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UK Court clears extradition of fugitive Nirav Modi to India, rejects his appeal

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UK Court clears extradition of fugitive Nirav Modi to India, rejects his appeal

In a big victory for the Indian government, UK High Court has ordered the extradition of fugitive Nirav Modi to India. The High Court rejected diamond merchant Nirav Modi’s petition against his extradition, paving the way to bring him back to India. A bench of Lord Justice Jeremy Stuart-Smith and Justice Robert Jay delivered the verdict. Nirav Modi is wanted in India for the $2 billion in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) loan scam case.

The High Court had reserved its judgement last month after hearing the arguments. In his argument Nirav Modi had claimed that his depression would worsen if he is sent to the “hostile environment of India”. He had said that politicians have demonised him by prejudging his guilt, and the public and the press also have already declared him guilty.

Modi had also alleged that the condition of jails in India is not good, the same argument used by Vijay Mallya in his extradition case. However, the court had already indicated that the appeal may be rejected, as Justice Robert Jay had said that India is a “friendly foreign power and we have to honour our treaty obligations”.

The court had also said that it will consider the assurances given by the Indian government, rejecting 51-year-old Nirav Modi’s claim that the assurances are not good enough. The Indian government in its argument in the court had given detailed assurances on a fair trial that Modi will face in the country. The govt has also assured daily visit by lawyers and his health check-up and treatment by a multidisciplinary medical team including private doctors.

Nirav Modi is currently lodged at Wandsworth prison in south-east London, and he had approached the High Court challenging the order of Westminster Magistrates’ Court in February this year ordering his extradition to India. He was allowed to appeal the judgement on two grounds, under Article 3 of the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) to hear arguments if it would “unjust or oppressive” to extradite him due to his mental state, and Section 91 of the Extradition Act 2003 of the UK, which is related to mental ill health.

Nirav Modi faces a CBI case in India for the large scale fraud done on Punjab National Bank using fraudulent letters of undertaking (LoUs), and he also faces an ED case for laundering of money obtained through that fraud.

Babri demolition: Allahabad HC dismisses plea filed against Lucknow Court’s order acquitting LK Advani and others

OpIndia Staff
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Babri demolition: Allahabad HC dismisses plea filed against Lucknow Court’s order acquitting LK Advani and others

On Tuesday, the Allahabad High Court dismissed a criminal plea filed against the order of the Special CBI Court in Lucknow, which had acquitted 32 people accused of criminal conspiracy to demolish the disputed structure of Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992. 

According to the reports, the bench led by Ramesh Sinha and Justice Saroj Yadav dismissed the petition after it reserved its judgment on October 31. The criminal plea challenged the Judgment of Special CBI Judge SK Yadav who had stated on September 30, 2020, that there was no conspiracy behind the demolition of the disputed structure.

The judge also then acquitted all 32 persons including prominent BJP leaders LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Uma Bharati, Kalyan Singh, etc in the case. The criminal plea dismissed today was filed by two residents of Ayodhya named Haji Mahmood Ahmad and Syed Akhlaq Ahmad. The duo claimed that they had witnessed the demolition of the disputed structure and that they were the victims of the incident.

The plea was filed in the year 2021 as a criminal revision plea. However, in July 2022, the counsel submitted that the plea was erroneously filed as a revision plea and they ought to have preferred a criminal plea.

The petitioners in the plea stated that the duo had not only witnessed the demolition but were also the victims of the incident. Syed Akhlaq Ahmad stated that his house was set ablaze and all his household assets were also burnt. “The appellants have not only suffered the loss of their historical place of worship known as Babri Masjid but have also suffered a great financial loss on account of the destruction of their houses which were not only damaged and looted by the offender and their collaborators but their houses were also put on fire and most of the belonging of their houses had also been destroyed on account of the arson and loot of their houses,” the criminal plea read.

The duo also alleged that the CBI investigating agency had adorned the role of defending the accused persons in the case. “The victims were left to accomplish the job of prosecution despite being victims having no means and help from anyone neither the State nor the Police nor the CBI,” the alleged victims had said.

In the 2000-page judgment, the court on September 30, 2020, had said that the demolition of the disputed structure was not a conspiracy and was not planned. Special Judge Yadav noted that LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi had tried to stop the mob from demolishing the structure. The court also stated that there was no criminal conspiracy behind the demolition of the disputed structure.

