmir Files than ever before – essentially insinuating that more Hindus were killed in Kashmir after the movie was released than by Islamists in the 1990s.

It is pertinent to note that while Sanjay Raut has agreed with Lapid and blamed the movie for the killings of Hindus instead of Islamists, the Israeli Ambassador to India apologised for the remarks by Nadav Lapid and said, in an open letter, that he was ashamed of the comments made denying the genocide of Hindus in Kashmir.

“It’s true about #KashmirFiles if some jury member said it. There was propaganda by one party against another. A party Govt, wherever there was a BJP govt, was busy with publicity. But maximum number of killings in Kashmir occurred after this film. You must have seen, Kashmir Pandits, security personnel were killed. Where were these Kashmir Files people then? This anger was displayed by the orphaned children of Kashmiri Pandits also, where were they then? Nobody came forward then, nor were there plans for a Kashmir Files 2.0 – make that too”, Sanjay Raut said.

Interestingly, when asked about the word “vulgar” used for the film by the Lapid, Sanjay Raut said that he had not watched the movie.

The video of the comments made by Sanjay Raut was posted by Zee Marathi. The same video that was posted by ABP Manjha was soon made private, so people could not access it.

Sanjay Raut has been against the movie Kashmir Files by Vivek Agnihotri, which shows the genocide and exodus of Kashmiri Hindus by Islamists in the 1990s, since its very release. After the movie’s release, Raut had taken to Saamna, the Shiv Sena’s official mouthpiece, to allege that the movie was being promoted by BJP with an eye on the Gujarat and Rajasthan Assembly Elections. He had also branded Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the chief promoter of the movie.

In March 2022, a Saamna editorial had gone as far as to brand the Kashmir Files a “fake narrative” that was created by the BJP. The editorial piece in Saamana highlighted how Congress is unable to fight ‘fake narratives’ created by the BJP. It pointed out that Congress should employ innovative methods to counter the narratives the BJP allegedly creates through movies like The Kashmir Files and through the hijab issue.

For the first time in over three decades, an honest attempt in the form of ‘The Kashmir Files’ brought to the silver screen the trials and tribulations faced by the minority Kashmiri Pandits in the Muslim-majority Jammu and Kashmir. This had, predictably, raised the hackles of the left-liberal intelligentsia, who has for years engaged in the pursuit of whitewashing Islamic terrorism and pinning the blame of the exodus on the policies implemented by New Delhi. After the release of the movie, several Left-Liberals blamed the movie for targeted killings of Hindus in the valley, saying that it had angered the Muslim population against the Hindus. What the Left-Liberals had said then and what Sanjay Raut seems to be saying now is that Hindus would only inspire more attacks against themselves if they dare to talk about their own persecution and therefore, it is the vocal Hindu who should be blamed when Islamists murder them out of sheer religious hatred.

The liberals, including politicians like Sanjay Raut, blamed Kashmir Files for the killings of Hindus because firstly, they need to discredit any attempt to create awareness about a Hindu genocide and secondly, because they are incapable of talking about the real cause of Hindus being murdered in the valley – Islamic terrorism. While the liberals seem to be incapable of talking about Islamic terrorism either because they align with the supremacist ideology against Hindus, a common enemy, politicians like Raut seem to be shielding the Islamists simply because their political survival depends on the Muslim vote bloc, with Hindus electorally abandoning parties like Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena faction and politicians like himself.

The 1990s in Kashmir saw an onslaught of Islamic barbarity against Hindus. Kashmir Files depicts several such brutal murders and rapes from the 1990s. For example, the movie depicts the brutality heaped upon Girija Tickoo when she was murdered. On the 4th of June 1990, Girija came to the valley to collect her salary and met her local Muslim colleague at her home. She was not aware that Jihadi terrorists were tracking her movement. Girija was kidnapped from her colleague’s home and was taken to an unknown location. Everyone, including her colleague and people in the locality, watched her being taken silently. After a few days of the kidnapping, her dead body was found on the roadside in horrible condition. The autopsy revealed she was brutally gang-raped and tortured. Girija was cut into two pieces using a mechanical saw while she was still alive, right from the middle of her body. Her family still awaits justice, just like the hundreds and thousands of other Kashmiri Pandits whose suffering has been deemed as ‘propaganda’ by the ‘liberal’ section of the media and society.

