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Ganesha idol installed at Hubbali-Dharwad Eidgah Maidan after Karnataka HC permits, Muslim body’s attempts to stop Puja thwarted

OpIndia Staff
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Ganesha idol installed at Hubbali-Dharwad Eidgah Maidan after Karnataka HC permits, Muslim body’s attempts to stop Puja thwarted

On August 31, Shri Ganesha’s idol was installed at Hubbali Eidgah Maidan after Karnataka High Court allowed Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations at the said ground.

Anjuman-E-Islam had petitioned against the Dharwad Municipality’s permission to allow Ganesh Puja on the said ground. But the Court rejected the plea saying that the ground is owned by the municipality, and just because Muslims are allowed to offer prayers twice a year, they can’t block others from using the ground.

On Tueaday night, the court heard the urgent plea at 10 PM challenging the Municipal Commimssioner’s order that allowed Ganeshotsav celebrations at Hubbali’s Eidgah Maidan. In its order, the court said that there is no dispute over the title of the ground, it is owned by the municipality which has not been contested by the petitioner, therefore the municipality can allow anyone to use it. The court observed, “In this particular case, there is no title dispute, hence the petitioner is not entitled to SC interim order. Go ahead for Ganesh Chaturthi at Hubbali’s Eidgah Maidan.”

The HC was referring to a Supreme Court order on a similar case regarding a ground in Bengaluru, where the apex court has ordered status quo and didn’t permit to hold Ganeshotsav as a title dispute is going on in case of that ground.

The Ganeshotsav started on August 31 this year.

While representing the case for the State Government, Additional Advocate General Dhyan Chinnappa pointed out that Hubballi’s Eidgah Maidan matter is different from the Bengaluru Eidgah Maidan matter, where the Supreme Court had asked both parties to maintain the status quo on August 30. He said, “In Bengaluru case, government’s order was challenged. That is a disputed question, as Waqf could not prove the title claim. In this case, that question is not there. In this case, a suit was filed a long ago. The suit was allowed. It was instituted by private parties.”

He further added, “The trial court declared that the public had the right to use the land. The first appeal court answered the question by asking whether the property belonged to Waqf. The court dismissed the appeal, and even SLP was dismissed. Here, there is no dispute on title and possession. They only have the right to conduct namaz for two days on Ramzaan and Eid al-Adha.”

AAG Chinnappa said the Hubbali-Dharwad Municipal Corporation has exclusive possession of the land. “The right of the corporation to utilise the way it wants is there. If they are prohibited for the two days mentioned, I understand they can come to court, but if it is not for the two days then it cannot be. Ultimately what was given was a license and not right. The Commissioner has passed this order on taking account all factors,” he said.

It is notable that the corporation has decided to install a Ganapati idol for three days at Hubbali Eidgah Maidan. The decision was announced following a meeting on Monday by Mayor Iresh Anchatageri. Muslims have been granted permission to hold prayers at that particular ground twice a year. On the other hand, it is used by HDMC to hoist the national flag on Independence Day and Republic Day, and used as a parking ground on most other days.

Supreme Court ordered to maintain status quo in Bengaluru’s Idgah Maidan matter

Earlier on Tuesday, the Supreme Court denied permission for Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations at the disputed Idgah Maidan in Bengaluru. The apex court imposed a status quo on the Maidan on a petition by the Karnataka Waqf Board and said, “No pooja, no namaaz as of now.”

Directing the parties to seek a settlement through the Karnataka High Court, the SC remarked, “You can hold the Pooja somewhere else. Interim status quo (will remain) for two days and go back to High Court.”

The Idgah Maidan has been at the centre of a controversy, with both the Karnataka Waqf Board and the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike claiming its ownership.

The Supreme Court was hearing a petition filed by the Karnataka Waqf Board against the Karnataka High Court, which granted the state government permission to consider the application for the use of the Eidgah Maidan in Chamarajpet, Bengaluru, for religious activities (primarily Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations) for a limited period beginning August 31.

Rana Ayyub’s tweet on Ganesh Chaturthi shows how ‘Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb’ is nothing but a farce and slap on the face of Hindus

Nirwa Mehta
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Rana Ayyub’s tweet on Ganesh Chaturthi shows how ‘Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb’ is nothing but a farce and slap on the face of Hindus

The ‘liberals’ and ‘seculars’ in India have often taken pride in the ‘Ganga-Jamuni’ tehzeeb (the peaceful coexistence of two different communities – Hindus and Muslims) in India where usually the onus of maintaining such ‘tehzeeb’ is squarely on the shoulders of Hindus.

It is usually the ‘secular and liberal’ Hindus who would gleefully participate in Eid celebrations and sing paeans about the biryani and sevaiyan, but the ‘secular and liberal’ Muslims would hardly attend Pujas of Hindus, bow their head before the deity, or even respectfully eat the prasad you serve them because for a ‘believer’, idol worship is the biggest sin as per their holy books and participating in festivals of such idol worshippers is shirk (disallowed in Islam).

Whenever this is pointed out, the ‘secular liberal’ elites of the country will call you communal and bigoted. This, when you are doing nothing but stating facts. Apparently, any comment on the Muslim community in India is like walking on eggshells because as we have seen in recent past even quoting their religious text about their divine figures (peace be upon them) leads to riots and beheading.

