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As Western media maligns India over Ram Mandir, here’s how Greece reclaimed churches turned into mosques under Ottoman rule

Anurag
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As Western media maligns India over Ram Mandir, here’s how Greece reclaimed churches turned into mosques under Ottoman rule

Greece’s history has diverse cultural aspects prominently featured by the Byzantine Empire and Ottoman rule. The country has a complex heritage that is visible via architectural landscape. Numerous churches were once converted into mosques during the Ottoman occupation. Later, they were reclaimed and restored to their original religious purpose.

As the Western media unleashes its propaganda onslaught against India over the completion of the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha in Ayodhya, it is pertinent to highlight how Greece, too, had reclaimed churches that had once fallen to the Islamic despotism and converted to mosques under the Ottoman Empire. Several Western media outlets have fallen over themselves to malign the Indian government over the completion of Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha, making disingenuous claims and resorting to obscurantism as they downplayed the legacy of Muslim rule in India that involved usurping temples and destroying the presiding deities within them to humiliate and punish the ‘idol-worshipping kafirs’.

So while the Western media make a beeline to defame India, it is worth revisiting how Greece, a European country intimately cognisant of the horrors of the Islamic rule, took measures to restore its Christian legacy and rich cultural heritage that predated the oppressive Ottoman rule it had to endure for centuries.

The Byzantine Empire lasted for thousands of years and fell to the Ottomans in the 15th century. The period marks a profound transformation in the religious and cultural landscape of the region. When Ottomans established their rule in Greece, they brought a significant change to convert churches to mosques. It is a practice that has been common among the Islamic rule over centuries regardless of geography. Wherever Islamic rulers went, they destroyed religious places that stood for hundreds of years to build mosques over them or simply converted the buildings into mosques. It was done to reflect the religious identity of the “new ruler” of the region and humiliate the natives by destroying their religious places that often served as the epicentre of their civilisational history.

X user Paul Antonopoulos, a PhD Candidate, wrote a thread on the Churches that were once converted by Ottomans to mosques and were later converted back to their original religious purpose. In 1493, Agios Demetrios’s church in Thessaloniki was converted into a mosque. The church was built in the 4th century AD. It was reclaimed and converted back to a church in 1949.

Hagia Sophia Church in Monemvasia was constructed in 1150. It was turned into a mosque in 1715. Later, in 1827, repair works began to turn it back into a church.

The construction of Hagia Sophia in Mystras dates back to the 1300s. It was converted to a mosque by the Ottoman invaders. The exact year of its conversion into a mosque is unknown. It was converted back into a church immediately after Greece’s independence in 1830.

Agios Spyridon church in Rhodes was constructed in the 1200s. It was turned into a mosque in 1522. It was turned back into a church after the Ottoman Empire fell.

The Church of Panagia Chalkeon in Thessaloniki was constructed in 1028. It was converted into a mosque in 140 and restored to a church in 1934.

Holy Trinity Church in Rhodes was constructed between 1365 and 1374 as a catholic church. Paul wrote, “[It was] converted into a mosque under the name Khan Zade Mescidi by the Ottomans, then turned into an Orthodox church when Greece annexed the island after World War II.”

The Church of Prophet Elijah in Thessaloniki was constructed in the 1300s. In 1430, it was converted into a mosque and restored into a church in the early 1900s.

Church of Saint Nicholas in Chania was a Catholic church built around 1320. It was converted into a mosque by the Ottomans. It was reclaimed in 1918 and turned into an Orthodox Church.

In the case of India, the Mughals did the same with temples associated with Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Hundreds of temples were razed down to build mosques. For example, the Hindu Temple of Bhagwan Ram was demolished in Ayodhya by Babur to build a mosque in the mid-1500s. The disputed structure stood on the spot for almost 500 years. Hindus could reclaim the land and build the Bhavya Ram Mandir after the Supreme Court of India handed the disputed piece of land to Hindus in November 2019. The temple was open to the public in January 2024 after Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha on 22nd January.

Cultural Significance of Reclaiming Religious Structures

The reclamation of religious places is about more than just restoring the buildings. It is a representation of the reclamation of the historical identity and cultural memory of the region. The reclaimed structures stand as a symbol of resilience and continuity. They create a bridge between the past that was once thought to have been lost, the present and the future. They serve as a reminder of the historical and cultural unification inherited by the region’s people. The reclamation of religious structures not only provides a sense of justice but also reignites the hope and desire to move forward among the people who have suffered atrocities for centuries.

The journey of reclaimed religious buildings, whether in Greece, India, or any part of the world, narrates the story of resilience, collaboration, and respect for diversity. Such reclamations often highlight the complex but essential parts of history, culture and religion. They underscore the importance of preserving the true history of the region to ensure future generations can experience them in their proper forms.

Balbir Singh, first ‘Karsevak’ to attack Babri dome converted to Islam to atone for demolition: Karsevaks dispel long-running lie of Islamist-leftist media

राहुल पाण्डेय
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Balbir Singh, first ‘Karsevak’ to attack Babri dome converted to Islam to atone for demolition: Karsevaks dispel long-running lie of Islamist-leftist media

On Monday (22 January 2024), the idol of Ram Lalla was consecrated in the Ram temple built in the religious city Ayodhya. Many attribute the success of this day to the Ram devotees who gave up their lives for the reclamation of the Ram Janmabhoomi, the struggle which began during the Mughal era and stretched for almost 500 years. In 1990, the Mulayam Singh-led government inflicted more brutalities on the devotees of Lord Ram than even the Mughal tyrant Babur.