One of the most heart-wrenching scenes of the film directed by Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri is where a woman is force-fed rice soaked in her husband’s blood. This is the recreation of a brutal murder from 1990 when terrorists had come searching for engineer BK Ganjoo, who had hidden in a rice barrel. He would have been alive today had his location not been disclosed to the terrorists by his own neighbours. He was shot dead by the terrorists who fired multiple rounds at the rice barrel allowing the blood to drip out of the container. The rice soaked in the blood was then forcefully fed to Ganjoo’s wife.

With the movie depicting such cases of violence against Hindus, Sanjay Raut endorsing the views of Nadav Lapid and saying that more killings took place in Kashmir after the release of the movie, only means that blames Hindus for their persecution simply because they dared to narrate tales of their genocide.

Jharkhand: Clerics ban dance, music, and fireworks in Muslim weddings, call weddings after 11 pm wrong

OpIndia Staff
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Jharkhand: Clerics ban dance, music, and fireworks in Muslim weddings, call weddings after 11 pm wrong

On November 28, a group of Muslim clerics announced a ban on dancing, playing loud music and display of fireworks during Islamic weddings in the Nirsa block of district Dhanbad, Jharkhand. According to the clerics, such practices are un-Islamic, and anyone violating the ban would be fined.

Sibilibadi Jama Masjid’s head Imam Maulana Masud Akhtar said in a statement that the ban would begin from December 2. He said, “We unanimously decided that Nikah (marriage) would be solemnised according to Islamic religion and there would be no dance, DJ music playing and fireworks display. Those who will violate the order will be fined Rs 5,100.”

He added, “Such practices are not permitted in Islam. These also cause inconvenience to people.” Akhtar chaired the meeting during which the decision to ban such practices was announced. Furthermore, it was decided that the marriage has to be solemnised before 11 PM as the time after that is not considered “auspicious”. He said, “If anyone tries to perform the Nikah after 11 PM will also be slapped with a fine. The violator of the norm will have to tender a written apology too.”

Previous diktats against music and celebrations

This is not the first time Muslim clerics have banned celebrations during Nikah. In June 2021, a committee of village clerics and scholars of Raz -e-Muhammad Mustafa of Khempur village at Swar Tehsil in Rampur district, Uttar Pradesh, announced that a Nikah would not be solemnised if the ceremonies include fireworks, DJ, dance and dowry. The resolution was adopted during the committee’s meeting. They announced after the Friday prayers to inform the Muslims in the area.

In March 2021, it was reported that a fatwa was issued by a senior mufti of the Dargah-e-Ala Hazrat in Bareilly, which said that it was against Shariat for males and females to eat food together at weddings. The fatwa said that organisers should maintain a difference between mahram (close relatives) and non-mahrams. It also noted that DJs, music, dance and fireworks during wedding ceremonies are un-Islamic.

In April 2021, Markazi Sunni Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, Mirzapur, announced that they would not solemnise Muslim marriages of music, dance and DJ were part of the ceremonies as they are un-Islamic. The body also restrained Muslims from demanding dowry. Mufti Abdul Khalik said, “A movement has started in Mirzapur against dowry seekers and those who eat while standing up.”

Elon Musk prepared to go to ‘war’ with Apple after iPhone maker allegedly threatens to remove Twitter from its App Store

OpIndia Staff
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Elon Musk prepared to go to ‘war’ with Apple after iPhone maker allegedly threatens to remove Twitter from its App Store

On November 28 (local time), billionaire and Twitter’s new owner Elon Musk lashed out at Apple for the App Store policies and tax rules. Musk accused the iPhone maker of blocking ads on Twitter without specifying why. Furthermore, Musk added that the company was pressuring Twitter over demands related to content moderation. He asked Apple if the company was against “free speech” in America. He tagged Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, and asked what was going on.

The reasons behind the alleged threats to Twitter by Apple to “withhold” from the App Store are unclear. Musk said, “Apple has also threatened to withhold Twitter from its App Store, but won’t tell us why.”

However, Musk’s tweets indicate that the social media platform’s new moderation policy leaning towards “safeguarding free speech” could be the reason behind it. Musk also ran a poll asking Twitter users if Apple should publish all censorship actions it has taken that affect its customers.

In Another tweet, Musk said the “free speech suppression” that happened on Twitter should be published on Twitter itself as the public deserves to know what had happened.

Furthermore, there is no official statement from Apple stating why Apple stopped ads on Twitter. In a report, Reuters pointed out that between November 10 to November 16, Apple had spent $131,600 on Twitter ads. However, it was close to doubling between October 16 and October 20 at $220,800, a week before Musk closed the deal with Twitter at $44 billion and made it private.