‘The murderer of 1984 is being hailed’: Sikh Kirtankar lashes out on organisers for inviting Kamal Nath to Guru Nanak Jayanti celebrations

OpIndia Staff
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‘The murderer of 1984 is being hailed’: Sikh Kirtankar lashes out on organisers for inviting Kamal Nath to Guru Nanak Jayanti celebrations

On the occasion of Prakash Utsav, or Guru Nanak Jayanti, an event was organised at the Khalsa College in Indore on November 8. Former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh and senior Congress leader Kamal Nath was one of the guests at the college. He was honoured by the administration by handing over the ‘saropa’ or the saffron cloth.

Sikh Kirtankar Bhai Manpreet Singh Kanpuri got angry at the administration for honouring Kamal Nath. Notably, Kamal Nath has been accused of playing a vital role in the anti-Sikh riots in 1984 that erupted following the murder of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her own bodyguards.

Kirtankar Bhai Manpreet Singh Kanpuri reprimanded the society’s secretary Jasbir Singh Gandhi in the presence of thousands of people. He said, “Shame on you, Gandhi. You glorified the one who destroyed the homes of thousands of Sikhs, who is guilty of the 1984 Sikh riots.” He added on whose behest thousands of Sikhs were murdered, shops were burnt, and the honour of mothers and sisters was taken away in 1984, and the Sikhs were respecting that person. He said, “I swear by Wahe Guru Gobind Singh that I will never come to Indore again.”

Manpreet Singh Kanpuri said it was wrong of the office bearers of the community to do politics at such an event. He said, “You people do not belong to the Sikh community as you are openly doing politics in front of Guru Sahib.” He added, “You people do not have any conscience. Our community is dead. Remember, you will suffer again. You people do not understand this.”

Meanwhile, Jasbir Singh Gandhi tried countering him and said, “If I am wrong, I will suffer. If you are wrong, you will suffer.” A video of the incident has gone viral on social media. Gurusingh Sikh Sabha issued a clarification on the matter. President of the Gurusingh Sikh Sabha, Danveer Singh Chhabra, denied any ruckus. He said Kamal Nath arrived in the afternoon, and the Kirtan program got delayed for a few minutes, which irked Kirtankar Manpreet Singh.

He further added Manpreet Singh expressed displeasure over handing over saropa to Kamal Nath as it is given only to the people of the community. Kamal Nath was to be given a memento and not saropa. Furthermore, the views expressed by Manpreet Singh were his personal views, Danveer Singh said.

Kamal Nath was reportedly in Indore to take stock of the preparations for the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’. During his presence in the city, he was invited to Khalsa College on the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. Soon after Manpreet Singh expressed his strong objection, Kamal Nath left the venue.

Manpreet Singh had supported the farmer protests

During the farmers’ protest against the now-repealed agriculture laws in 2020-21, Kirtankar Manpreet Singh Kanpuri had spoken in favour of the protests. He used to urge people to go and sit on protests with the agitators. He also visited the protest sites and organised Kirtan Sabhas.

Karnataka: Sunny Leone’s picture found on admit card of TET 2022 exam candidate, govt orders probe

OpIndia Staff
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Karnataka: Sunny Leone’s picture found on admit card of TET 2022 exam candidate, govt orders probe

A candidate for Karnataka Teacher’s Eligibility test held on November 6 was left in shock after she found her admit card bearing the picture of Bollywood actor Sunny Leone in place of her original image.

The controversy assumed epic proportion after the admit card with Sunny Leone’s picture was shared on social media, where it instantly went viral, leaving people amused by the slip-up.

The incident came to light when the candidate furnished her admit card at Rudrappa College on the day of the TET 2022 examination. A complaint was subsequently filed at the Cyber Crime Police.

According to the police, the goof-up may have happened at the time of uploading the picture of the candidate while filling out and submitting the application online. The candidate revealed that she had not applied for the form on her own and had sought help from her husband’s friend in filling up the form.

A probe has been ordered into the incident by the education department after the screenshot of the admit card went viral on the internet.

Issuing a clarification, the education department said that candidates were informed about the procedure, which involved entering the information for filling out the application through a user-generated ID and password. The ID and password are exclusive to the candidate, and no one can make changes to them. The education department made it clear that the image change is not the department’s fault and that it has no role in generating the examination hall ticket.