The families of hundreds of such Karsevaks who braved the brutalities and contributed to the 500-year-long struggle to reclaim their sacred land were extended a special invitation to visit the Pran Pratistha ceremony.

While the world has been riveted by Ram Lalla’s homecoming, OpIndia focused on the untold tales of these hundreds of Karsevaks, who happily gave up their lives for the Ram Janmbhoomi movement. Today, however, we have tried to dispel a long-running lie being peddled by the Islamist-leftist media about this one particular ‘Karsevak’.

For years, several Islamists and the leftist-liberal ecosystem have been peddling a story around ‘Karsevak’ Balbir Singh, the person who reportedly made the first strike on the disputed Babri structure on December 6, 1992. These media outlets for years have reported how he suffered the worst bout of paranoia for his contribution towards the demolition of the Babri structure and seemingly converted to Islam and took up the name Mohammed Aamir.

While the OpIndia team was in Ayodhya, reporting from the ground, we dispelled this myth that has been propagated by Islamists, the leftist-liberal echelon and their friendly media for many years by looking through documents and speaking with witnesses.

What the Islamists and leftist-liberals have been claiming?

Many media organizations had published interviews of Balbir who converted to Islam and became Mohammad Aamir. In those videos, Balbir had described himself as a resident of Panipat, Haryana. He had claimed that he was a member of Shiv Sena, but Hindu organizations filled his mind with hatred against Muslims, due to which he later joined Bajrang Dal.

Balbir claimed that he was forcibly taken to Ayodhya on December 1, 1992. On December 6, 1992, he was the first to strike on the central dome of the disputed Babri structure. He also claimed that he was felicitated publicly after coming back from demolition, but his parents were furious at him. Balbir further claimed that after the demolition, he was paranoid with the fear that Muslims wouldn’t spare him for his act and to atone for Babri’s demolition and placate his family’s rage, he decided to convert to Islam and vowed to build 100 mosques across the country.

Around five years back, reports emerged wherein Balbir confirmed that he had contributed to the construction of ninety-two mosques. He further declared that he would soon complete the task of building the 100 mosques he had promised. Balbir Singh alias Mohammed Aamir went around claiming to be an ex-Karsevak after his conversion to Islam.

Balbir, during those days, became the eye candy of leftist media outlets. Media outlets like Aaj Tak also interviewed Balbir Singh aka Mohammed Aamir. Later it was reported that he left Haryana and started living in a rented house in Hafiz Baba Nagar in Hyderabad, Telangana. In the year 2021, reports emerged that Balbir Singh aka Mohammed Aamir passed away under mysterious circumstances.

Reports suggested that the local public informed police after a foul smell was emanating from his rented house in Baba Nagar, upon which a team from Kanchanbagh police reached his residence and found him dead.

Saints of Ayodhya called the reports a conspiracy

OpIndia during its visit to Ayodhya, interacted with several eyewitnesses of the Babri Masjid demolition on December 6, 1992. Speaking with us, Mahesh Das, the Mahant of Nayak Temple, which is situated in the Pramod neighbourhood of Ayodhya, called the reports “a bunch of lies.” He asserted himself to have witnessed the full December 6, 1992, Karseva incident.

Mahant Mahesh Das asserted that only a small number of people ascended the dome, although thousands of devotees were present there at the time of the incident. He said he remembered distinctly that Balbir alias Md Aamir, who claimed that he struck the Babri dome first, was not the one who did it.

Mahant Mahesh Das (Image Source: Hindi OpIndia)

Some other residents of Ayodhya, namely Hanumanth, Ajay Das, Raghuveer, Ashutosh, Meera, and Kapil also stated that they too are aware of what exactly transpired on December 6, 1992. All of them asserted to have never heard of any Balbir alias Mohammad Aamir, who was directly involved in the incident on December 6, 1992, outside of the media discourse. All of these people called the news that was going viral an illicit attempt to promote religious conversions, and they went on to demand that the government take tough measures against those who disseminated such false information.

Karsevak named in CBI’s FIR also called the news a rumour

To confirm the veracity of these reports, OpIndia looked for the Karsevak whose name was included in the FIR filed by the CBI in connection with the December 6, 1992 incident. On studying the FIR we got to know that Ramji Gupta, a resident of Tanda (now Ambedkar Nagar district), which is close to Ayodhya district, was the first person arrested in the incident on December 6, 1992. OpIndia got in touch with Ramji Gupta, who too confirmed that no one by the name of Balbir was amongst the Karsevaks who demolished the Babri dome. He said that he knew all those Karsevaks who were involved in the demolition by their name and face and Balbir Singh was not amongst them.

Vowing to be an eyewitness to every single moment, Ramji Gupta said that no Karsevak can ever convert to Islam and this particular news that Balbir Singh was the first to strike the Babri dome and that he later converted to Islam was nothing but a devious and well-thought-out conspiracy.

Ramji Gupta speaking to OpIndia (Image source: Hindi OpIndia)

‘I was near the dome, not Balbir’: Karsevak busting media lies about Balbir Singh

We further spoke with a Muzaffarnagar resident named Ambrish Goyal. Goyal had participated in the December 6, 1992, Kar Seva. He said that several groups from all across the country had come at that time and that he knew most of the Karsevaks who came from western Uttar Pradesh and the surrounding areas.