This is not the first time Apple has removed a social media platform from App Store. Earlier, Parler, an alternative to Twitter, was removed from Apple’s App Store over content moderation following the US Capitol riots in January 2021. Later, in May 2021, the app was restored to App Store after Parler updated the content moderation policies. Similarly, another app Lbry was asked by Apple to “filter some search terms”.

When Musk asked Lbry about the terms they were referring to, it said, “Apple disallowed almost anything related to Covid, especially vaccines or human origins of the virus. We had to build a list of over 20 terms to not show results for, only on Apple devices. Apple also later rejected us because users included Pepe images in videos.” Musk expressed his shock and said, “Secret suppression of free speech by Apple. Customers were never told. What the hell is going on here?”

Musk expressed his dismay over the fee charged by Apple on in-app purchases, which currently stands at 30 per cent. Twitter is working on a worldwide rollout of Twitter subscriptions at $8. Apple would take a 30 per cent cut from all such subscriptions every month. In a tweet, Musk said, “Did you know Apple puts a secret 30% tax on everything you buy through their App Store.”

In a now-deleted tweet, Musk hinted that he would go to war with Apple rather than pay them the hefty fee.

Sam Brinton, drag queen ‘nuclear scientist’ in the US Dept of Energy caught stealing woman’s luggage from airport, charged with felony theft

OpIndia Staff
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Sam Brinton, drag queen ‘nuclear scientist’ in the US Dept of Energy caught stealing woman’s luggage from airport, charged with felony theft

Sam Brinton, a senior official in the Department of Energy under the Biden administration who is reportedly a ‘non-binary transvestite’ has been caught stealing a woman’s luggage at an airport in Minnesota. As per reports, Brinton faces up to 10,000 USD in fines and 5 years in prison. The US Department of Energy has refused to comment on the issue.

Brinton was appointed as the Assistant Secretary of Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition in the US Department of Energy earlier this year.

As per reports, the stealing incident happened in September and Brinton was charged in October after a police investigation. Brinton had reportedly not checked in any luggage, but still went to the baggage carousel and took a woman’s expensive branded roller bag, full of her clothes and personal items, and went to a hotel.

On September 16, a woman passenger alerted authorities at the Minneapolis St Paul International Airport about her missing baggage. She had boarded a Delta flight from New Orleans and when she went to collect her baggage at the carousel, it was missing.

As per reports, the officials at the MSP airport confirmed that her baggage had arrived, but had gone missing from carousel 7. CCTV footage showed Sam Brinton removing the woman’s blue Vera Bradley designer roller bag from the carousel. Brinton was seen on camera removing the baggage tag, placing it into his handbag and leaving the airport quickly.

Brinton was tracked by the investigating authorities. He had taken a cab to a hotel, had stayed there and had left for Washington DC later. He had even gone on a trip to Europe taking the bag. On October 9, when Brinton was called by the police and asked about the bag, he replied that he may have taken the wrong bag, but the clothes inside were his.

He then called the police back 2 hours later and apologised for ‘not being completely honest’. He then claimed that he had taken the bag because he thought it was his.

The woman victim had stated in the complaint that the clothes and personal items inside the bag were worth around $2325.

Brinton had claimed that he had left the clothes at the hotel room and had left with only the bag, but no clothes were recovered from the hotel and despite providing instructions on how to return the bag to the victim, the victim had not received the bag from Brinton until October 27.

Brinton is now scheduled to appear in court on December 29 in Hennepin County. Brinton is reportedly on official leave and his lawyers have not responded to US media calls for a statement.

Brinton, an MIT grad, used to conduct a workshop called ‘Kink 101’ on college campuses and worked as an ‘anti-conversion therapy activist’. He is also a member of a drag queen society called ‘Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence’ which mocks catholic nuns with sexually explicit innuendoes. Brinton goes by the drag name of ‘Sister Ray Dee O’Active’ in drag shows, as per a report by The National Pulse.

‘No regret even if hanged, will get hoors in Jannat,’ says Shraddha’s killer Aftab during polygraph test, report says

OpIndia Staff
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‘No regret even if hanged, will get hoors in Jannat,’ says Shraddha’s killer Aftab during polygraph test, report says

As per a police source quoted by Dainik Jagran, Aftab Amin Poonawalla, the prime accused in Shraddha Walkar murder case has made stunning revelations during the polygraph test.

