The Hindus worldwide are celebrating Vijayadashmi, the day of victory of Good over Evil. It is also a day to perform Shastra Puja—the rituals that entail worshipping Shastras or weapons. According to Hindu holy books, on this day, Goddess Durga killed the demon Mahishasura after a fierce battle that lasted for nine days. Following the death of Mahishasura, the weapons of Goddess Durga that she used in the battle were worshipped by the Gods.
During Shastra Puja, Goddess Parvati, Lakshmi and Saraswati are worshipped to receive their blessings for strength and power. As per Hindu scriptures, Bhagwan Ram performed Shastra Puja before heading to the battleground against the evil king of Lanka, Ravana, who was killed on this day.
Shastra Puja has also been referred to in Mahabharata. Legends say that weapons were worshipped before the begging of the Kurukshetra war, and they helped the Pandavas to stand victorious against the Kauravas.
The tradition of worshipping weapons was kept alive by the Kings and Queens of the Hindu religion, and the tradition has been continued in modern times as well. The armed forces and leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh and many others, have participated in Shastra Puja from time to time.
How Shastra Puja is done?
During the Shastra Puja, the weapons are kept on a high pedestal. The priests and warriors who are performing the puja take the water of the holy Ganga River and sprinkle it on the weapons. After that, the weapons are adorned with fresh flowers. During the whole time, mantras are chanted to invoke the Gods and Goddesses to receive blessings.
Then, turmeric and vermillion are applied to the weapons. It is considered a sign of respect. The leaves of the ‘Shami’ tree are also kept on the weapons. The Shami tree has been mentioned in many Hindu holy books, including Ramayana, Mahabharata and Puranas. It is believed that the Shami tree has the power to reduce the effect of Bhagwan Shani or Planet Shani. As per astrology, any person who is under the influence of Planet Shani should plant a Shami tree at his or her house.
It is also believed that the Shami tree can reduce the effect of negative energy in the house. The leaves of the Shami tree are also used to worship Bhagwan Ganesha and Maa Durga. Legends said when Arjuna disguised himself as Brihannala, he hid his bow (Gandiva) on a Shami tree.
It is notable that only weapons are not worshipped on this day. Those who are not warriors but are in different fields like IT, engineering, etc. worship their tools. In some Hindu families, students worship books on this day as well.
Raksha Manti Rajnath Singh performed Shastra Puja
On October 5, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh celebrated Vijayadashmi with soldiers and performed Shastra Puja in Auli. In a tweet, he wrote, “On the auspicious occasion of Vijayadashami, ‘Shastra Puja’ was performed in Auli today. There is a very ancient tradition of weapon worship in India. The soldiers of our country have always protected the nation through their valour and weapons.”
विजयादशमी के पावन पर्व पर आज औली में ‘शस्त्र पूजन’किया। भारत में शस्त्र पूजा की बड़ी ही प्राचीन परंपरा रही है। हमारे देश के सैनिकों ने अपने शौर्य और शस्त्रों के माध्यम से हमेशा राष्ट्र की रक्षा की है। pic.twitter.com/ZMb10VdmcF
It is noteworthy to mention that PM Modi does Shastra Puja every year, and photographs and videos of him performing the puja often surface on the internet. On October 5, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and spokesperson Sambit Patra shared a video of PM Modi performing Shastra Puja from 2009 when he was chief minister of Gujarat. In the video, PM Modi could be heard describing the importance of Shastra Puja.
He said, “We worship treatise and weapons in this country. Is there any place in the world where a treatise was materialised while standing at a battleground? India is the only country where in Mahabharata, during the war of Kurukshetra Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, was born. You see, they had weapons in their hands. Everyone was all set to kill each other. Their eyes were glowing with rage. The divine powers were waiting to finish the evil powers. Still, at that time, Bhagwan Shri Krishna used the path of treatise to tell why evil powers needed to be defeated. He described the need for divine powers to win over the evil powers by materialising Gita.”
India has preached ‘Shaastra’ on the war field while wielding ‘Shastra’ in our hands!
He added, “Is it possible to materialise treatise while standing in the middle of a battleground? It is only possible in this country. The place that was filled with weapons became the ground of the birth of the treatise. This is why the weapons in our country are bound to the treatise. The people who hold the weapons are not allowed to misuse the weapons in this country. They cannot misuse them even against animals. The weapons must be used properly. The weapons must be used against the evil powers to save the common people. This is why we invoke the divine powers in this country.”
PM Modi performed Shatra Puja in 2013, like every year, at his residence with the security personnel. He worshipped the weapons such as swords, bows and arrows etc., which he received as a gift during public programmes. Photographs from this event are often shared on social media platforms.
Shastra Puja by armed forces holds a lot of significance in India as it has been a tradition for thousands of years. It invokes the divine power inside them to be strong while fighting for the country. Leaders performing rituals invoke a feeling of security among the general public as it helps in fading the barriers between the public and the leaders. The sense of oneness and belongingness makes it easier for the public to express their views, happiness and sorrow in front of their leaders.
As the protests against the death of Mahsa Amini gather steam in Iran, now thousands of schoolgirls have joined in to demand freedom from the mandatory hijab laws in the Islamic country. Girls in schools are removing their headscarves and showing their hair as a mark of protest.
“Zan, Zendegi, Azadi (Women, Life, Freedom)”, they yelled often throwing away or burning their hijabs in remarkable scenes. Protests by schoolgirls were reported in Karaj, Tehran and the north-western cities of Saqez and Sanandaj.