Ambrish said that he had seen the picture of Balbir Singh alias Mohammad Aamir on social media. He declared his complete confidence that the individual claiming to be the one who had first struck the Babri Dome was not even in the vicinity of the Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992, let alone being involved in the demolition. Ambrish Goyal described these reports as an attempt to defame the Karsevaks and vowed to file a complaint against those spreading the malicious news with the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath.

Karsevak Ambrish Goyal (Image source: Hindi OpIndia)

OpIndia spoke to the National President of Rashtriya Hindu Dal, Roshan Pandey, who recently made headlines after he sent a letter to Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav informing that they will install a statue of his father and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav in the mosque which will be constructed in Dhannipur, Ayodhya. Pandey said, “I have carefully studied all the government documents and court proceedings related to the demolition of the disputed structure. There is no mention of any Balbir from Haryana even in a single place in any of the documents.”

Further recalling the day the dispute Babri structure was demolished, Roshan Pandey added that those who were not even involved in the demolition but were only present there, their names were also added as accused by the then Congress government, why then Balbir Singh’s name was not even mentioned in the FIR?

Explaining the rationale behind his name not being there in the FIR, Pandey added that Balbir Singh alias Mohammed Aamir, who himself appeared before the media and spoke about being the first to strike the Babbri dome and then spoke about converting to Islam to atone for the Babri demolition, was not named in the FIR because obviously, he was not even present there at the time of the demolition.

He said that media organizations should desist from propagating such conspiracies against Hindus.

National President of Rashtriya Hindu Dal, Roshan Pandey (Image source: Hindi OpIndia)

If he was such a big devotee of Ram then why did he not come in 1990?

Shubham Hindu, a resident of Etah and national president of an organization called Hindu Ekta Group, spoke to OpIndia on this matter. Shubham said the news that Balbir Singh converted to Islam to atone for the Babri demolition was completely bogus and just a figment of the mind of some conspirators.

Shubham questioned the media outlets that featured Balbair’s interview, and said, “If Balbir was such a devoted follower of Ram, why didn’t he reach Ayodhya to do Kar Seva in 1990 when the Mulayam Singh Yadav led government order to open fire at the kar sevaks.”

Shubham Hindu said that he intends to expose the conspirators who spread false information by writing a letter to the government. Shubham also wants an investigation to be conducted as to how much damage the conspirators have caused to the Hindu society by making such false news viral.

Islamic scholar Maulana Kaleem Siddiqui accused of running India’s ‘biggest religious conversion syndicate’ was Balbir alias Mohammed Aamir’s mentor

In the interview, Balbir Singh asserted that after meeting Islamic scholar Maulana Kaleem Siddiqui who has been accused of running India’s ‘biggest religious conversion syndicate’, he was radically drawn towards Islam. Balbir said that after staying in Kaleem Siddiqui’s madarsa for some days, he converted to Islam.

Meanwhile, a report by Jansatta also said that Balbir went to Deoband to assassinate Kaleem Siddiqui after the disputed Babri structure was demolished, but he later changed his mind. However, Jansatta had not revealed the time of this incident.

Maulana Kaleem Siddiqui, who is one of the biggest clerics from western UP, was arrested on charges of religious conversions by the state’s anti-terrorist squad in 2021. According to Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist, Kaleem Siddiqui was running India’s ‘biggest religious conversion syndicate’, and had been pushing several people into conversion since 2016. In fact, his criminal network was found to be spread to Mumbai and Gujarat. He has been in jail for a long time and the UP ATS is still collecting evidence against him.

Balbir Singh kept changing his statement

Media houses like Jansatta asserted that Balbir had gone to assassinate Maulana Kalim Siddiqui and had changed his mind there. However, in an interview, Balbir stated that fear had taken hold of him following the demolition of Babri and that he had gone to Kaleem Siddiqui to obtain an amulet that would protect him from the fear. Even though he was sick of seeing so many specialists and commentators, his worry persisted.

Balbir was heard claiming in a video interview that went viral at the time that he had heard about Kaleem Siddiqui from someone else and that, after a lot of imploring, he got the chance to meet Kaleem Siddiqui, who indoctrinated him and assisted him in converting to Islam. In a matter of days, Balbir became the media’s poster boy. Balbir was sent to Hyderabad, where he took up the management of Deeni Idara, an Islamic education centre. It was here that Balbir was married to a Muslim girl.

In July 2021, Balbir passed away under mysterious circumstances. This death happened while the Uttar Pradesh ATS was hard at work gathering proof against Kaleem Siddiqui. In September of 2021, Kaleem was taken into custody. With his arrest, the UP ATS busted his nationwide conversion racket, in which most of the victims were from the Hindu community.

Balbir was not a Shiv Sainik, will send legal notice

Institutions like Lallantop had claimed that the converted Balbir was a Shiv Sainik. To confirm these claims, OpIndia spoke to Haryana state youth Shiv Sena chief Rituraj. Rituraj clearly termed the news of Balbir being a Shiv Sainik as complete nonsense. Rituraj said that such news was spread as part of a deep conspiracy to tarnish the image of the organisation.

Rituraj said, “We’re proud that many Shiv Sainiks actively contributed to the destruction of the structure, which was a stigma, drawing inspiration from Bala Saheb Thackeray. However, it’s unacceptable that a conspiracy was hatched to damage our reputation by labelling individuals like Balbir as Shiv Sainiks. Individuals such as Balbir have never belonged to the Shiv Sena and neither do they now nor will they in the future.”