According to the police official, he has stated that even if he is hanged for the murder of Shraddha, he would not be sorry since he will be remembered as a hero when he enters paradise and will be offered ‘Hoors’ in ‘Jannat.’ Aftab also admitted to having affairs with over 20 Hindu girls during his relationship with Shraddha. Aftab’s radical worldview was reportedly on display in his police statement during the polygraph test.

The police officer said that Aftab made these revelations following the questioning. He said that he had used the Bumble app to target Hindu women and lure them into a trap. After murdering Shraddha, Aftab had also invited a psychologist to his apartment. She was also a Hindu woman. He admitted to having given her a ring which belonged to Shraddha, in a bid to lure her into relationship. He also interacted with a number of other Hindu girls.

He said he didn’t feel bad about killing Shraddha and mutilating her body. After the questioning, he used to fall asleep easily. He allegedly told police that his plan was to kill Shraddha and slice her up in Mumbai itself.

According to the police officer, Aftab confessed some stunning truths during the polygraph examination. The police seek to establish these findings following the narco test. The information provided by Aftab during the polygraph is very helpful to the investigation. After the test, five knives were found in his residence. In addition, it’s anticipated that further proof will be acquired soon.

Polygraph test of Aftab

Aftab has recently undergone a polygraph test at the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), Rohini in New Delhi. The reports of the test are yet to be released. 

A Delhi court ordered the police to complete the narco-analysis test within five days and warned them not to use any third-degree measures. The polygraph examination will be followed by the narco test. Notably, Aftab has consented to a narco test. Notably, during the police interrogation, Aftab gave contradictory statements, prompting Delhi Police to conduct the narco test. The Delhi Police approached the court and sought permission to conduct the narco test. 

Shraddha murder case

On November 14, the Delhi Police solved the six-month-old murder case and arrested Aftab Amin Poonawala over allegations of murdering his live-in partner, and then chopping her into 35 pieces. Aftab executed the murder on May 18 and stored her body parts in the refrigerator. He then disposed of the body pieces in Delhi’s Mehrauli forest during the next 18 days. Aftab was arrested based on the complaint filed by Shraddha Walkar’s father on November 10. 

The accused has been arrested and a case under IPC section 302 (murder) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of an offence committed) have been registered. Further investigations into the case are underway.

Deputy Commissioner exposes lies by AAP and Arvind Kejriwal, says no stone was pelted during the Surat roadshow: Details

OpIndia Staff
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Deputy Commissioner exposes lies by AAP and Arvind Kejriwal, says no stone was pelted during the Surat roadshow: Details

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-3), Pinakin Parmar has denied the allegations levelled by Arvind Kejriwal that there were stones pelted during his Surat rally. This allegation was levelled by Aam Aadmi Party during his roadshow on Monday in Gujarat’s Surat.

Reportedly, during the roadshow, a scuffle broke out between BJP and AAP workers. While Arvind Kejriwal’s roadshow was crossing through Katargam locality of Surat, BJP workers chanted “Modi Modi”. Speaking to India Today/AajTak, AAP candidate Alpesh Kathiriya alleged that the stone was thrown by BJP workers. “While people are showing flowers at Kejriwal, BJP goons are throwing stones,” Kathiriya said.

“When we were moving, their (apparently referring to BJP) supporters threw a stone at us. I was thinking had they done any work in the last 27 years they would not have needed to throw stones. I would like to tell them it is Kejriwal only who will waive their electricity bills, teach your children, and offer you flowers in place of stones,” the AAP national convener said. “AAP is the party of ‘shareef’ (decent), patriots, and honest people. I am an educated person and will build schools for you. If you have to indulge in abusing others then go with them,” he said.

Taking the opportunity, Arvind Kejriwal proceeded to play victim. Kejriwal said, “They will break my eye. Have I done someone wrong? I say that I will build schools and hospitals. Show me the works done by you, do not abuse”.

The Surat police, however, said that the rally was conducted without incident and there was no stone pelting, as alleged by AAP.

Pinakin Parmar, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-3) said that Arvind Kejriwal was given Z+ security during the rally. “The rally passed off peacefully. No incident of throwing of stones took place. A minor scuffle broke out between party workers but the police controlled the situation”, he said.

Arvind Kejriwal gets support of “Muslim Fighters Club”

Ahmedabad’s Juhapura based ‘Muslim Fighters Club’ organised a meeting on Sunday, November 27, 2022, a week before the polls, where about 3,000 Muslim families pledged their allegiance to the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party. In presence of a Maulana who recited Islamic verses and amid ‘Naara-e-Takbeer, Allahu Akbar’ chants, ‘Muslim Fighters Club’ extended their support to Arvind Kejriwal.