This is days after an Iranian woman named Mahsa Amini was apprehended and brutally beaten by the ‘morality police’ for not complying with the mandatory hijab laws of the country. She later was shifted to the hospital where she succumbed to her injuries. Amini was abducted by the ‘morality police’ who assaulted her under the pretext of ‘re-education class’. Later the Police tried to conceal the matter and claimed that the woman already was a heart patient and had died due to her medical problems.
The incident which happened in the second week of September enraged the entire country. The protests have now reached the Iranian schools and colleges where the girl students are opposing the hijab laws. Several students on October 4 marched on the streets without hijabs and demanded freedom for women. The video of the protests went viral over the internet though the country has imposed an internet crackdown, attempting to blackout the coverage of the massive protest.
According to the reports, Iranians are utilizing VPNs or the Tor connection to get footage of the huge protests viewed by the outside world despite the internet ban. Photos and videos showing women removing their headscarf in Iran’s capital Tehran, as well as recordings of students smashing up photos of Iran’s Supreme Leader, have been uploaded.
Massive protests are said to have happened in Karaj where the schoolgirls not only demanded freedom from hijab for women but also forced an education official out of their school. “Shame on you, shame on you”, they yelled and threw whatever appeared before them including empty water bottles at him. The video of the incident was posted on social media showing the girls chasing the official at the school gate.
Schoolgirls in #Iran chase off director of education. They chant “Bisharaf!” which is an insult in Persian meaning dishonorable and unethical pic.twitter.com/wpEcJb3gz1
Students could be heard crying in another video from Karaj, which is to the west of Tehran, “If we don’t unite, they will kill us one by one.” Meanwhile, scores of schoolgirls halted traffic on a prominent route in the southern city of Shiraz by waving their headscarves in the air and yelling “death to the dictator”, referring to the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the last word on all state affairs of the country.
A girls’ school invites a member of the paramilitary volunteer force Basij, part of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, to address students about #MahsaAmini protests. In response, schoolgirls remove their head coverings and chant “get lost, Basiji”.#مهسا_امینیpic.twitter.com/rYCJRfrp6F
A handful of girl students also could be seen standing with their heads uncovered in their classrooms. Some were making an obscene gestures with their middle fingers toward images of Ayatollah Khamenei and Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic.
Iranian school girls without hijab on the school premises (Source- BBC)
Visuals of the protests show thousands of angry women taking to the streets, chanting Zan, Zendegi, Azadi (Woman, Life, Freedom) against the mandatory hijab laws imposed by the Islamic regime. They burned the hijabs on the streets and also the posters of Iranian leaders. Ayatollah Khamenei has accused Iran’s arch-enemies, the United States and Israel, of instigating riots. The protests at the schools and colleges, however, intensified hours after Ayatollah Khamenei’s statements.
This is Tehran University, students joined the protest against the murdering of #MahsaAmini by hijab police and chanting: Woman, life, Freedom Iranians are outraged. Yesterday the security forces opened fire at protesters in Saghez city but now Tehran joined the protest. pic.twitter.com/Bf9jcwWICB
Many Muslim women do not choose to wear a hijab. But unfortunately, even the privileged segments of Muslim society do not often have the option of rejecting it once it has become the norm. Women in Iran and other Muslim countries are seeking to abolish the hijab rule, which religious police forcibly enforce upon them.
Following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the hijab became mandatory in public for Iranian women and girls above the age of nine. Many Iranian women have broken the prohibition and pushed the limits of what officials consider acceptable apparel throughout the years. In recent months, Iran’s state-sponsored ethical patrols have increased their appearance in major cities, intimidating and pulling women from the streets due to their attire choices.
Reminder: Iran wasn’t always an Islamist nightmare. Women weren’t always forced to veil & people had far from freedom…then the mad mullahs took over. https://t.co/cjC7g9Rk2x
After nearly three weeks of ongoing protests, it is evident that Iran’s government is under pressure and its opponents are no longer merely politicians or young women. The anti-hijab movement is rapidly gathering support from all over the world. The schoolgirls, most of them too young to comprehend geopolitics and national affairs, are aware of the restrictions imposed on them by the Islamic hardliners because they have been living under the Islamic regime’s oppression.
Reports mention that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi today called for national unity in the country and attempted to calm public resentment against the Iranian authorities. Raisi recognised the Islamic Republic’s ‘weaknesses and shortcomings’, but reiterated the official line that the turmoil prompted by Amini’s killing last month was nothing less than a conspiracy by Iran’s adversaries.
A year after the infamous anti-Hindu conference called ‘Dismantling Global Hindutva’ was conspired, an American University has come up with yet another conference having anti-Hindu and anti-India themes for its sessions. The 2022 New York Conference on Asian Studies is being organised on the 7th and 8th of October 2022 at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at the Syracuse University of New York.
Besides fillers like Asian and Asian American art exhibitions and music, documentary screenings and discussions, and dance programs with nomadic performers, the main part of this conference comprise panel discussions on different topics related to Asian countries like China, India, Korea, etc.
The conference is titled “State and society in Asia: Past and Present”. The topics specified for a panel session to be held in the afternoon between 1:45 pm to 3:45 pm on 7th October 2022 are objectionable enough to draw the ire of Hindus. The subject of the session is “Religion and Politics in South Asia”. Radha Kumar of Syracuse University is chairing the session. Ankush Arora of Syracuse University, Yash Sharma of the University of Cincinnati, Syed Jalil Hussain and Geethika Dharmasinghe of Cornell University, Katyayini Richhariya of Tufts University, and Mohammad Habib Raza of BRAC University are participating in this session.
Ankush Arora is going to talk about “Symbol of Divinity or Deadly Weapon? Visualization of the Cow in Indian Calendar Art and Digital Media”. Yash Sharma has chosen a topic titled “Hindutva, Militarism, and Everyday Insecurity in India”. Syed Jalil Hussain will talk on “Seeing beyond the State: Sectarian Insecurities, State Coercion, and Transnational Shiite Networks in Kashmir”.