Bajrang Dal mulling to file an FIR to expose the conspiracy

Lalit Bhati, the leader of the Bajrang Dal state students in Haryana, also spoke to OpIndia about this entire issue. Lalit Bhati informed us that he had also learned about these stories from various media outlets and social media. He said that he had gathered information from his sources and he was absolutely sure that Balbir Singh was never a Karsevak.

Lalit asserted, “After the demolition of the disputed structure, Muslim groups hatched a big conspiracy and made a person named Balbir their pawn. Balbir became their easy prey because he belonged to a family that was loyal to the Nehru-Gandhi family. He was linked to Babri, which he most likely never even visited.

Lalit Bhati claimed that by using Balbir as a scapegoat, the conspirators intended to promote Islamisation and aid in the fundraising efforts for the building of mosques. Since Lalit thinks that a conspiracy of this kind cannot continue, he said he would bring this up at the organization’s meeting and expose the issue by filing a formal complaint.

Bulldozer action in Mumbai: Illegal constructions of the accused razed after Islamists attack Hindus in Mira Road during Ram Mandir rally

OpIndia Staff
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Bulldozer action in Mumbai: Illegal constructions of the accused razed after Islamists attack Hindus in Mira Road during Ram Mandir rally

On Tuesday (23rd January), the Mumbai Police and the Mumbai administration took stern action against the Islamists who attacked the Hindus on 21st January ahead of the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya. The Hindus were attacked in the Mira Road region, Mumbai, as they celebrated the return of Lord Ram to his home in Ayodhya after 500 years.

As per reports, the illegal construction of the accused persons involved in the Mira Road clash was razed to the ground in the presence of Maharashtra Security Force and Mumbai Police.

In the incident reported from Mira Road, Mumbai, Islamists hurt the Hindu religious sentiments by tearing flags bearing images of Lord Hanuman. OpIndia contacted the Police to know the details of the incident. The police confirmed that around 13 persons have been arrested in the case, however, IO Dilip Rakh revealed no information about the accused persons given the sensitivity of the case.

Following Police action on the accused, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis reiterated the government’s firm commitment to “zero tolerance” against those who disturb law and order in the state.

Informing about the Police action, Deputy CM Fadnavis stated that he had taken detailed information about the incident that took place in NayaNagar in Mira Bhayender.

He added that Police were instructed to take strictest action against the culprits who were involved in yesterday’s attack. 

The incident took place on 21st January at around 10:30 at night. OpIndia obtained an FIR in the case in which the complainant mentioned that around 50-60 people from a specific community threatened him and attacked his car while he was traveling in the Mira Road region. The Islamists attacked his car with rods and also took down the Hindu flag that he had been placed atop his car.

The complainant further stated that the accused persons saw Lord Hanuman’s poster on the car bonnet and puked on it. “They raised slogans of Allah-hu-Akhbar, hit me on my head with an iron rod, and tried to kill me. They also saw a poster of Lord Hanuman on the car and puked on the poster. This has hurt our Hindu religious sentiments. They even pelted stones at women and small kids who accompanied me for a ride,” the FIR read.

The said complaint has been filed under sections 307 (attempt to murder), 341 (Punishment for wrongful restraint), 295A (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), 153A (Promoting enmity between different groups), 141 (Unlawful assembly), 143, 147, 149 and 427 (Mischief causing damage) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

The situation in Maharashtra’s Mumbai continues to remain tense following the violence in Mira Road. The Police have been deployed at several locations to avoid any untoward incident from happening. 

Anti-India, anti-Hindu French scribe served notice over ‘malicious’ work: Who is Vanessa Dougnac who could lose her OCI card? Details

Pragya Bakshi Sharma
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Anti-India, anti-Hindu French scribe served notice over ‘malicious’ work: Who is Vanessa Dougnac who could lose her OCI card? Details

The Union Home Ministry has issued a notice to French journalist Vanessa Dougnac asking why her Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card should not be withdrawn. The notice has reportedly been issued over her “malicious” work which has created a “biased negative perception” of India and over alleged violation of visa rules.

Vanessa Dougnac currently resides in India. She is married to an Indian and has been living here for 22 years. She has been given a deadline of 15-days due to end 2nd February for a response failing which she could lose her OCI status and would have to leave the country and apply for a visa to return.

Reports quote the FRRO notice served to Dougnac, which states that she has been “undertaking journalistic activities without any special permission as required under Citizenship Act 1955 and rules/regulations issued thereunder”.

Screen grab of Vanessa Dougnac’s X account

The Foreigners Registration Office (FRRO) notice of the MHA was issued to her on 18th January.

As per the notice, Dougnac’s reportage was “malicious and critical in manner that they create biased negative perception about India”.

It also accused her work’s ability to “provoke disorder and disturb peace in certain sections of the society.”

Vanessa Dougnac’s work permit was cancelled in October 2022 and has not been reporting since then at least within India. She has been reporting from Sri Lanka, Maldives, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal largely for French Newspaper Le Croix (The Cross), which is known for spreading fake news.

The Print quoting government sources said that Le Croix has published reports authored by Dougnac which have been factually wrong. This has been taken up by the concerned department, as per Print report.

Moreover, the sources have said that Dougnac is in “serious violation” of her visa rules despite the same communicated to her repeatedly.

If Dougnac does not respond to the FRRO notice, it will reportedly be presumed that she has “nothing to say in the matter and appropriate legal action under the Citizenship Act 1955 shall be taken by the competent authority without any further notice,” as per the notice.

The Print has quoted sources who claim that Dougnac is working with a team of lawyers to issue a timely reply.

