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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

‘PM Modi is anti-Hindu like Prithviraj Chauhan and MK Gandhi’: Yati Narsimhanand booked for derogatory remarks. What he said

OpIndia Staff
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‘PM Modi is anti-Hindu like Prithviraj Chauhan and MK Gandhi’: Yati Narsimhanand booked for derogatory remarks. What he said

On Tuesday (November 8), the Ghaziabad police informed that a case has been registered against Dasna Devi temple priest Yati Narsinghanand for allegedly making derogatory remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other important figures in a viral video.

The case has been registered at the Masuri police station, Superintendent of Police Rural, Ghaziabad, Iraj Raja informed.

Yati Narsinghanand had in the viral video alleged that PM Modi is working on the ‘anti-Hindu’ lines of Prithviraj Chauhan and MK Gandhi and how Veer Savarkar and Nathuram Godse are labelled as traitors.

“What Modiji is doing is exactly what Prithviraj Chauhan did in his time; Chauhan did not leave any Hindu alive and did not spare the daughters of kings; instead, he abducted daughters of all the kings.” He even abducted his own brother’s daughter and did not leave a single prominent Rajput warrior but did not kill the Muslims, he deliberately forgave terrorist Mohammad Ghori in order to portray himself as a great king, however, ended up getting killed by Muslims only. This is exactly what Gandhiji did, and this is exactly what Modiji is doing. You laud Prithviraj Chauhan, Gandhiji, and Modiji as great, praise Modi, and applaud him for his foreign visits and achievements, but you have no idea what is happening to you. Gandhi becomes a hero, while Jaichand becomes a villain. This is a country of slaves, and Hindus are trapped in that mindset, which is why people like Jaichand, Veer Savarkar, and Nathuram Godse are labeled traitors and subjected to abuse,” he said in the viral video.

In a video message tweeted by the official Twitter handle of the Ghaziabad Police, SP Raja said, “A viral video doing rounds on social media in which Mahant Yati Narsinghanand made derogatory remarks about the Hon’ble Prime Minister and other great leaders has come to notice.” Taking cognizance of which, a case has been registered at Mussoorie Police Station.”

Notably, the police have registered a case under IPC sections 153a (promoting enmity between different groups) and 295a (deliberate act intended to outrage religious feelings). Police have stated that further probe into the matter is underway and necessary action will be taken. 

This is, however, not the first time that Yati Narisinghanand has made such demeaning and controversial comments. On August 29, 2021, a video of Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati went viral on social media platforms in which he was heard using derogatory language against women in politics, especially against those who are in BJP.

Madhya Pradesh: Shahrukh arrested for pretending to be Rajkumar, marrying a Hindu woman and forcing her to convert to Islam

OpIndia Staff
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Madhya Pradesh: Shahrukh arrested for pretending to be Rajkumar, marrying a Hindu woman and forcing her to convert to Islam

The Madhya Pradesh Police arrested a person named Saharukh under the state’s anti-love jihad law for hiding his religious identity from a 25-year-old Hindu woman and sexually exploiting her for over 5 months. The accused also abused the woman and threatened her to convert her religion to Islam, as per the complaint. The Police registered a case against the accused and arrested him on November 2.

According to the reports, accused Shahrukh (29) who was already married, had introduced himself as a Hindu person named Raju to the victim woman. The incident is said to have happened around January in Rajasthan’s Udaipur district. The woman, a resident of Indore, Madhya Pradesh had migrated with her friend to work as a housekeeping staff at a hotel in Udaipur.

The woman in the complaint confirmed that she met the accused when she had gone to Udaipur with her friend for a job. “On reaching the station, we booked an Ola cab to reach the hotel. Shahrukh was driving the vehicle. He introduced himself as Raju alias Rajkumar and tried to have a friendly conversation with us. We got acquainted and I started calling him every day to drop me from my residence to the hotel”, she said.

She added that they got married to each other after the accused proposed to her for marriage after three months or so. “We had become good friends in a short time as we used to meet daily. Later I realized that he liked me and also I had started liking him. He proposed to me for marriage one day and we got married after I agreed”, she stated. The accused and the victim got married seven months ago and started living together. The duo also registered their marriage in the court five months ago.