“The department has no role in whatever media is reporting on this issue. Yet we have requested the police to investigate the matter and initiate action against those responsible for the incident,” the Public Instruction Department was quoted as saying by PTI.

Patra Chawl Land Scam: Special PMLA Court grants bail to MP Sanjay Raut, prosecution’s appeal for stay order rejected

OpIndia Staff
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Patra Chawl Land Scam: Special PMLA Court grants bail to MP Sanjay Raut, prosecution’s appeal for stay order rejected

On Wednesday, the PMLA Court in Mumbai granted bail to Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut in a money laundering case pertaining to Rs 1034 crore Patra Chawl land scam. The bail was granted on a surety of Rs 2 lakh.

According to the reports, Raut who is a member of the Rajya Sabha and his co-accused identified as Pravin Raut were produced before the court today. During the hearing, the Additional Solicitor General requested a temporary stay of implementation of the bail decision so that the ED could file an appeal in a higher court against the order of Mumbai’s PMLA court.

“I am only asking for stay of a week. The court may grant a stay for 2-3 days also. We want to read order and procedure takes time”, the Additional Solicitor General was quoted. The Enforcement Directorate also said that it would move to the Bombay High Court against bail order of Sanjay Raut and Pravin Raut if stay was not given by the court. Sanjay Raut’s co-accused Pravin Raut has also been granted bail in the case.

As per the latest reports, the appeal by the prosecution for a stay on the bail order has been rejected.

The ED had earlier summoned the leader twice in the case failing which the officers conducted raids at his residence and questioned him in the case. As the leader failed to respond to the investigating team properly, the ED detained him for further questioning on July 31.

The case pertains to Patra Chawl in the Goregaon area of Mumbai. It is a plot of land belonging to the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority popularly known as MHADA. There is a scam of about Rs 1034 crores. Properties worth 9 crore rupees of Sanjay Raut and Rs 2 crore of Raut’s wife Varsha have been seized in the case.

It is alleged that a real estate businessman named Pravin Raut, also co-accused in the case cheated people living in Patra Chawl. A construction company had got the job of constructing 3000 flats on this plot. Of these, 672 flats were to be given to those living here. The rest were to be given to MHADA, but in 2011, parts of this big plot were sold to other builders. Till now, the original residents of the chawl have not received the flats.

Notably, the crucial involvement of Pravin Raut and his company named Guru Ashish Construction Private Limited in the case appeared when the PMC Bank scam that surfaced in Maharashtra in 2020 was under investigation. It was then found that an amount of Rs 55 lakh was given to Sanjay Raut’s wife Varsha Raut from the bank account of the builder’s wife. It is alleged that Sanjay Raut had purchased a flat in Dadar using the same money. ED has now sealed that flat.

Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut had earlier claimed that a false case had been prepared against him out of political vendetta. However, the ED denied the political vendetta charge and confirmed that the leader was completely involved in the money laundering case. “The role of Sanjay Raut’s proxy and confidant Pravin Raut has been comprehensively brought out in the supplementary charge sheet filed on September 15, 2022. In order to avoid trial Sanjay Raut has been operating behind the curtains and Pravin Raut being his front man,” the agency confirmed. The court will decide on the stay of the order of Sanjay Raut and Pravin Raut at 3 pm today.

‘I am intellectual but not anti-Indian or anti-Modi’: Shashi Tharoor after being denied a place on list of star campaigners for Gujarat and Himachal polls

OpIndia Staff
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‘I am intellectual but not anti-Indian or anti-Modi’: Shashi Tharoor after being denied a place on list of star campaigners for Gujarat and Himachal polls

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said that he is an intellectual but not anti-Indian or anti-Modi. This reaction from the Thiruvananthapuram MP came after he was denied a place on the list of the star campaigners for the upcoming assembly elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.

After losing the race for Congress President, Shashi Tharoor was forced to take a back seat. First, Mallikarjun Kharge’s new body that replaced the Congress Working Committee (CWC) sidelined him. Then he was dropped off the list of top campaigners in the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh assembly elections.

According to a report by Aaj Tak, Shashi Tharoor said, “As an intellectual, I am not against India. I have no hatred for Modi. My opposition is limited to just a government. I will continue our fight against the BJP.”