Fake news peddler Ashok Swain has also tweeted on this development crying victim. Taking to X, the troll wrote, “They started it with me 4 years ago – Now it has become a trend.” Notably, Ashok Swain’s X account is withheld in India and his OCI card was cancelled in 2022.

Ashok Swain’s post on X on notice served to Vanessa Dougnac over her OCI card withdrawal

A journalist with Financial Times, John Reed, who has often written bitterly about the majority-elected Narendra Modi government, also decried the notice issued to Dougnac. “French journalist issued notice for withdrawal of OCI card over ‘malicious’ reporting, visa violations. Vanessa Dougnac has been in #India for 22 years,” he whined.

Heaps of anti-India, anti-Hindu reporting by Vanessa Dougnac

Vanessa Dougnac has extensively authored reports on India’s COVID-19 situation, particularly in the period before the cancellation of her visa.

All of Dougnac’s reports on India’s COVID-19 were heavily sensationalised adding to the uncertainty, fear, loss and pain of Indians.

Dougnac’s reports added to such narrative of the ecosystem that was set on damaging India’s global image even as the government took daily measures followed by press briefings to counter fake news and prevent collateral damage that may result out of the then prevailing situation.

In a French news website, a report published under Vanessa Dougnac’s name was titled “The Ganges, ghost cemetery of health carnage” – a title that shamelessly insults the revered Mother Ganga (river). She also used the word “illegal cemetery” for the Holy River saying that “Ganges symbolizes the ravages of the epidemic out of control.”

Here’s how she described the largest Indian state in this report: “The epicenter of social and political violence in India, the rural state of Uttar Pradesh has been hit hard.”

She quotes a so-called political scientist in this report, Gilles Verniers, who is thoroughly and motivated anti-Indian. Naturally, Dougnac has found voices that will target the UP government in this report. She goes onto identify the CM’s religion and identity and links him to PM Modi to malign them both.

A 4-minute 7-second-long video report filed by Dougnac on Covid-19 was published by the French media portal Le Temp. The highly sensationalised video was enough to bring down the morale of any number of Indians who would have watched it.

The video showed death and more death, as if to rub it in our faces when hope was most needed. This wasn’t reporting, this was exploiting the news that had become the life of many Indians.

Dougnac also published a report decrying the arrest of a staunch India-hater and anti-Hindu Disha Ravi. This was published in La Croix, the newspaper/website that also maligned India’s global image during the pandemic by publishing fake news about PM Modi and the country. Le Croix has also published anti-Semitic reports in the past.

Disha Ravi, a self-proclaimed climate change activist for the want of fame, was arrested after the toolkit leaked by brattish environmentalist Greta Thunberg showed her involvement in manufacturing the notorious farmers’ protests which led to casualties.

Dougnac’s report on her arrest is titled, “India: the arrest of climate activist Disha Ravi, a “chilling message to youth”.” Similar such reports have been published by Dougnac in La Croix on the Farmers’ Protests too, all maligning India and Hindus.

Vanessa Dougnac has targeted Hindus through her reports on Love Jihad in Le Croix. One such report is titled “The ‘Love Jihad, ghost crusade of Hindu nationalists”.

A full-blown Hindu bashing, targeting and maligning followed in this report without actual proof to support Dougnac’s basic argument that love jihad is a conspiracy theory. The report takes one case of an inter-religious marriage and follows it with anti-Hindu holier-than-thou rant.

On Kashmir, Dougnac believes that it was the temporary internet ban that had “stifled” the valley and not terrorism, largely Pakistan-sponsored.

Going by the tone of her report, she finds the revocation of Article 370 abrupt and wrong. She quotes Pakistan-sympathisers in this report.

A post from 2019 on X shows the malafide intentions of the likes of Vanessa Dougnac.

An economist Jean-Joseph Boillot wrote on X, formerly Twitter, ““The largest democracy in the world” at #Kashmir under the leadership of PM Modi. Ah, there are fewer demonstrators or journalists than at #HongKong except our correspondent Vanessa Dougnac who brought back these photos for the next Modi-Macron meeting.”

Vanessa Dougnac’s anti-Hindu face exposes itself completely when she begins a report on the French people residing in India by maligning a Hindu religious ritual.

Dougnac has also used the chilling rape and murder of Nirbhaya to malign Indian men altogether by inciting stereotypes using leftist dictionary words like “patriarchal”. This after the woman herself is married to an Indian and been living amongst Indians.

Fed and fattened by UPA

Vanessa Dougnac has been a South Asia correspondent for the French news magazine Le Point. She arrived in India in 1998 reportedly as a backpacker.

She has reportedly researched on the Ambanis and on Gujarat in the past. She has been a member of the Indian Women’s Press Corps.

As per a report dated 2010, Dougnac had said that visas are non-issue for her and that she had a person of Indian Origin (PIO) card since she was married to an Indian.

In this report, she was quoted saying, “Nobody asks me anything. And I can actually work on my stories instead of doing the rounds of government offices.”

Attacked with sharp weapons, houses destroyed, shops looted: Hindus flee their homes as atrocities on minorities continue after Bangladesh elections

OpIndia Staff
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Attacked with sharp weapons, houses destroyed, shops looted: Hindus flee their homes as atrocities on minorities continue after Bangladesh elections

The minority Hindu community in Bangladesh has been living in fear ever since the federal elections in Bangladesh were conducted on 7th January this year.

As per a report by the Bangladeshi newspaper ‘The Daily Ittefaq’, the Hindus had to brave arson attacks, forcing many to flee their homes.