‘Muslim Fighters Club’ also coined two slogans for AAP. “Haath ma jhaadu leelu leelu, AAP-Muslim ilu-ilu’ which loosely translates to green broom (AAP election symbol) in our hands, AAP and Muslims have ilu-ilu (ilu is often used for I-Love-You) and ‘Vote for MAGI’ where MAGI stands for Manish Sisodia (M), Arvind Kejriwal (A), Gopal Italia (G) and Isudan Gadhvi (I). 

The Muslim community that had gathered there also accused Congress of taking advantage of Muslims. Imranbhai, who runs the club, claimed that the Muslim community has always been the victim of hate and only Kejriwal is the true well-wisher of Muslims. I have spoken to our Muslim brothers in Delhi and they have said their situation has improved. Arvind Kejriwal takes care of Muslims from every part of the world. He even takes care of Muslim refugees, he said. He said that he will not specify which ‘refugees’ he means, but asked the Muslims present in the audience to make calculated guesses. 

NDTV promoter company transfers 99.5% equity to Adani, giving Gautam Adani owned company 29.19% stake in media house

OpIndia Staff
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NDTV promoter company transfers 99.5% equity to Adani, giving Gautam Adani owned company 29.19% stake in media house

New Delhi Television Ltd (NDTV)’s promoter company RRPR Holding on Monday, in a disclosure to the stock exchanges, said that it has transferred 99.5% of its equity shares to Adani group owned Vishvapradhan Commercial (VCPL). The transaction was in consonance with a conversion notice which was issued by VCPL on 23 August, 2022.

On November 11, 2022, Adani group had announced it will launch an open offer to acquire an additional 26% of NDTV’s public shares. In August, Adani Enterprises Ltd’s subsidiary AMG Media Networks Ltd purchased Vishvapradhan Commercial Pvt Ltd (VCPL), which had lent Rs 403.85 crore to NDTV promoter business RRPR Holding Pvt Ltd in 2009 and 2010. Radhika Roy and Prannoy Roy were the owners of RRPR Holding.

RRPR provided warrants to VCPL in exchange for this interest-free loan, entitling it to convert them into a 99.9% share in RRPR. RRPR owned 29.18 percent of NDTV, hence Adani Group obtained a 29.18 percent stake in NDTV in this manner. Following the acquisition of VCPL for Rs 113.75 crore, the Adani Group declared an open offer to purchase another 26% interest in NDTV.

If Adani Group has indirect control over a stake that is more than 25%, it is required by Indian law to make an open offer to buy at least 26% more from current shareholders and give them the opportunity to withdraw.

This transfer of shares will now give Adani group control of 29.18% stake in NDTV. The conglomerate is also carrying out an open offer for another 26% in the media house. The open offer began on November 22 and has seen shareholders tender 5.3 million shares, or 31.78 per cent of the issue size of 16.7 million shares as of now.

NDTV has three national news channels –NDTV 24×7, NDTV India and NDTV Profit, besides having a strong online presence. The company recorded a revenue of Rs 421 crore in the financial year 2022, with an EBITDA of Rs 123 crore and a Net Profit of Rs 85 crore during the fiscal year.

The Adani Group on August 23 announced that its media arm would purchase a 29.18 per cent stake in New Delhi Television Ltd (NDTV), and made an open offer to acquire another 26 per cent of the shares in the media giant. Vishvapradhan Commercial Private Limited (VPCL), is company incorporated in 2008. In 2009, it offered unsecured loan to NDTV’s holding company, Radhika Roy Prannoy Roy Holding Private Limited (RRPRH) worth Rs 403.85 crore. RRPRH held 29% equity in NDTV. You can read in detail about the process here.

In an interview with the Financial Times, the world’s third richest person and the Chairman of the Adani Group, Gautam Adani, stated that the takeover of NDTV is not a business opportunity but rather a ‘responsibility’. Adani also expressed his intention to make NDTV an international brand and expand it having a global footprint. “Why can’t you support one media house to become independent and have a global footprint? India does not have one single to compare to Financial Times or Al Jazeera,” he remarked in the interview.