Shashi Tharoor added, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pushed several schemes that were actually started by the Congress. Congress was not given credit even once by PM Modi for those schemes. The needs of the people are the top priority.”

About being dropped off from the list, he said, “I personally wanted to campaign for the party in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, but I was not included in the list of star campaigners by the party. The party probably doesn’t need my service there. Anyway, if I go to an election state without becoming a star campaigner, then action can be taken by the Election Commission. Money can be deducted from the expenses of the candidate.”

Mallikarjun Kharge has formed another committee in place of the Congress Working Committee (CWC). 47 members have been given a place on this committee. It includes Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi among the Gandhi family members, and other family loyalists like Dr. Manmohan Singh, AK Antony, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Anand Sharma, Randeep Surjewala, Ajay Maken, Digvijay Singh, Ambika Soni, and Harish Rawat.

Mallikarjun Kharge won the election for Congress President by a significant margin against Shashi Tharoor. Kharge received 7897 votes in the poll, whereas Shashi Tharoor had to settle with 1072. The important point is that after 24 years, Congress finally received a non-Gandhi president with that win.

Mumbai: Comedian Vir Das and Netflix booked for copyrights violation, Producer Ashvin Gidwani says they stole jokes from an old show

OpIndia Staff
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Mumbai: Comedian Vir Das and Netflix booked for copyrights violation, Producer Ashvin Gidwani says they stole jokes from an old show

On Tuesday (November 8), Mumbai Police informed that it has registered an FIR based on a producer’s complaint, accusing stand-up comedian Vir Das, two other persons, and online streaming platform Netflix of infringing copyright laws in their show ‘For India’.

In his police complaint, prominent theatre producer Ashvin Gidwani has stated that his company and Vir Das signed a contract for the production of a show in October 2010.

When Gidwani saw a Netflix trailer for a new Vir Das show in January 2020, the producer allegedly noticed that certain footage had allegedly been lifted from the past programme (from 2010) with a few changes, according to a representative from Cuffe Parade police station.

Gidwani has mentioned that Vir Das had an agreement with him for a show named ‘History of India Virtten’. Das had written the script, directed and had agreed to act in it. It was eventually developed and was performed before an audience at Mumbai’s St Andrews Auditorium on September 14, 2011. The show was popular and was performed across India several times, as per Gidwani

According to the official, on November 4, a case was filed under the relevant provisions of the Copyright Act against Vir Das, two more people, and Netflix based on Gidwani’s allegation. He also stated that the matter is being investigated, but no arrests have been made so far.

Notably, a show by Vir Das was allegedly cancelled on Monday after the “Hindu Janajagruti Samiti” complained to Bengaluru police that it would hurt Hindus’ religious sentiments and reflect a negative image of India. 

‘Comedian’ Vir Das has been in the news many a time in the past over his controversial statements and tweets. On November 16, 2021, Vir Das shared a YouTube video in which he went on a rant against India at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC.

Das peddled anti-India propaganda in a 7-minute monologue disguised as comedy. He discussed politics, religion, and nationality while instilling fear that India, once built by great men, would soon become a distant memory. Vir Das’s anti-Hindu and anti-India rant had back then sparked massive outrage which compelled him to issue a clarification. Das clarified that he did not mean to insult the country and that his intention was to serve as a reminder that the country, despite its issues was “great.” Notably, Vir Das already has several cases filed against him over the controversial stand-up act.

After Ganesh Chaturthi at Hubli Idgah Maidan, AIMIM wants Tipu Jayanti and Hindu groups want Holi on the renamed Rani Chennamma Maidan

OpIndia Staff
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After Ganesh Chaturthi at Hubli Idgah Maidan, AIMIM wants Tipu Jayanti and Hindu groups want Holi on the renamed Rani Chennamma Maidan

After Ganesh Chaturthi was celebrated at the Hubli Idgah in Karnataka earlier this year, now two organizations have submitted a memorandum to the municipal officer seeking permission to celebrate Holi and Onake Obavva Jayanti by installing a statue of Kamdev at the Eidgah ground. A day earlier, the AIMIM had sought permission to celebrate Tipu Sultan Jayanti on the same ground. Earlier, the matter of the Idgah Maidan had gone to the Supreme Court in connection with consent to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi there. The Supreme Court had then permitted to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi at this place, and the Hindu festival was celebrated on the ground starting from the last week of August.