There have been communal attacks across Bangladesh including Faridpur, Sirajganj, Bagerhat, Jhenaidah, Pirojpur, Kushtia, Madaripur, Lalmonirhat, Daudkandi, Thakurgaon, Munshiganj and Gaibandha.

Screengrab of the news report by The Daily Ittefaq

On 7th January 2023, two Hindus named Piplu Saha and Ranjan Saha, supporters of the Awami League party, were brutally attacked by sharp weapons at the Begum Amena Sultan Govt. Girls’ High School in Daudkandi in Comilla.

On the same day, Islamists associated with the Awami League attacked the homes of Hindu supporters of independent candidate AK Azad in the Faridpur-3 constituency of Bangladesh.

According to The Daily Ittefaq, about 15 people were injured in Majhipara in the post-poll communal violence. Two Hindus namely Suresh Chowdhury and Pankaj Chand were attacked by Awami League supporters in Boalkhali Upazila in Chittagong.

Attacks on Hindu community continue unabated

The shop of Bhogirath Chandra Roy and his son Rajesh Roy was also vandalised by local leader Moshiur Rahman Mridha along with his nephew Sifat Mridha.

On 8th January 2023, Rajesh Roy was attacked while he was en route to the market. The Hindu man was hacked with sharp weapons. He suffered injuries to his eyes and knee.

Bangladeshi freedom fighter Keshab Lal Mandal informed that houses, shops and businesses of Hindu community leaders, who supported independent candidates, were attacked on the night of polling. MP Habibun Nahar is accused of orchestrating the attack.

Islamists associated with the Awami League attacked four Hindu houses in Kulipatti village in the Gaibandha-5 constituency. They took away 8 goats, amounting to Tk 5 lakh from the house of a Hindu man named Shibu Roy.

The Hindu family is said to be a supporter of independent candidate Farzana Rabi. On the following day, it came to light that the houses of the Hindu communities were attacked and looted in Debhatta and Sirajganj.

The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council informed that minorities were intimidated with batons and sharp weapons in Lalmonirhat upazila on 6th January 2023.

It added that two Hindus named Roshani Roy and Jaydev Barman were attacked in Thakurgaon-1 constituency by BNP-Jamaat workers while they were returning home after casting vote at Tenai Tola Primary School Center. Many Hindus have been forced to flee their homes.

Bangladeshi Hindus protest against communal violence

On Saturday (20th January), the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad formed a human chain in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka, demanding a complete cessation of the post-poll communal attacks against the Hindu community in Bangladesh.

Demonstrations were also organised in Khulna and Barisal. They have demanded immediate action against the culprits and ensure the safety and security of the minority community.

Although the administration has taken action in this regard, the situation is far from being under control.

Bangladesh: Masked man sets 150-year-old Buddhist monastery on fire

On 5th January night, a fire broke out at the entrance of an ancient Buddhist monastery in the Cheranghata area in Ramu upazila in Cox’s Bazar district of Bangladesh.

According to the officer-in-charge of Ramu police station Abu Taher Dewan, the incident took place at 2 a.m. when the priests of the 150-year-old monastery were asleep. Dewan said that after the priests shouted for help, the locals came to the rescue and doused the fire.

he fire that broke out at the 150-year-old monastery completely gutted the stairs. It must be mentioned that the holy shrine is sacred to the Rakhine community of Cheranghata. A large contingent of police was deployed in the area in the aftermath of the incident.

The cops began investigating the matter and analysing CCTV footage in the area. They were trying to determine whether the incident was an accident or an act of sabotage.

It later emerged that a ‘masked man’ scaled the wall of the monastery, poured kerosene on the staircase and set it on fire. The development was confirmed by Rapid Action Battalion-5 spokesperson Jamilul Haque.

“Everything will be clear once we identify the youth in the CCTV footage and the person who called the Fire Service,” remarked Officer-in-charge of Ramu police station Abu Taher Dewan.

ULFA disbanded 44 years after its formation; had signed a tripartite memorandum pact with the Centre and Assam govt

OpIndia Staff
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ULFA disbanded 44 years after its formation; had signed a tripartite memorandum pact with the Centre and Assam govt

On 23rd January (Tuesday), the pro-talk faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) officially disbanded itself. The undivided ULFA was formed forty-four years earlier on 7th April 1979, at the Rang Ghar in Sibsagar to establish a “sovereign socialist Assam” through an armed struggle. Later the outfit split into two factions and the pro-talk faction began discussions with the Centre in 2011.

The decision to disband the ULFA was taken at the outfit’s final general meeting held at Sipajhar which is located around 55 km from Guwahati. It comes twenty-five days after the pro-talk faction of ULFA signed a tripartite memorandum of settlement in New Delhi with the Centre and the Assam government on 29th December.

Regarding the dissolution of the outfit, ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa said, “The decision to disband and dissolve the outfit was taken at the meeting today as stipulated by the settlement signed in Delhi. With this, the cases of sedition on the outfit will be lifted.”  

The pro-talk faction of ULFA has around 700 total members. The anti-talks faction of the outfit, ULFA-Independent (ULFA-I) has camps in Myanmar and parts of the northeast. They have around 200 members and are opposed to any settlement till Assam’s sovereignty is discussed.

The ULFA’s general secretary Anup Chetia had earlier stated that after the meeting, they would hand over the letter of the outfit’s disbandment to the Chief Minister of Assam.

According to Chetia, after the disbandment, the ULFA leaders and cadres will have different identities. He added that he will personally be involved in social work.