IFFI Jury Chief and Israeli filmmaker, accused of hating his own motherland, makes speech denying Hindu genocide, calls ‘Kashmir Files’ propaganda

OpIndia Staff
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IFFI Jury Chief and Israeli filmmaker, accused of hating his own motherland, makes speech denying Hindu genocide, calls ‘Kashmir Files’ propaganda

On November 29, an Israeli filmmaker and International Film Festival of India (IFFI) jury chairman Nadav Lapid said called filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri’s film ‘The Kashmir Files’ “vulgar” and “propaganda”. During his closing remarks at the festival, he said he was “shocked” and “disturbed” by the inclusion of the film in the competition section. The 53rd edition of IFFI was held in Goa between November 20 and November 28.

Lapid was sharing the jury report during the closing ceremony of the festival. He said, “Usually, I don’t read from paper. This time, I want to be precise. I want to thank the director and head of the programming of the festival for its cinematic richness, diversity and complexity…There were 15 films in the international competition — the front window of the festival. Fourteen out of them had cinematic qualities…and evoked vivid discussions. We were, all of us, disturbed and shocked by the 15th film, The Kashmir Files. That felt to us like a propaganda, vulgar movie, inappropriate for a competitive artistic section of such a prestigious film festival.”

He added, “I feel totally comfortable to share these feelings openly here with you on stage since the spirit that we felt in the festival can surely accept a critical discussion which is essential for art and life.”

Who is Nadav Lapid?

Nadav Lapid is an Israeli filmmaker with around 13 films to his credit as a director. He was born in Israel’s Tel Aviv. The lesser-known 47-year-old filmmaker is best known for “hate” towards his own homeland, Israel. A Palestinian sympathiser, Lapid, 2019, talked about his film Synonyms to Now Toronto magazine and called the collective soul of Israel a “sick soul”.

He said, “The film talks about the collective Israeli soul, and the Israeli collective soul is a sick soul. Something in the deepest essence of the Israeli existence is false – is rotten. It’s not just Benjamin Netanyahu – it’s not special to Israel. But, at the same time, I think this Israeli sickness or nature is characterised by young Israeli men who are muscular, smiling, who don’t raise any questions and don’t have any doubts. They are extremely proud of being Israeli. They have a totally dichotomist vision of existence: Us versus all the others.”

‘I have different views’, said Israeli diplomat

Speaking on the matter in a tweet, Israeli diplomat Kobbi Shoshani said he has different views about the film and had expressed those to Lapid following his remarks. He said, “I saw the Kashmir file and met the cast. I have a different opinion than Nadav Lapid. After his speech, I told Nadav my opinion.”

Reaction from the film fraternity

Veteran actor and one of the leads in The Kashmir Files, Anupam Kher, reacted to the Israeli filmmaker’s remarks. He said, “No matter how high the height of the lie is.. It is always small in comparison to the truth,” while sharing images from the film and films based on the Holocaust. Kher did not take any names in his tweet.

Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit wrote multiple tweets on the matter. He said, “I take strong objection to the language used by Mr Nadav Lapid for The Kashmir Files. Depicting the genocide of 3 lakh, Kashmiri Hindus cannot be called vulgar. I, as a filmmaker and a Kashmiri Pandit, condemn this shameless act of abuse towards victims of terrorism.”

He added, “Dear Anurag Thakur Ji, I, as a Kashmiri Pandit who is a victim of genocide, seek serious action against Mr Nadav Lapid, Jury head of IFFI 2022, for calling the depiction of our tragedy as vulgar. He has added salt to our wounds and hence should be made to tender an apology.”

He said, “Nadav Lapid’s selection as the jury head of IFFI53 Goa is a major lapse on behalf of the I&B ministry. Hence heads of those in the ministry, who are responsible for this crime, should roll. What does one expect from a Palestine sympathiser?!”

Ashoke added, “Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid has made a mockery of India’s fight against terrorism by calling The Kashmir Files a vulgar film. He has insulted 7 lac Kashmiri Pandits under the nose of the BJP govt. It’s a big blow to IFFI Goa 2022‘s credibility. Shame.”