Geethika Dharmasighe has chosen a yet more weird issue for her discussion. She is going to talk about “Buddhist Modernity Modelled after Islam”. Katyayini Richhariya will present her thoughts on “Religion, Hate Speech, and the Indian and Pakistani States”. Mohammad Habib Raza will share his views on “Rethinking the architectural history teaching of Bangladesh: a global perspective for (South) Asia”.
The agenda continues in other sessions. In another session on the subject “Alternative Regimes of Power and Protection: Ritual Interiors and Experiential Infrastructures of Society and State” to be jointly chaired by Ross Freedenberg and Shannon Novak of Syracuse University, Mona Bhan of Syracuse University and Radhika Govindarajan from the University of Washington are going to present their thoughts on “More-Than-Human Fascism: On Cows, Rivers, and Hindu Supremacy”. However, to put on a mask of inter-faith balance, the same session consists of a talk by Vaidehi Paneri of Syracuse University on the topic “Hindu-Muslim Religious Syncretism”.
The organizers of the conference have also attempted to attack the popular culture of India and seem to have some problems with the nationalistic portrayal in Indian cinemas. This was reflected by the details of another session. This session is titled “Sonic and Visual Representations of Asian-ness in Global Multi-Media”. It will be chaired by Natalie Sarrazin of SUNY Brockport. The chairperson herself is going to talk about “For whom does the Heroine Sing? Auto-Representation and Transnationalism in Hindi Film Music”.
For second year in a row, such an attempt of demeaning Hinduism and Hindutva is seen in which demonizing Hindu symbols is at the core of the agenda. Earlier, one such conference called ‘Dismantling Global Hindutva‘ was planned but it could not take place.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Himachal Pradesh’s Bilaspur. In his address, PM Modi said that the hospital will be called the ‘Green Hospital’.
“In the last 8 years, we have worked relentlessly on ensuring that the development benefits reach the remotest parts of the country. AIIMS Bilaspur not just increases access to affordable healthcare but is eco-friendly as well and thus will be known as ‘Green AIIMS’,” PM Modi said in his speech in Bilaspur.
I am glad that the AIIMS Bilaspur will be dedicated to the nation. It will ensure better healthcare facilities for people in the region. Development works worth over Rs. 3650 crore spread across various sectors will either be inaugurated or their foundation stones would be laid. pic.twitter.com/y6huiUBBte
PM Modi called the inauguration of AIIMS a moment of pride for Himachal, noting that the state had a significant role to play in “Rashtra Raksha” and that the hospital will now play a “crucial role in Jeevan Raksha.” He also noted that Himachal is one of the three states selected to establish Bulk Drugs Park, which will guarantee that India’s citizens have access to affordable medications.
Elated to be in Devbhoomi Himachal Pradesh. Speaking at launch of development works in Bilaspur. https://t.co/RwjA4KcM0Y
“One of the four states selected for the Medical Device Park is Himachal Pradesh. The foundation stone for the same has been laid in Nalagarh, he said.
PM Modi laid emphasis on the promotion of Medical tourism in Himachal in order to attract people from across the world to come to India and visit Himachal for its holistic healing aided by top-class health facilities and a healthy and beautiful environment.
“It is the Centre’s endeavour to decrease the expense on medicines and to also ensure that they obtain the essential treatment without going too far off regions” in order to promote the ease of living for the poor and middle-class sections of society.
PM Modi also said that it is the key focus of the “double-engine government” in Himachal Pradesh to ensure the dignity of the people.
Furthermore, PM Modi called the state “the land of opportunities” and said that tourism here provides significant opportunities for employment, fertile land for growing fruits and vegetables, and generating electricity.
PM Modi also lauded CM Jairam Thakur for his prompt actions to turn various development projects into reality.
“Your votes made it possible for the opening of AIIMS Bilaspur, the Atal Tunnel, the Hydro-Engineering College in Bandla, and the Medical Device Park in Nalagarh. It is because of you only that you bless me and when I bring development projects to the state, Jairam Thakur turns them successful,” he said.
“Today, Himachal Pradesh has a central university, an IIT, an IIM and now AIIMS Bilaspur will add to Himachal’s pride. The Bulk Drugs Park being developed in Himachal Pradesh will be key in ensuring access to affordable medicines in India,” PM added.
Today, Himachal Pradesh has a central university, an IIT, an IIM and now AIIMS Bilaspur will add to Himachal’s pride. The Bulk Drugs Park being developed in Himachal Pradesh will be key in ensuring access to affordable medicines in India: PM Narendra Modi, in Bilaspur pic.twitter.com/KcvIAdmEyH
Earlier in his address, PM Modi extended greetings to people on the occasion of Dussehra and expressed his joy over being a part of the International Kullu Dussehra Festival that will be celebrated from October 5 to 11 at Kullu’s Dhalpur Ground.
Notably, it is the first time that the Prime Minister of the country is participating in the Kullu Dussehra festivities.
PM @narendramodi has joined the iconic Dussehra celebrations in Kullu in Bilaspur.
“I am very fortunate to take part in the Kullu festival after many years, I will seek blessings for our country by joining the Raghunath Ji Yatra.
PM Modi also asserted that the developmental projects inaugurated on the auspicious occasion of Vijayadashami will play a pivotal role in achieving the vision of a developed India through the ‘Panch Pran’.
“I am overjoyed to provide the people of Himachal Pradesh with various health, education, and infrastructure projects worth thousands of crores. People of Himachal have received the double gift,” he said.