Last month on 29th December, the pro-talk faction of the outfit signed an agreement in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

This was a significant pact as the banned ULFA-Independent has been the only major insurgent outfit in the state after the ULFA pro-talks faction signed the agreement with the Centre and Assam government. ULFA (Independent), the other faction of the group led by Commander in Chief Paresh Baruah remains outside the peace agreement. Except for Baruah, all other founding members of ULFA have left armed struggle.

Click here, to read the details of the tripartite agreement signed last month.

The agreement covered a wide range of subjects, including politics, land rights, NRC and immigration, employment, economy and skill development, flood control, industries, agriculture, education, culture, sports infrastructure, tourism, demands of ST status, Act East Policy, and settlement of ULFA cadres who have returned to the mainstream.

Last month’s settlement stipulated, “ULFA shall abjure the path of violence, give up all arms/ammunition, and disband the armed organisation within one month”.

PM specifically asked me for Lord Ram’s charanamrit: Swami Govind Dev Giri Maharaj reveals why he offered Charanamrit to break PM Modi’s 11-day fast

OpIndia Staff
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PM specifically asked me for Lord Ram’s charanamrit: Swami Govind Dev Giri Maharaj reveals why he offered Charanamrit to break PM Modi’s 11-day fast

Following 11 days of arduous ‘Yama Niyama’, PM Modi broke his fast by drinking Lord Shri Ram’s Charanamrit after he performed sacred rituals of Ram Lalla’s Pran Pratishtha on 22nd January (Monday). Now, the Treasurer of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirtha Kshetra, Govind Dev Giri Maharaj, who offered him Lord Shri Ram’s Chararnamrit, has revealed that he did it on PM Modi’s request. 

Speaking with ANI on Tuesday (23rd January), Govind Dev Giri Maharaj pointed out that generally anyone who does fasting is offered honey mixed with a few drops of lemon juice and water to break the fast. However, PM Modi had separately asked him to offer Shri Bhagwan’s Charanamrit. Charanamrit is a holy mild sweet drink prepared with milk by washing the feet (Charan) of the deity and is considered equivalent to divine nectar/ elixir (Amrit). 

Govind Dev ji further added that the way PM Modi had made the request, he felt a motherly love.  

He said, “…We were supposed to offer him honey with a few drops of lemon juice in water…But he told me separately to offer him ‘charnamrit’ of Bhagwan Sri Ram. So, we made changes…I felt a motherly love at that time and I felt as if I am offering it to my son and breaking his fast.”

Notably, during his yesterday’s address, Swami Govind Dev Giri Ji Maharaj had lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his deep spiritual commitment and strict observance to be worthy of the auspicious ritual. He highlighted how PM Modi practiced rigorous fasting and meditation, which far exceeded the expectations set by the religious leaders.

Swami Ji revealed that 20 days before the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha, a request from the Prime Minister came asking for a list of observances he should follow as PM Modi was scheduled to be Yajmana at the Pran Pratishtha ceremony. After consulting with the religious leaders, an advisory was prepared for PM Modi that included different observances, including fasting, sleeping on the floor, and more.

While the advisory mentioned only a three-day fast, PM Modi undertook an 11-day complete fast, relinquishing even the consumption of grains. According to Swami Ji, this act of devotion is a profound spiritual undertaking similar to the practices of the most dedicated spiritual figures in Hindu religious texts. 

Swami Ji also shed light on PM Modi’s pilgrimage to sacred sites across India during this period.

In his speech, Swami ji drew parallels between PM Modi’s dedication and the legendary devotion of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He recounted how Shivaji Maharaj, after visiting the shrines of Mallikarjuna, expressed a desire to renounce his kingdom for spiritual pursuit, which was a testament to his deep spiritual commitment to the deity. He remarked, “It’s rare to find such spiritual depth and dedication in a national leader.”

21 Israeli soldiers killed in Hamas missile fire in Gaza: PM Netanyahu expresses condolence to their families

OpIndia Staff
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21 Israeli soldiers killed in Hamas missile fire in Gaza: PM Netanyahu expresses condolence to their families

 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement expressing his remorse after twenty one Israeli soldiers were killed on Monday when Hamas terrorists launched an anti-tank missile at a building next to a Gaza compound being prepared for demolition.

“Yesterday we experienced one of the most difficult days since the outbreak of the war,” he said. “I would like to stand by the dear families of our heroic fighters who fell on the battlefield. I know that for these families, their lives will change forever.”

Netanyahu said that he mourns for “our heroic fallen soldiers” and that he embraces the families in their “hour of sorrow and we all pray for the well-being of those who were wounded.”

He also stated that the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) opened an inquiry into the tragedy.

“We must learn the necessary lessons and do everything to safeguard the lives of our fighters,” said Netanyahu.

“On behalf of our heroes, for our very lives, we will not stop fighting until total victory,” he declared. 

IDF reported on January 23 that 21 of their soldiers have been killed in the Khan Younis area. It reported that at around 16.00 hours, a Hamas RPG struck a tank and a nearby structure where IDF soldiers were present. IDF added that Rescue operations are still ongoing in the area after a 2-story building collapsed.

The incident has been the worst single-day casualty event for IDF after their offensive against Hamas terrorists started in Gaza. On October 7, Hamas terrorists had launched a massive attack against Israeli civilians, killing over 1200 persons.