The Kashmir Files

Directed by filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri, The Kashmir Files was released on March 11, 2022. The film was a blockbuster and widely appreciated for showing the true story of the exodus and genocide of the Kashmiri Pandits in the Vally in the 1990s. The description of the film on IFFI’s website reads, “Krishna Pandit is a young Kashmiri Pandit refugee living with his grandfather Pushkarnath Pandit – who has been a witness to the 1990 genocide of Kashmiri Pandits. He had to flee from Kashmir and has been fighting for the revocation of Article 370 all his life. Krishna believes his parents died in an accident in Kashmir. As a student of JNU, under the influence of his mentor, Professor Radhika Menon, he refutes the genocide and fights for Azad Kashmir, discovering the truth only after his grandfather’s death.“

‘I am ashamed’, Israeli Ambassador to India apologises after Jewish filmmaker calls The Kashmir Files ‘vulgar propaganda’, read his open letter

OpIndia Staff
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‘I am ashamed’, Israeli Ambassador to India apologises after Jewish filmmaker calls The Kashmir Files ‘vulgar propaganda’, read his open letter

Israeli Ambassador to India, Sri Lanka and Bhutan, Naor Gilon on Tuesday called out the Left-wing Jewish filmmaker Nadav Lapid, who referred to the film based on Kashmiri Hindu genocide perpetrated by Pakistan-backed Islamist terrorists in the late 1980s, early 1990s, as ‘vulgar propaganda’.

In an open letter Ambassador Gilon shared on Twitter, he said that Lapid should be ashamed of himself.

The whole text of his open letter to Lapid is as follows:

“In Indian culture they say that a guest is like God. You have abused in the worst way the Indian invitation to chair the panel of judges at @IFFIGoa as well as the trust, respect and warm hospitality they have bestowed on you. Our Indian friends brought @lioraz and @issacharoff from @FaudaOfficial in order to celebrate the love in #India towards #Fauda and #Israel. I suspect that this is maybe also one of the reasons they invited you as an Israeli and me as the ambassador of Israel.

I understand your need in retrospect to “justify” your behavior but I can’t understand why you told @ynetnews afterwards that the minister and I said on stage that there is similarity between our countries because “we fight a similar enemy and reside in a bad neighborhood”. We did speak about the similarities and closeness between our countries. The minister spoke about his visits to Israel, it being a Hi-Tech nation and the potential of combining this with the film industry. I spoke about the fact that we grew up watching Indian films.

I also said that we should be humble when India, with such a great film culture, is consuming Israeli content (Fauda and more).

I’m no film expert but I do know that it’s insensitive and presumptuous to speak about historic events before deeply studying them and which are an open wound in India because many of the involved are still around and still paying a price.

As a son of a holocaust survivor, I was extremely hurt to see reactions in India to you that are doubting Schindler’s List, the Holocaust and worse. I unequivocally condemn such statements. There is no justification. It does show the sensitivity of the Kashmir issue here. From your interview to Ynet the connection you make between your criticism of #KashmirFiles and your dislike to what is happening in Israeli politics was quite evident.

My suggestion. As you vocally did in the past, feel free to use the liberty to sound your criticism of what you dislike in Israel but no need to reflect your frustration on other countries. I’m not sure that you have enough factual basis to make such comparisons. I know I don’t.

You will go back to Israel thinking that you are bold and “made a statement”. We, the representatives of Israel, would stay here. You should see our DM boxes following your “bravery” and what implications it may have on the team under my responsibility. The friendship between the people and the states of India and Israel is very strong and will survive the damage you have inflicted. As a human being, I feel ashamed and want to apologize to our hosts for the bad manner in which we repaid them for their generosity and friendship.“

The International Film Festival of India (IFFI) Jury Head Nadav Lapid on Monday, during the closing ceremony, called Vivek Agnihotri’s The Kashmir Files ‘propaganda’ and ‘vulgar’. The film was released earlier this year and was based on the Kashmiri Hindu genocide perpetrated in the valley in the late 1980s, 1990s where Islamist terrorists backed by Pakistan unleashed terror upon Kashmiri Hindus leaving lakhs homeless and dead.

The film depicts incidents inspired by real-life where Kashmiri Hindus were targeted because of their religious identity and were brutally raped, murdered and driven out of their homes. You can read about the real-life incidents of brutality perpetrated on Hindus here.

Journalist Shiv Aroor faces online attack by leftist trolls for featuring bikini pictures of Richa Chadha in India Today show over her Galwan jibe

Amit Kelkar
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Journalist Shiv Aroor faces online attack by leftist trolls for featuring bikini pictures of Richa Chadha in India Today show over her Galwan jibe

Journalist Shiv Aroor has been at the receiving end of a relentless online attack over an India Today report on actor Richa Chadha’s Galwan jibe against the Indian Army. 

The anchor recently took to Twitter to share screenshots of Twitter DMs he has been receiving ever since he anchored a show on the India Today channel that featured publicly available bikini pictures of Richa Chadha for her unseemly comment against the Indian Army soldiers.

“About 400 of these in my DM since morning, at the same time,” tweeted Aroor in his characteristically unruffled manner with the screenshot of an abusive message sent to him by a seemingly Congress supporter.