According to the woman, it is during the festival of Diwali that she discovered the truth about the accused. She discovered that her husband was a Muslim, his name was Shahrukh, and that he was already married to a Muslim woman. She also came to know that he was the father of two kids, one aged 7 and the other aged 4. “His wife had called during Diwali and I happened to talk to her. I told her that she had called the wrong number and that this cell phone number belonged to my husband Raju. But she argued and told me that the number belonged to her husband Shahrukh for years now. Later I checked his ID cards to discover that he was a Muslim and that I was cheated”, the victim woman was quoted.

On inquiring, the accused confessed that he was a Muslim and justified his crime by saying that a man is allowed to marry four women according to his religion. He also forced the victim to convert her religion to Islam and stay together with his family which included his first wife and two children. He also made her hostage and threatened her for life if she failed to accept Islam as her new religion.

The woman somehow managed to reach Indore and sought help from her family as the accused continued to threaten her over the phone. She also sought help from the members of the Hindu Jagran Manch and registered a Police complaint against the accused. The police then asked the woman to call the accused to Indore on the pretext of having a conversation, and later arrested him on November 2.

This is not the first case of grooming jihad that has been reported from the state of Madhya Pradesh. Earlier on October 29, in a similar case, the Madhya Pradesh Police had arrested a man identified as Sheikh Jahid under the state’s law against forced conversion attempts for hiding his religious identity from a Hindu woman and raping her for over 7 years. The accused had introduced himself as a Brahmin and had developed sexual relations with her.

Also, in August 2021, Aqib Ansari introduced himself as Aman Solanki to befriend a 21-year-old Hindu woman living on rent in his locality in the Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh. Reportedly, Aqib also visited temples to assert his ‘Hindu identity.’ He promised to marry the woman and established a sexual relationship with her and later forced her to convert her religion to Islam. The Police then filed a case against Aqib under IPC Section 376, Atrocities Act and Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Ordinance, 2020 Act.

Uttar Pradesh: Sikandar and Kichad arrested for rioting after Taj Mohammad burnt Quran in mosque, Parvez, Irshad, Danish, 300 unnamed rioters booked

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Uttar Pradesh: Sikandar and Kichad arrested for rioting after Taj Mohammad burnt Quran in mosque, Parvez, Irshad, Danish, 300 unnamed rioters booked

On November 8, Shahjahanpur Police informed the media that two persons, identified as Sikandar and Kichad, were arrested for alleged rioting after a copy of the Quran was found burning in the Farkh-e-Alam Miyan mosque. One Taj Mohammad burned a copy of the holy book on November 2. The police arrested him based on the evidence gathered using CCTV footage on November 3.

As per reports, hundreds of people from the Muslim community gathered outside the mosque after learning that a copy of the holy book was found burnt. They started protesting over the incident. The police reached the spot, after which the crowd got agitated and started rioting. They also tore posters and burnt them.

The rioters blocked the road. The shopkeepers immediately shut their shops to ensure their safety. People who were outside ran back to their homes and closed the doors. Superintendent of Police S Anand said the rioters caused hindrance in police work.

Beri Police Station in-charge Pranjal Singh Yadav filed a complaint in the matter at Kotwali Police station in the matter. An FIR was registered on November 5 under Sections 147, 186, and 341 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) based on the complaint against Sikandar, Parvez, Irshad, Kichad, Danish and others. 300 unnamed rioters were also booked in the FIR. Out of the 18 named in the FIR, two accused, Sikandar and Kichad, have been arrested and sent to jail.

Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sanjay Kumar said in a statement that raids were being carried out to arrest the other accused.

Taj Mohammad was arrested for burning Quran

On November 3, Shahjahanpur police arrested Taj Mohammad for burning Quran. When questioned, Taj Mohammad said it wasn’t him but his soul that committed this act. Syed Shah Fakhre Alam Mian Mosque is located in Mohalla Bavujai of Chowk Kotwali area of Shahjahanpur city. On Wednesday evening, two youths barged into the mosque and burnt the Quran kept there. When Imam Hafiz Nadeem and others arrived for evening prayers, seeing the burnt pages of the Quran, they informed the Imam of the mosque.