Following the SC’s approval to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi at the Hubli Idgah ground, Dalit organizations and AIMIM submitted memorandums to corporation authorities seeking permission to celebrate Tipu Jayanti there on November 10. Sri Ram Sena has also submitted a memorandum seeking permission to celebrate Kanakadasa Jayanti on this ground.

After that, two Hindu organisations approached the authorities seeking permission to celebrate Holi on the ground. They also want to install a statue of Kamdev at the venue for the occasion.

Mayor Viresh Anchatagiri said, “Religious activities can be done at the Idgah ground but no big leader will be allowed.” Karnataka Home Minister Araga Gyanendra said, “This is a matter concerned to the Hubli Dharwad Municipal Corporation and the mayor and the Karnataka chief minister will look into it.”

In the meanwhile, the ground is being renamed Rani Chennamma Maidan, after Rani Chennamma, the queen of Kittur who led an armed rebellion against the East India Company in 1824. Reportedly, Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) Mayor Viresh Anchatgeri has issued an order to rename the ground. Right Wing organisations were demanding for the Idgah Ground to be named as Rani Chennamma Maidan for a long time.

Mayor Viresh Anchatgeri said that the decision was taken in the general body meeting as it is HDMC property, and the ground didn’t have any official name.

In August, the Karnataka High Court upheld the Dharwad Municipal Commissioner’s order allowing the Ganesh Chaturthi festival to be held at Idgah grounds in the city. Dismissing the petition filed by Anjuman-e-Islam, the order had said the land was the property of the Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Commission and they can allot the land to whomsoever they want. Later this issue reached the Supreme Court. With the Supreme Court’s nod, the Ganesh Chaturthi festival was celebrated on the ground. This was the first time when a Hindu festival was celebrated there.

The Hubli Idgah ground has been the subject of a contentious legal battle for many years. In 2010, the Supreme Court ruled that the Hubli-Dharawad Municipal Corporation is the sole owner of the ground. The land was given to the Islamic group Anjuman-e-Islam in 1921 on a 999-year lease so that they might do prayers there. Following independence, several shops were established there. This was contested in court, and a protracted legal battle ensued that came to an end in 2010 with the ruling of the Supreme Court. The apex court had given permission for twice-yearly prayers and for no permanent structures to be erected on the land.

DGP orders FIR against ‘The Kerala Story’ after journalist forwarded complaint to CM Pinarayi, movie shows how thousands of women joined ISIS: Details

OpIndia Staff
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DGP orders FIR against ‘The Kerala Story’ after journalist forwarded complaint to CM Pinarayi, movie shows how thousands of women joined ISIS: Details

On Tuesday, Anil Kant, the Director General of Police in Kerala, ordered Thiruvananthapuram police commissioner Sparjan Kumar to file a complaint against the crew of the film named ‘The Kerala Story’ for allegedly presenting the state as a safe shelter for terrorists. The Police said that the DGP’s direction was based on a complaint sent to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

According to the reports, the teaser of the movie which was released on November 3 stated that over 32,000 women from the state of Kerala were converted and most of them were transported to Islamic State-held territories in Syria and Afghanistan over the course of a decade. The film is directed by Sudipto Sen and produced by VA Shah.

Two days ago, BR Arvindakshan, a Tamil Nadu-based journalist, wrote to the nation’s film certification board president Prasoon Joshi and others, requesting that the film be banned until the creators provide sufficient proof to back up their allegation. The complaint was also submitted to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who later referred it to the DGP.

In the letter to the CM, the journalist mentioned that the movie is against the unity and integrity of the country which would also tarnish the intelligence agencies. The Police also examined the teaser to claim that several assertions were made without any truth or evidence, with the intent of tarnishing the state’s image and fueling enmity among different communities.

The teaser also attracted criticism from Congress leader VD Satheesan who said that the movie is a ‘clear case of misinformation and ‘Sangh Parivar agenda’. “I have seen that teaser. It’s a clear case of misinformation. There is nothing like that happening in Kerala. This is to tarnish the image of Kerala in front of other states. This is a Sangh Parivar agenda. They are consistently trying to spread hatred among people. On what basis is the film made, and on what information?” he was quoted.