AIIMS Bilaspur
AIIMS, Bilaspur, built at a cost of over Rs 1,470 crore, is a state-of-the-art hospital with 18 speciality and 17 super-speciality divisions, 18 modular operation theatres, and 750 beds, including 64 ICU beds, was inaugurated today.
The hospital, which spans 247 acres, is equipped with 24-hour emergency and dialysis facilities as well as cutting-edge diagnostic equipment including ultrasonography, CT scan, and MRI, among other things. A 30-bed AYUSH block and a Jan Aushadhi Kendra are also there.
In October 2017, PM Modi lay the foundation for the newly built hospital, which was established under the Central government’s Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana.
On Monday (October 3) night, a menacing mob of 150 Islamists laid siege on a Navratri Garba event in Undhela village in the Kheda district of Gujarat.
As per reports, they pelted stones at a Hindu temple, which hosted the event on its premises. Islamists had earlier objected to the conduct of the Hindu religious event by the village sarpanch (Head) under the pretext that a mosque was in the vicinity of the temple.
When the Hindu devotees refused to give in to their demands and went ahead with the Navratri Garba programme, the mob of Islamists came to disrupt the event.
New India is Medieval India: Nine Muslim men are being publicly flogged while crowd is doing nationalist chant in Modi’s state Gujarat! pic.twitter.com/nMcBQKy0IO
While a total of 43 people were named in the case, only about 13 people could be detained by the police. They were brought back to the village on Tuesday (October 4) and allegedly caned by police personnel for pelting stones at the temple. The accused were also asked to apologise to the public.
Deputy Superintendent of Police VR Bajpai informed, “Police detained 13 persons after the FIR was registered at Matar police station. The village sarpanch (head) had organised Garba at a temple. A mob from the Muslim community tried to stop it from taking place.”
A video of the incident has now gone viral on social media. Islamists and their sympathisers quickly hopped on the opportunity to cast aspersions on law enforcement authorities.
Congress leader, Karti P Chidambaram, tweeted, “The BJP is making India into a Hindutva Iran. Public flogging like the fundamentalist Islamiuc nations, makes India no different from them. What next public beheadings? And the chants?”
Screengrab of the tweet by Karti P Chidamabaram
The incident was further amplified by the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), which shrewdly omitted the mention of stone pelting by the Islamists.
It claimed, “Police in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party ruled Gujarat state publicly flogged 9 Muslim men in front of a cheering crowd chanting “Hail Mother India” slogans. This is cruel, inhuman & prohibited under the international human rights Law.”
The IAMC is a Jamat-e-Islami-backed lobbyist organisation claiming to be a rights advocacy group. In the past, it had reportedly collaborated with and had even paid money to various groups in the USA to get India blacklisted by the USCIRF (United States Commission on International Religious Freedom).
Police in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party ruled Gujarat state publicly flogged 9 Muslim men infront of a cheering crowd chanting “Hail Mother India” slogans.
This is cruel, inhuman & prohibited under the international human rights Law.
— Indian American Muslim Council (@IAMCouncil) October 4, 2022
Majid Freeman, who peddled fake stories to rationalise violence by Islamists in Leicester, also claimed, “Muslims flogged publicly in Kheda, India. In BJP ruled Gujarat, 9 Muslim men who were allegedly arrested for throwing stones at a Garba event were tied to a pole & publicly flogged with a cane by the Police while the crowd chanted ‘Hail Mother India’ slogans.”
Muslims flogged publicly in Kheda, India ??
In BJP ruled #Gujarat, 9 Muslim men who were allegedly arrested for throwing stones at a Garba event were tied to a pole & publicly flogged with a cane by the Police while the crowd chanted “Hail Mother India” slogans. @HindutvaWatchInpic.twitter.com/TAhfcPIwW3
‘Journalist’ Saba Naqvi claimed that the image of stone pelters, allegedly thrashed by police personnel, will remain forever etched in public memory.
“So the next time you read of mass floggings in theocratic states don’t feel superior and say we have the rule of law in Democratic India. This image should stay with us,” she wrote.
So the next time you read of mass floggings in theocratic states don’t feel superior and say we have the rule of law in Democratic India. This image should stay with us. pic.twitter.com/5w59CHYMEP
One may recall how Islamists were rallying to censor the viral video of Kanhaiya Lal’s beheading under the pretext that it would incite a chain of violent events. The same coterie is now reposting the video of alleged police personnel thrashing stone pelters in full public glare.
Islamists have yet again pulled out the same tricks from the playbook they have mastered for years. By accusing police of high-handedness, they implicitly exonerated the stone-pelters who attacked Hindus and instead passed the buck on conscientious law enforcement officials who created an example out of the rioters by public dispensation of justice.
Hindus in India are caught in a state of dilemma. They can neither demand protection from the State as they happen to be the ‘non-violent majority’ nor can they defend themselves out of the fear of being called brute majoritarians, oblivious to minority rights.
Before attacking law enforcement officials for teaching Islamists a lesson about their lives, it serves well to remember that if the rioters are allowed to have their way, they won’t flinch from pulling off another Kishan Bharwad, Kanhaiya Lal, or Kamlesh Tiwari.
The Hindu festival of Dussehra, which represents the triumph of virtue over evil, is being celebrated across the country today with much grandeur and devotion. While many celebrities took to their social media accounts to wish citizens a Happy Dussehra, cricketer Mohammed Shami who is currently in the news for the T20 World Cup selections also shared good wishes on the occasion. However, the Islamists didn’t like it and slammed Shami for celebrating the Hindu festival and accused him of going against his religion for his career.
On Wednesday, Mohammed Shami shared an image of Lord Rama killing the Ravana and greeted people on Dussehra. “On the auspicious occasion of Dussehra, I pray that Lord Ram fills your life with lots of prosperity, success and happiness. Wishing you and your family a very Happy Dussehra”, he tweeted.