Taj Mohammad alias Munna lives in the Badjui area, which is located at a distance of 3 kilometres from the mosque. This area comes under the Sadar Bazar police station of Shahjahanpur.

‘My soul burnt the Quran’, says accused Taj Mohammad

Taj Mohammad said in his confession, “I don’t do any work. I’m always roaming around being jobless. My family is not getting me married. This keeps me upset.” When asked why he burned the religious text, accused Taj Mohammad said, “It is not me but my soul that has burnt it.” On Thursday morning, the District Magistrate took stock of the area. He appealed to everyone not to pay heed to rumours.

This is their job to divide people by making such remarks: JP Nadda lashes out at Congress over Satish Jarkiholi saying ‘Hindu’ is a ‘dirty word’

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This is their job to divide people by making such remarks: JP Nadda lashes out at Congress over Satish Jarkiholi saying ‘Hindu’ is a ‘dirty word’

On Tuesday (November 8), BJP President JP Nadda slammed the Congress party for entertaining the derogatory remarks of its leader Satish Jarkiholi against the Hindu community and sowing divisions in the society. He made the remarks in an exclusive interview with psephologist Pradeep Bhandari of India News.

At about 4:25 minutes into the conversation, Bhandari remarked, “Congress party is engaged in its ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra‘. A senior leader from Karnataka, Satish Jarkiholi, has said that Hindu is a Persian word and it means dirty. How do you analyse such comments?”

JP Nadda responded, “This is not a ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ but rather a ‘Bharat Todo Yatra’. People like Satish are players in the Congress’ agenda. This is their job to divide people by making such remarks.”

The BJP President pointed out that Rahul Gandhi had earlier gone to JNU to show solidarity with those associated with anti-India sloganeering.

“After terrorists were assassinated in the Batla House encounter, Sonia Gandhi couldn’t sleep for nights. This is their level of affection…People like Satish are their foot soldiers,” Nadda concluded.

The Background of the controversy

On Sunday (November 6), Satish Jarkiholi made derogatory remarks against the Hindu community at Nippani in the Belagavi district of Karnataka. He said that the word ‘Hindu’ originated from Persia and was not an Indian term.

He claimed that the original meaning of the term was dirty and insulting and also wondered why people in India were taking the term ‘Hindu’ so seriously.

“Where did the term Hindu come from? Is it our own? No. It is of Persian origin. Where is that? It refers to countries like Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. What is the relationship between India and such countries? How can it be an Indian term? There needs to be a debate on this,” he alleged.

“Please refer to sites like Wikipedia. If it is not an Indian term, why are some people taking it so seriously? If you understand its original meaning, you will be ashamed of yourself. The original meaning of the term is very dirty and insulting,” he further claimed.

The video clip of the incident went viral over social media with many including the Congress party criticizing the leader for passing controversial comments against Hinduism. On Tuesday (November 8), Satish said that he stood by his objectionable remarks.

JP Nadda lashes out at AAP

On being asked by Pradeep Bhandari about BJP leadership’s fierce attacks on AAP, he pointed out that it was necessary to counter the party’s propaganda in time.

“Ya banner-based party hai, hum cadre-based party hai (Aam Aadmi Party is a banner-based party while we are a cadre-based party,” he reiterated. The BJP President revealed how the Arvind Kejriwal-led party puts up large banners and gives a false impression of winning elections.

“It has lost deposits in Uttarkhand, and Goa and will lose deposits in Himachal Pradesh as well. AAP makes narratives through advertisements and people can now see through their administrative failure..”

JP Nadda also exposed the doublespeak of Arvind Kejriwal. “He has zero credibility left. He earlier promised to not fight elections, form a party, take support from congress or give tickets to criminals. Three of AAP leaders are now languishing in jail,” the BJP President emphasised.”

JP Nadda on upcoming elections

He also pointed out that the real competitor of BJP in the poll-bound States of Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat is Congress, despite its leaders treating the Vidhan Sabha elections as local elections.

The BJP president dismissed the ‘rebel factor’ in Himachal Pradesh and said that it would have negligible impact in such a ‘politically aware State.’ He pointed out how the top leadership of the Congress has refrained from campaigning in the State, leaving it up to local leaders to fend for themselves.