He also said that there is no reliable evidence concerning the 32,000 missing females in Kerala and that no such record exists with the state police. He further demanded a ban on the film and asked the state CM to take action in the case failing which the party would approach the Court. Reportedly, a case has been registered under Section 153 A&B (promoting disharmony and enmity between different groups based on the ground of faith) and other sections of the Indian penal code.

On November 3, the teaser of the new film ‘The Kerala Story’ was released. The film depicts the heartbreaking and gut-wrenching stories of 32000 women from Kerala who were radicalized to join the ISIS (Islamic States of Iraq and Syria) terrorist ranks. It is notable that many of these Muslim women from Kerala joining ISIS were converted with the motive of sending them to the terrorist organization ISIS.

The trailer shows a Muslim woman in front of the international border narrating her story. The character played by actress Adah Sharma says that earlier she used to be Shalini Unnikrishnan and wanted to serve the people as a nurse. She further tells that she was forcefully converted to Islam and renamed Fatima Ba, and subsequently sent to ISIS to become a terrorist and ultimately get locked up in an Afghanistan jail.

VHP striving aggressively for enactment of nationwide anti-conversion laws: General Secretary Milind Parande

OpIndia Staff
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VHP striving aggressively for enactment of nationwide anti-conversion laws: General Secretary Milind Parande

As the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) is nearing its 60 years anniversary, VHP general secretary Milind Parande on Tuesday said that the organisation has launched a large-scale membership enrolment campaign and is striving aggressively to ensure the enactment of anti-conversion laws at the national level. 

Parande also boasted that the VHP has succeeded in ensuring laws against religious conversion in states like Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh Jharkhand, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, and Gujarat. 

The VHP leader also pointed out that the anti-conversion law needs to be enacted in Tamil Nadu as well which is facing a wider threat of illegal Christian conversion drives.

“It is our wish that a similar law be passed in Tamil Nadu, where there is a high risk of illegal Christian conversion activity.” And that is why we will take this issue up,” Parande told the media.

Parande stated that the VHP is conducting awareness campaigns over the challenges faced by the Hindus such as religious conversions, cow slaughter, and the declining Hindu population in various areas.

“The VHP will reach the Hindu society about these challenges.” VHP currently runs 5,700 service projects in health, education, women empowerment, and skill development, and hopes to start service projects in every district in the country within the next two years,” he said.

As a part of its nationwide campaign ‘Hitchintak Abhiyan’ which aims to Hindus across the country, especially in the villages, VHP will be reaching out to over 2,000 villages and cities in Tamil Nadu.

“The organisation aims to reach out to 2,000 villages and cities in Tamil Nadu, with the goal of recruiting 2 lakh new members as part of the nation’s one crore membership drive, the Hitchintak Abhiyan, which began on November 6. During the next two weeks, the VHP will connect with over one crore Hindus by visiting 1.5 lakh villages across the country,” he said.

Apart from anti-conversion laws, the VHP leader also emphasized that Hindu temples should be freed from government control, citing allegations that the southern state governments used temple property and funds for non-Hindu purposes. This was seen in Srisailam and Tirupati, where those who did not believe in Hindu deities were given jobs and temple lands. “Conversion activities are taking place on temple grounds,” Parande asserted.

The VHP general secretary also welcomed the Karnataka government’s decision to hand over temple management to Hindus, he said appropriate laws should be drafted, incorporating even the dispute mechanism in temple management as a module to be adopted.

Notably, Parande expressed his displeasure over the extension of reservation benefits to members of the SC ST who had converted to Christianity or Islam and advocated for strict adherence to the Pune Pact of 1932, which allowed benefits to be extended only to Hindu Scheduled Castes.

He suggested that those who convert to another religion and leave Hinduism should not be granted any sort of caste benefits. The same should be applicable to Tribals who somehow convert or quit Hindu ways of worship and traditions. 

In response to the ban on RSS route marches in Tamil Nadu, he stated that “the MK Stalin-led state government’s restriction of RSS rallies is nothing more than Muslim appeasement.” The DMK government should reconsider its stance.”

On the progress of the Shri Ram Temple construction in Ayodhya, Parande stated that construction on the Sri Ram temple would be completed by December 2023, and the idol of Ram Lalla would be installed in the temple’s sanctum sanctorum in January 2024.

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