On the happy occasion of Dussehra, I pray that Lord Ram fills your life with lots of happiness, prosperity, and success. Happy Dussehra to you and your family. #mdshami11#Dussehrapic.twitter.com/wsFk7M1Gj5
The Islamist netizens didn’t like the post shared by Shami and scolded him for going against his religion. Radical netizens also schooled him about Islam and indicated that it was a sin for Muslims to share wishes on Dussehra. One of the twitter users named Akeel Bhatti commented on Shami’s post and said, “Shame on Shami. Are you a Muslim?”.
Screenshot from Twitter
Another one with a handle named Ibn-e-Ahmed accused him of using the occasion to be a part of Indian Cricket Team in the T20 World Cup. “Team nahi lenge bhai (They’ll still not take you in the team)”, the user said. Also, one named Aman Mirza stated that the Cricketer had lost his mind. “May Allah Guide”, he wished.
Screenshot from Twitter
Shami has not been a part of the Indian Cricket Team for long now and is in the news amid the T20 World Cup. The Indian Cricket team selectors are thinking to replace the ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah with Mohammed Shami for the mega tournament, provided the latter has completely recovered from the after-effects of COVID-19. Bumrah has been ruled out of the T-20 World Cup in Australia due to a stress fracture, and he can take several months to recover.
Blatantly slamming the cricketer, one of the female Islamists on September 5 asked whether any Hindu cricketer had earlier wished on an Islamic occasion or Christian occasion. “Shame on you. Are you a believer of Lord Rama?”, she pondered.
Screenshot from Twitter
Meanwhile, many other trolling Twitter handles reminded Shami that he was a Muslim and had committed a sin by praising Lord Rama on the occasion of Vijayadashami. “Fatwa loading on you”, “Yes, Fatwa should load, that’s being us, no compromise”, the hatred-spreading tweets read.
Screenshot from Twitter
Screenshot from Twitter
Similarly, Islamist netizens also slammed Radio Mirchi RJ Sayema for wishing good on Dussehra. Sayema on Wednesday tweeted on the occasion of Dussehra saying, “May we always carry the fire within, to fight with evils, both inside and outside. Happy Dussehra”. Islamists netizens happened to school Sayema and said, “It’s unislamic to wish in Dussehra”. Some also called her jahil (ignorant fool).
Screenshot from Twitter
Screenshot from Twitter
Reports mention that the cricketer Mohammed Shami is facing fitness-related issues after he was diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus. The national selectors and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are set to defer the announcement of a replacement for Jasprit Bumrah with Shami provided his health shows positive signs of improvement.
“Shami is obviously someone who’s in the standbys. Unfortunately for us, he couldn’t play in this series. It would’ve been ideal from that perspective, but he’s in the National Cricket Academy at the moment. We’ve to get reports as to how he’s recovering, and what’s his status after 14-15 days of COVID, and we’ll take a call. Once I get a report on how he’s feeling, then obviously we can really take a call on how to move forward on it”, head coach Rahul Dravid was quoted saying.
At present, though Shami is showing positive signs of fitness, everyone concerned wants to be sure about his readiness for the championship from October 16 to November 13. The pacer now has been asked to report to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru.
On October 4, former Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) and President of Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (JKPDP) Mehbooba Mufti claimed that she is under house arrest. Mehbooba claimed that she was put under house arrest after she expressed her desire to attend a worker’s wedding in Pattan.
In a tweet, she shared a photograph of a locked gate and said, “While HM is going around Kashmir beating drums of normalcy, I am under house arrest for simply wanting to visit Pattan for a worker’s wedding. If an ex-CM’s fundamental rights can be suspended so easily, one can’t even imagine the plight of a commoner.”
Mehbooba Mufti claimed she was put under house arrest by J&K police. Source: Twitter
However, soon after her tweet, Srinagar police categorically denied her claims. Quoting her tweet, Srinagar police said, “It is clarified that no restriction of any kind travel to pattan, travel to Pattan was at 1 pm as intimated to us. The picture tweeted by her is of the inside of the gate with its own lock of residents who stay in the bungalow. There is no lock or any restrictions. She is free to travel.”
It is clarified that no restriction of any kind travel to pattan, travel to pattan was at 1 pm as intimated to us. The picture tweeted by her is of inside of the gate with own lock of residents who stay in the bunglow. There is no lock or any restrictions. She is free to travel. https://t.co/YMccUwDSh4pic.twitter.com/kG5Luhj7Bm
When Mehbooba realised that she was caught red-handed by the police, she made a rather bizarre claim that the police locked the gates from inside. Quoting Srinagar police, she said, “I was informed last night by SP Baramulla Rayees Mohammad Bhat that I wouldn’t be allowed to travel to Pattan. Today Jammu and Kashmir police have themselves locked my gates from inside & are now lying through their teeth. Sad that law enforcement agencies are brazenly trying to cover up their tracks.”
Mehbooba Mufti claimed police locked doors from inside. Source: Twitter
Srinagar police further refuted her claims. They quoted Mehbooba and said that there were certain security-related inputs, and those were conveyed to her. In the tweet, Srinagar police said, “Again reiterating you are free to go, madam, official message has already been sent in this regard from PCR Kashmir. There were certain security-related inputs that were conveyed to you before planning the visit as is routine. If you still don’t want to visit, we can’t help it, madam.”