He informed that the saffron party will outperform itself in Himachal Pradesh as compared to the 2017 Vidhan Sabha polls and that the party is in a comfortable position in Gujarat (despite the surmounting anti-incumbency).

While highlighting the recent victory in the Gopalganj by-poll, JP Nadda said that it was proof enough that the BJP can manage to win elections despite Opposition unity and consolidation of its votes.

Islamic terrorists with weapons shown as football players: French satirical newspaper offends Qatar ahead of FIFA World Cup

OpIndia Staff
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Islamic terrorists with weapons shown as football players: French satirical newspaper offends Qatar ahead of FIFA World Cup

On Tuesday, Qatar which is all set to host this year’s Football World Cup slammed a cartoon published by a French satirical newspaper showing Qatari football players as terrorists. The caricature has sparked outrage on social media with many Qatari users calling it ‘racist and Islamophobic’.

According to the reports, the cartoon was published by a French newspaper named Le Canard enchainé in its October issue. The image specifically focused on Qatar and its role as the host of the FIFA World Cup 2022. The Qatari users on social media slammed the cartoon and also questioned the ethics of the publication for illustrating a derogatory depiction of racism, supremacy, and Islamophobia.

The image published by the French newspaper shows seven bearded men with “Qatar” emblazoned across their shirts above large numerals. They appear to be playing football through the dunes, armed with machetes, rifles, and rocket launchers. One can also be seen wearing an explosive belt. Five are dressed in blue robes, while the other two are dressed in black shirts and trousers with black masks concealing their faces, resembling ISIS terrorists. Five guys in white robes stand on the sidelines, watching the game. 

The controversial image in the French magazine

One of the enraged users criticized the publication and said, “Le Canard Enchaîné published a despicable cartoon showing its blatant racism and hatred of Islam. They describe Qatar as an authoritarian emirate and its national team as terrorists”.

“A special issue issued by the French newspaper Cannar Enchaine about Qatar. You cannot imagine the extent of the hidden French hatred, contempt and insult to Qatar, its people, its government and its symbols. I wonder why the Qatari ambassador is still in Paris”, another user tweeted.

Meanwhile, Hamad Al-Kawari, a minister of state and the president of Qatar’s National Library also took cognizance of the incident and asked France to show some sportsmanship. “Even caustic satire is welcome!!! But the Canard Enchaîné decided to resort to lies, hatred and grudges to attack Qatar and denigrate it,” he tweeted.

Earlier last month, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani had criticized an ‘unprecedented campaign’ of criticisms against the country ahead of the World Cup. “It became clear to us that the campaign continues, expands, and includes fabrication and double standards until it reached a level of ferocity that made many questions, unfortunately, the real reasons and motives behind this campaign”, he had said. He also added that no other country had faced this level of criticism in the past.

He also slammed several Western countries like Germany on November 8 after they called for a boycott of the upcoming event in the Arab country for its position on LGBTQ+ rights and use of ‘slave labor’. “It is ironic when this tone is struck in countries in Europe that call themselves liberal democracies. It honestly sounds very arrogant and very racist,” the minister was quoted as saying to the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

Reports mention that several cities in France, including the capital Paris, will not broadcast World Cup matches, citing concerns about migrant workers’ rights and the game’s impact on the environment. Qatar’s management of migrant workers and human rights record have been under question since the country has been given the privilege to organize the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Recently, Qatar’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani accused Germany of ‘double standards’over the reports of criticism for the country being allowed to host the World Cup. He also reminded the people that the European countries have no problem with Qatar when it comes to energy partnerships or investments.

Qatar won the right to host the summer World Cup in December 2010 against all odds in 50 degrees celsius temperature, before FIFA moved the World Cup to winter for the first time in history to protect players from that heat. The tournament will now be held in the small Arabian country and about 1.2 million international visitors are expected in Qatar during the Nov 20- Dec 18 tournament.

It is notable here that Qatar has been linked with Islamic terrorism and has been accused of spreading Wahabism by many sources. Its links to numerous organisations that fund the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas, Al Qaeda etc have been highlighted in recent times.

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