(With inputs from ANI)

Comments of party leaders won’t matter: Rahul Gandhi snubs Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury for rejecting seat-sharing with TMC

OpIndia Staff
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Comments of party leaders won’t matter: Rahul Gandhi snubs Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury for rejecting seat-sharing with TMC

On Tuesday (23rd January), Congress scion Rahul Gandhi publicly snubbed party leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury after he declared that Congress would fight elections in West Bengal without the assistance of the Trinamool Congress.

While speaking about the matter during his ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’, Gandhi remarked, “Mamata Banerjee is very close to me. Sometimes our leaders say something. Such comments won’t matter.”

He added that talks with the Trinamool Congress on seat-sharing in West Bengal for the 2024 Lok Sabha election were underway.

On Saturday (20th January), Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury hit out at Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee and called her an ‘opportunist.’ The development came hours after media reports suggested that the TMC was planning to avoid seat-sharing with Congress and field candidates in all Lok Sabha constituencies.

He said, “We won’t fight the election with Mamata’s help. Congress knows how to fight on its own strength, and Mamata Banerjee should remember that it was with Congress’s support she came to power in Bengal.”

Reportedly, TMC had offered only 2 seats to the grand old party while it was hoping for a larger share of seats. In the meantime, Rahul Gandhi had invited Mamata Banerjee to join his ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ when it would pass through the State of West Bengal.

Mamata Banerjee throws Rahul Gandhi under the bus

In December last year, TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee squarely blamed Congress scion Rahul Gandhi after a video of Kalyan Banerjee mimicking and ridiculing Indian Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar went viral on social media.

It must be mentioned that Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress is a member of the I.N.D.I. Alliance propped by the Congress party in the hopes of defeating the Narendra Modi-led-BJP government in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

But she did not think twice before throwing Rahul Gandhi under the bus and protecting her own party member Kalyan Banerjee.

Program was in Meghalaya, he is abusing Assam: Himanta Biswa Sarma responds to Rahul Gandhi’s allegations that Assam CM disrupted his program

OpIndia Staff
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Program was in Meghalaya, he is abusing Assam: Himanta Biswa Sarma responds to Rahul Gandhi’s allegations that Assam CM disrupted his program

In a series of tweets, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for ‘provoking the crowd’ and making false claims during his ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’. In addition to the factual counter of allegations and claims made by the Congress party, Sarma has also asserted that the latter will have to face the music of law for its ‘unruly behaviour’ and ‘naxalite tactics’.  

After Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra entered the Assam leg, the Congress party has been claiming to be victims of violence at the behest of state CM Sarma. Taking the allegations further, Rahul Gandhi, on 23rd January, claimed that the Assam CM intervened and stopped him from meeting students from the North East region and delivering an address before them. 

Congress leveled allegations from the official X handle that the Home Minister of India called the Chief Minister of Assam asking him to stop Rahul Gandhi from meeting university students.st. That’s why I could not come to meet you at your university, the tweet added. 

The party further claimed that today (23rd January) Rahul Gandhi had an interaction program with students at a university but suddenly the university cancelled this program.

Responding to the post, Assam CM Sarma took a swipe at Rahul Gandhi and pointed out that the purported program was in Meghalaya but he is abusing Assam in his allegations. 

In a sarcastic tone, Sarma tweeted, “What a man – the program was in Meghalaya but he is abusing Assam.”

In another tweet, CM Sarma pointed this out saying, “Brother, the university you have mentioned is in Meghalaya not in Assam.”

It is important to note that Congress leaders have themselves said that Rahul Gandhi was reportedly invited to address the students of the University of Science and Technology which is in Meghalaya. However, the Congress party hurled accusations at the Assam government for alleged disruption or cancellation of Rahul Gandhi’s event in another state. 

However, when Assam CM pointed out, in a series of tweets, that the Congress leader was making false claims, Rahul Gandhi presented it as a win for Yatra. According to him, Assam CM Sarma was helping them get publicity which they might have not gotten otherwise by engaging and pointing out factual errors in their unfound allegations.  

Regarding the development, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, “Whatever the Assam CM is doing against the Yatra, it benefits the Yatra. The publicity that we might have not got, by doing this the Assam CM & Union Home Minister Amit Shah are helping us. Now, the main issue in Assam is the Yatra…It is their intimidation tactics…Our message of Nyay is reaching the people…”

Meanwhile, apart from busting the false allegations, Assam CM also asserted that Rahul Gandhi and others will have to face the law for inciting people to attack Assam Police personnel. Notably, the Bharat Jodo Yatra which had gone to Meghalaya, tried to return to Assam for its last leg in the state. 

However, the Guwahati police denied permission to them to enter the city limits. Afterward, the Congress leader attacked the Police barricades and broke them. 

Regarding the attack on Police personnel, the Assam CM had, earlier in the day, instructed the Assam DGP to register a case against Rahul Gandhi for ‘provoking the crowd’. He condemned the ‘unruly behaviour’ of the Congress workers and pointed out that such “naxalite tactics” are alien to Assamese culture. 

Furthermore, he mentioned that he has directed police to use the footage shared by Congress workers as evidence of the “unruly behaviour” of their leader and that they violated the agreed guidelines.

In another tweet, he shared another video ‘evidence’ which, as per his post, revealed how Rahul Gandhi and one man named Jitendra Singh instigated the mob to attack Assam Police personnel.

Assuring that there will be action for such acts, Sarma tweeted, “Evidence is emerging as to how Rahul Gandhi and Jitendra Singh instigated the mob to attack Assam Police personnel. Our policemen are servants of the public, not of any royal family. Rest assured, the law has a very long arm and will definitely reach you.”

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