Again reiterating you are free to go madam, official message has already been sent in this regards from PCR kashmir. There were certain security related inputs that were conveyed to you before planning visit as is routine. If you still don’t want to visit, we can’t help it madam. https://t.co/gAKAmVVGHO
This is not the first time ex-CM Mehbooba Mufti made allegedly baseless claims. In November 2020, she took to Twitter to claim that she had been ‘illegally’ detained for over two days. She had also claimed that the Jammu and Kashmir police had stopped her from visiting the Youth President of PDP, Waheed Ur Rehman. While crying foul over the alleged house arrest, Mehbooba Mufti stated that the BJP was indiscriminately detaining her from allowing others to move about freely.
In September 2022, Mehbooba claimed that Muslim students were forced to sing bhajans in schools. She posted a video on her Twitter handle in which school children in Kulgam were seen singing the bhajan ‘Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram’. Claiming that Muslim students in schools in Kashmir were being forced to sing Hindu bhajans, Mufti rebuked the central government for imposing their ‘Hindutva agenda’.
TIME Magazine has always been notorious for pushing propaganda under the garb of being a platform for ‘intellectual’ opinions. It has served as a leftist mouthpiece since it came into being, propagating myths and peddling narratives far removed from reality. While exhibiting hypocrisies is a routine staple for TIME Magazine, it committed a mother of all ironies recently when it included Mohammed Zubair and Pratik Sinha of the Alt News in the list of deserving candidates for the Nobel Peace Prize 2022.
Though Nobel Peace Prize has long lost its credibility, especially after former US President Barack Obama won it in 2009, just days after dropping bombs in the middle east that led to scores of death, it has done little to dampen the fascination of ‘liberal’ bastions, including the TIME Magazine, with the sham award.
TIME Magazine placed Mohammed Zubair and Pratik Sinha, founders of the fake news factory that calls itself the “fact-checking” website Alt News, among the list of prospective winners for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize alongside Volodymyr Zelensky, WHO, David Attenborough, Greta Thunberg, Alexey Navalny among others.
However, the inclusion of Mohammed Zubair, the man responsible for unleashing the wave of Islamist violence in India that resulted in the death of at least 6 Hindus, including Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur and Umesh Kolhe in Amravati, in the prospective list of winners for the Nobel Peace Prize 2022 is profoundly deplorable, even by the abysmally low standards of the TIME Magazine.
While making a case for their win, TIME Magazine did what western publications are known for covering news about India: resorting to obscurantism, distorting facts, and presenting a lopsided narrative. It described Sinha and Zubair as crusaders battling misinformation online, conveniently missing out and pointing out occasions when the two were caught red-handed spreading fake news and falsehoods.
“Journalists Pratik Sinha and Mohammed Zubair, co-founders of Indian fact-checking website AltNews, have relentlessly been battling misinformation in India, where the Hindu nationalist BJP party has been accused of frequently stoking discrimination against Muslims,” read the article on TIME Magazine, dressing up pro-Congress propagandists as ‘journalists’ and revealing the organisation’s penchant for vilifying the democratically elected government of India, besides scaremongering over the imaginary institutional “discrimination” against Muslims.
Screenshot of the relevant section from the TIME article
“Indian authorities arrested Zubair in June for a meme he tweeted four years ago. Journalists around the world condemned the arrest and argued it was retribution for his fact-checking work,” the TIME article further read. What it conveniently omitted mentioning is how Zubair touched off a wave of Islamist violence in India with his dog-whistling against former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma. It also cleverly leaned on condemnation from leftist populated organisations to portray Zubair’s arrest as an act of retribution, drawing over a veil over his alleged culpability in hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus with his Hinduphobic posts.
The relevant section from the TIME article
No, Pratik Sinha and Mohammed Zubair have not been shortlisted for Nobel Peace Prize
And while the list is speculative, it did not stop distorters and sympathisers from fuelling misinformation that Zubair and Sinha are on the shortlist for the Nobel Peace Prize. Several supporters of Zubair and Sinha took to social media to peddle fake news that the duo is shortlisted for the Nobel Peace Prize.
There’s nothing like an official list from among whom Nobel Peace Prize is awarded, the names mentioned by TIME Magazine are just speculations made by a media organisation whose ideology is rooted in the global left. But cheerleaders of Zubair and Sinha, who extol them for “fact-checking”, could not distinguish between a shortlist and a speculative list by a media organisation.
Since TIME has been economical with truth and facts about Mohammed Zubair and Pratik Sinha, it becomes imperative to call attention to the murkier aspects of the duo.
Mohammed Zubair triggers Islamist violence in India, resulting in the deaths of innocent Hindus, including Kanhaiya Lal and Umesh Kolhe
Earlier this year, Mohammed Zubair sparked controversy after sharing a truncated video of Nupur Sharma’s comments on the Times Now debate and accused her of making derogatory remarks against the Islamic Prophet.
Before long, the controversy gained epic proportions and transcended national boundaries as Arab countries made unsolicited comments, causing a diplomatic nightmare for India’s mission in the Persian Gulf. Islamists took to the streets, running riot and indulging in vandalism, and arson against what they perceived as an insult to Prophet Muhammad. Protest marches calling for the beheading of Nupur Sharma were carried out as participants shouted “sar tan se juda” chants against Nupur Sharma. In one instance, her effigy was left hanging from a cable, reminding Hindus of the fate that awaits them should they dare cite authentic and reliable Islamic Hadiths to comment on Prophet Muhammad.
While Islamists went on a rampage on the streets in many cities across the country, it was essentially Mohammed Zubair who was responsible for kindling a fire that had gone on to assume uncontrollable proportions. It was Zubair’s dog-whistling that made a mountain out of a molehill and painted a target behind the back of Nupur Sharma and anyone and everyone who came out in her support.
The ominous hounding of Nupur Sharma prompted many to extend their support to her. Kanhaiya Lal from Udaipur, Umesh Kolhe in Amravati, and many others extended their solidarity with the beleaguered leader, voicing their support for her amid the death threats from Islamists.