In another tweet, he shared a screenshot of a Twitter user named Nitin Meena with a picture of Rahul Gandhi as his profile picture. Nitin had sent misogynistic abuses and obscene messages to the India Today journalist.

Earlier yesterday, Aroor took to Twitter to tweet “Toolkitiyas” in an apparent reference to the outrage that swept the microblogging website following India Today’s coverage of the Richa Chadha controversy.

The online attack against Shiv Aroor erupted after those belonging to the left-liberal intelligentsia, including Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair, who had earlier this year attracted the wrath of Islamists after sharing a cropped video of Nupur Sharma, took to Twitter to target the journalist and India Today for featuring freely available bikini pictures of Richa Chadha in their reportage.

Soon thereafter, many left-leaning liberals who were desperately searching for an opportunity to portray Chadha as a victim pounced on the chance to attack India Today and Shiv Aroor for using the actor’s bikini pictures in their show. 

For the self-described liberals, who sanctimoniously sermonise on how individuals are free to wear what they want and how one’s attire is not an indicator of their character, the usage of Richa Chadha’s bikini images was beyond the pale as it sought to “objectify” the actor, even though none of them outraged when Chadha or any other actor for that matter, as a professional, shoot such pictures for public consumption.

How outrage against Shiv Aroor by liberals is an attempt to gaslight users and deflect attention from Richa Chadha’s Galwan jibe

The pictures for which liberals felt scandalised were shot years ago and were done with the explicit approval of actor Richa Chadha. In fact, they had remained in the public domain for years and yet, none of the professional outragers outraging now objected when media organisations or social media users used them. Through the outrage over bikini pictures, the ‘liberals’ projected their own conservative and narrow mindset, revealing their inherently patriarchal and patronising demeanour toward women.

However, as the India Today channel drew on the public repository of Chadha’s images and included some of her pictures in skimpy dresses in their reportage, the ‘liberals’ saw an opportunity to gaslight their followers and push the limelight away from the actor. Of all the things that were discussed about Richa Chadha’s tweet on Galwan, Mohammed Zubair and his ilk fretting over her swimming pool pictures betrayed their callous indifference towards the Galwan Bravehearts, who lost their lives fighting against the Chinese PLA Army but not before taking down about 40 enemy soldiers. Instead, they attacked Shiv Aroor and the India Today channel and diverted attention from Chadha’s disparaging remarks against the Galwan Bravehearts.

Even so, this was not the first attempt that the liberal ecosystem had rallied in support of the actor and sought to sweep her Galwan jibe under the carpet. While they displayed eager alacrity in criticising those who called out Chadha’s remarks, they had remained uncharacteristically muted when the controversy erupted. Hours later, as social media seethed in anger over the actor’s comments, the liberal coterie tried to dress them up as remarks against the Modi government, even though she made the jibe while quoting a serving Indian Army official.

Earlier last week, when Akshay Kumar stood up in support of the Indian Army, the entire liberal ecosystem, which was till then in a defensive mode, went into overdrive to project Chadha as a victim and attack Kumar with ‘Canadian’ jibes, although they had enthusiastically embraced unsolicited and uninformed comments made by foreigners, including popstar Rihanna, former porn star Mia Khalifa, Canada PM Justin Trudeau, and others over the farmers’ protests.

Richa Chadha mocks Galwan Bravehearts

Bollywood actress Richa Chadha took to Twitter on Wednesday, 23rd November 2022, to mock the Indian Army. In response to a statement from the Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command of the Indian Army that they are prepared to take back Pakistan-occupied Kashmir if the government issues such an order, Richa Chadha mocked the Indian Army with a Galwan taunt.

After Chadha was called out by netizens for the ‘Galwan’ jibe at the Indian Army, she issued a half-hearted apology on Twitter today. Richa Chadha took to Twitter to tender her ‘apology’, she tagged her lawyer Saveena Bedi Sachar and attached an apology message. “If the 3 words which are being dragged into controversy have offended or hurt anyone, I apologise and also say that it would sadden me if even unintentionally my words have triggered this feeling in my brothers in the Fauj of which my own Nanaji has been an illustrious part.”

Before tweeting the ‘apology’, Chadha did not leave the opportunity to play the victim as well. She, in a tweet, posted this morning claimed to have received a ‘call’. “Just received a ‘call’, had muted replies so had no idea… bye all,” Richa Chadha tweeted with the reply feature disabled.

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