And so, Lal was a marked man the moment he came out in support of Nupur Sharma. Islamists, provoked by Mohammed Zubair, dished out death threats to him for what they considered an unpardonable sin committed against Prophet. And days later, the Hindu man was killed for something as trivial as just sharing a social media post in support of Nupur Sharma.
Even though the Islamists on the ground were responsible for killing him, the buck does not stop there. They were puppets working at the behest of their masters, who were equally blameworthy for goading them into murdering Lal. In essence, Mohammed Zubair’s dog-whistling against Nupur Sharma instigated Islamists, who then went on to kill Lal for his support to the former BJP leader.
This makes Mohammed Zubair guilty of ‘stochastic terrorism’, a concept defined as the public demonisation of a person or group resulting in the incitement of a violent act, which is statistically probable but whose specifics cannot be predicted. It was Mohammed Zubair who spearheaded a campaign against Nupur Sharma, accusing her of insulting the Prophet Muhammad and letting loose an army of Islamists against her that ultimately hacked Lal to death.
A similar fate befell Umesh Kolhe, a chemist living in Maharashtra’s Amravati, who was murdered by four Muslim assailants while he was returning from his pharmacy on the night of June 22. Kolhe, too, was murdered for his social media post supporting Nupur Sharma, who was hounded by Islamists and egged on by the likes of Mohammed Zubair for her comments defending her faith on a TV news debate where a fellow Muslim panellist was mocking Shivling discovered inside the premises of the contentious Gyanvapi mosque compound.
The horrifying killing of Lal came a day after Delhi Police arrested Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair for hurting religious sentiments. The police acted on the basis of a complaint filed against him by a Twitter user who cited the notorious fact-checker’s old tweet where he had a derogatory reference to Lord Hanuman. But that was not his only Hinduphobic post.
Mohammed Zubair: Chronic fake news peddler with Hinduphobic tendencies
Days after India witnessed violent protests that saw Islamists running riot, indulging in violence over the alleged insult of Prophet Muhammad, Twitter user The Hawk Eye (@thehawkeye) shared a collage of past tweets and posts by Mohammed Zubair mocking Hindu Gods and beliefs.
In one of the tweets shared by The Hawk Eye, Zubair is seen mocking Shivling and comparing it with the top view of the Vatican City. He said the post comparing Shivling with the Vatican City inspired him to come up with a parody Facebook page ‘Unofficial: Subramanian Swamy’ in 2014.
Apparently, one of the posts on the Facebook page ‘Unofficial Mohammed Zubair‘ mocks Arun Govil to take a swipe at Lord Ram, suggesting that ISRO must consult the actor because he would know more about the rocketry.
Another post by ‘Unofficial Mohammed Zubair’ shows an aeroplane under the water with the caption: “Breaking: Pushpak Vimana used by Ravan 5000 years ago found in the Indian Ocean.”
Besides ridiculing Hindu Gods, Zubair has also poked fun at Hindu beliefs and took a dig at Sanskrit, regarded as one of the most important languages of Hinduism and the means of communication by the Hindu Gods. After being exposed for his Hinduphobic posts on Facebook, Zubair deactivated his page.
On top of all this, Zubair is also a consummate fake news peddler. Here are 20 instances when Zubair has resorted to sharing falsehoods and misinformation. Though this list is not exhaustive, it demonstrates Zubair’s penchant for fake news.
Pratik Sinha’s penchant for peddling fake news
Pratik Sinha, the co-founder of Alt News, has an equally unenviable record of peddling fake news. Besides his predilection for fake news, the Alt News co-founder has been a staunch defender of Islamists, and has also indulged in cyber stalking and doxxing private individuals online which has earned him the moniker ‘Stalker Sinha’.
There have been various instances when the so-called ‘fact-checker’ was caught red-handed for disseminating propaganda.
In the aftermath of demonetisation back in 2016, Sinha had shared images of people standing in long queues at financial institutes to allege that people had to go through hardships because of the Modi government’s decision. However, in doing so, Sinha shared a picture from 2014, about two years before the Demonetisation to portray that the decision had caused misery among people.
.@free_thinker is just a hindu hater, masquerading as a fact-checker. made his career abusing Modi n fake propagandas, using Truth of Gujarat, then eopinion/Altnews. 1- Using picture of 2014 to show a woman suffering due to demonatisation in 2016. archive- https://t.co/sHo79qniafpic.twitter.com/hHz5C2JFFW
In another instance shared by the Twitter user, Sinha was caught using an image from 2004 to peddle the condition of cows in Gujarat in 2016. In the year 2016, Sinha shared another picture on his Twitter account where cows were seen lying on the road.
Sinha, in his bid to mock the Gau Rakshaks, commented, “Gau Matas rotting and being scavenged on in Gujarat. Where are the sons professing undying love for their mata?”
The image shared by Sinha was from 2004 when many cows had died because of Nitrate poisoning but Sinha felt no compunction in using a 12-year-old picture to ridicule the Gau Rakshaks.
Sinha also actively participated in perpetuating the lie regarding PM Modi’s alleged promise to transfer Rs 15 lakhs to bank accounts if elected to power.
How TIME and Zubair unite in their support for Islamists
It is profoundly ironic but not entirely surprising that TIME Magazine chose Mohammed Zubair as among the ‘favourites’ to win the Nobel Peace Prize, given that the Alt News co-founder had touched off a raging Islamist fire earlier this year that engulfed many Hindus, most notably Kanhaiya Lal and Umesh Kolhe.
But it is a far cry to expect TIME Magazine to acknowledge the menace of Islamists afflicting India, as the organisation has a long history of shielding and glorifying Islamists while perversely portraying their victims as aggressors. In the aftermath of Kanhaiya Lal’s brutal beheading, TIME Magazine published an article that whitewashed the Islamists and instead held the victim responsible for his predicament.
While trying to contextualise the murder of Kanhaiya Lal, Sanya Mansoor, the author of the TIME article, suggested that the poor Hindu tailor had drawn the wrath of the Islamists upon himself by supporting the ‘derogatory comments’ of ex-BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma.
In light of historical prejudice exhibited by TIME against Hindus and its favouritism for the Islamists, it is not entirely surprising they had speculated Mohammed Zubair of Alt News to be among the ‘favourites’ to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
Gujarat’s minister of state for home affairs Harsh Sanghavi has said that the demolition drive in Bet Dwarka is required as these are illegal encroachments. On 5th October 2022, he said that those who abide by the rules would only be benefitted. He also expressed his opinion on the incident of attack on the Garba celebration at Undhel village of Kheda.
Harsh Sanghavi said while interacting with the media, “Bet Dwarka is connected to the coastal border. It is located at a distance of 57 nautical miles from Karachi. It is the first island linked to the coastal edge where people live in such a large number. There was illegal encroachment at some places in Bet Dwarka. It is a routine procedure of removing illegal houses and religious construction on government land. Such buildings are used for unlawful activities and that is not allowed. We are inquiring if any such buildings are being used for such activities.”
Harsh Sanghavi further said, “This is the city of Lord Krishna. This land is always prepared to welcome the devotees of Lord Krishna who visit Dwarka and Bet Dwarka. No illegal activity is allowed here.”
Harsh Sanghavi added, “A big drug racket was going on in a house in Salaya. The accused had a house in Bet Dwarka on government land. It was necessary to bulldoze it. On such islands that are linked to the coastal border, if there are such constructions that are built with the specific motive of sheltering illegal activities, then it should be probed and we are doing the same. Presently, it is a routine procedure that takes place across all cities in connection with illegal activities and encroachments over government lands.”
About the incident of attack on the Garba celebrations at Undhel village of Kheda, he said, “Gujarat is known to be the safest state when it comes to law and order. We have seen that all communities jointly celebrate the festivals of each other. However, some people try to obstruct the religious festivals of others. Anti-social elements have tried to disturb the peace. I believe that those who follow the rules would be benefitted.”
It is notable that the Navratri celebration in Kheda turned violent after a Muslim mob led by two youths identified as Arif and Zahir pelted stones on the Hindu devotees.
One may have thought Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi’s complicated relationship with maths may have been just an albatross, but no, she appears to be genuinely not on good terms with common sense. The former Congress leader today took to Twitter to what appears like her attempt to take a dig on the Eknath Shinde govt in Maharashtra. She shared a screenshot of a Twitter handle ‘Official PKMKB’ which had praised the new Shinde government in Maharashtra.
Priyanka Chaturvedi’s tweet
Shinde formed government in Maharashtra after the Shiv Sena faction led by him revolted and brought down the NCP-Shiv Sena-Congress government in the state. Chaturvedi perhaps thought the ‘Official PKMKB’ hailing Shinde government is a great point to attack the current dispensation.
Except, the thing is, it is a parody account. The location of PKMKB Academy is ‘Karachi, India’, instead of ‘Karachi, Pakistan’. Karachi is a part of Pakistan and not India, yet. But more importantly, PKMKB is actually an acronym for an Internet slang used to mock Pakistanis by Indians. The term gained prominence after Indian Armed Forces carried out surgical strikes in February 2019 to destroy the terror camps across the border after the February 14 terror attack that took lives of 40 CRPF personnel in Pulwama. Since then, Indian Twitter users have often used ‘PKMKB‘ acronym as a triumphant cry whenever Pakistan loses, whether it is a cricket match or general mess the not-so-friendly neighbourhood country is in.
To think Chaturvedi fell for a parody account and thought PKMKB Academy is an actual academy of some importance and significance across the border just shows how clueless the politicians really are. One glance at their profile and one could easily figure out it is a troll account. But then, that would mean putting pressure on the mind.
Priyanka Chaturvedi and her complicated relationship with maths
Priyanka Chaturvedi has quite often displayed her poor understanding of Mathematics. During the migrant crisis following the Coronavirus lockdown, she falsely claimed that the Modi government amassed huge profits by running special trains for migrant workers.
The Sena leader failed to comprehend the difference between the ‘revenue earned’ and ‘profit’. Contrary to the claims of Priyanka Chaturvedi that the Indian Railways earned huge profits, the Railways has spent Rs 2,142 crore on running Shramik Special trains but earned a ‘revenue’ of just Rs 429 crore and did not incur any ‘profit’. In fact, the Modi government had incurred a loss of nearly Rs 1,700 crores after it ran Shramik trains to ferry back the stranded migrant labours from various parts of the country.
As early as 2014, she was seen misreading numbers and portraying growth as an impediment of Modi government’s Achhe Din.
She had said how Index of Industrial Production for consumer goods had gone from -23.4 in June 2014 to -20.9 in July 2014 – which is actually an increase in the index, and tried to take a jibe at Modi govt. She has since deleted the tweet.
After that, she had also got the data for dyslexia wrong. She had falsely claimed that 15% of all students are somehow dyslexic and that their total count stood at 228 million. Which cannot be true as a report from 2014 suggested that total number of students in India are 315 million. This includes school and college going students. Of these, not everyone is going to school, so number of schoolgoing children is even less. Of that, students with diagnosed or undiagnosed dyslexia would be even less.
Chaturvedi has also been previously snubbed by Poland’s Ambassador to India for propagating false information amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