Speaking of riots and beheading, here is a reminder that not a single Muslim celebrity or celebrity journalist has said it in as many words that the ‘Gustakh-e-Rasool’ (blasphemy of Prophet Muhammad) should not be punishable with death. They may have condemned threats and attacks and hateful ‘sar tan se juda’ slogans, but will NOT say it in as many words that blasphemy in the name of their divine figures should NOT be punishable by death. Ask any of them to say and watch them obfuscate.

However, in recent times, the ‘secular liberal’ elite Muslims celebrities have shed any kind of pretence and have finally come out in the open to display their own bigotry in full glory. They are now trying to pass off their bigotry under the veil (pun not intended) of perpetual victimhood.

Rana Ayyub showing off her bigotry

Eidgah/Idgah is an open land where usually the people of Muslim community congregate to celebrate Eid, for Ramzan and Bakri Eid. On other times, the land is used for playing cricket, football and other such activities. In recent past, it has been used as the ground for protests by Islamists where anti-India ‘Azaadi’ slogans are chanted. In an Idgah ground at Deoband, a 43-day-old child was allowed to die by ‘protestors’ back in March 2020 while protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

CAA only fast-tracked the Indian citizenship for persecuted religious minorities from the neighbouring Islamic countries: Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. However, Indian Muslims gathered in large number to protest against fast-tracking Indian citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Parsis who have fled from these countries to seek refuge in India.

But then there are some Islamists like financial fraud accused Washington Post columnist Rana Ayyub who would rather not have the idol worshippers to celebrate their festival on a ground which is currently not hosting any festival or protest, both of them usually end up in violence.

If you are so inclusive and welcoming of other person’s faith, the way you pretend, why not ‘allow’ Hindus to celebrate the festival in a vacant ground? Is it because the ground, where the people from Muslim community offer their prayers, will have a temporary moorti installed there and idol worship is a sin?

This when the ‘secular liberal’ Hindus have opened their temples to let people from Muslim community to offer namaz on Jumma (Friday). In many places in India, for the Jumma namaz, Muslims gather on road and offer the prayer. To quote Rana Ayyub herself, imagine having so much land at disposal but choosing to block roads every week to offer prayers. Maybe the Hindus can learn a lesson or two and occupy Ram Leela Maidan and make sure no loser is allowed to hold dharnas there which evolve into a trash political party that could end up forming government in national capital.

The Waqf board in India owns the land of Idgahs and other mosques, graveyards, madarsas and other religious places for Muslims in India. As per some estimates, after Indian defence forces and Indian Railways, the Waqf owns the highest number of properties in India. Speaking of Waqf, here is an interesting statement by former Congress leader Kapil Sibal, who had famously argued against existence of Lord Ram in the court.

Kapil Sibal’s argument on Idgah land

Kapil Sibal, while arguing for Waqf said that while the Idgah ground has been sometimes used for celebrations like Republic Day or for children playing, how can it be allowed for celebration of festivals of others religions? How? HOW?

Sibal then put up a rhetorical question to the judges, that if other religious festivals are allowed on ground owned by Waqf, where only Islamic religious festivals are held, ‘Your Lordships know that what will happen’.

Hello, Mr Sibal, please tell us what will happen? Or is saying that the celebration of Hindu festivals will ‘provoke’ people and it will likely lead to riots (as it has time and again during procession of Ram Navami, Hanuman Jayanti, Rath Yatra) a blasphemy too? Are you, too, afraid of ‘sar tan se juda’ enthusiasts? I wouldn’t blame you if you are, though.

Everyone knows what ‘samuday vishesh’ is capable of doing. And that is definitely not ‘Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb’ compliant.

Supreme Court refuses permission for Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations on Idgah Maidan in Bengaluru, orders status quo

OpIndia Staff
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Supreme Court refuses permission for Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations on Idgah Maidan in Bengaluru, orders status quo

The Supreme Court Tuesday, denied permission for Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations at the disputed Idgah Maidan in Bengaluru. The apex court imposed a status quo on the Maidan on a petition by the Karnataka Waqf Board and said, “No pooja, no namaaz as of now.”

Directing the parties to seek a settlement through the Karnataka High Court, the SC remarked, “You can hold the Pooja somewhere else. Interim status quo (will remain) for two days and go back to High Court.”

The Idgah Maidan has been at the centre of a controversy with both the Karnataka Waqf Board and the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike claiming its ownership.

The Supreme Court was hearing a petition filed by the Karnataka Waqf Board against the Karnataka High Court, which granted the state government permission to consider the application for use of the Eidgah Maidan in Chamarajpet, Bengaluru, for religious activities (primarily Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations) for a limited period beginning August 31.

Notably, the High Court had earlier ruled that the government may grant authorization, but the waqf board appealed to the Supreme Court, claiming that such religious celebrations had not been performed in the area “for 200 years.” The court’s three-judge bench issued an interim order for “status quo as of today,” indicating that the festival will not take place on the grounds.

Senior advocate and former Congress leader Kapil Sibal, appearing on behalf of the Waqf Board, argued before the top court that the Karnataka HC’s order is in violation of the 1964 order passed by the Supreme Court.

Sibal also argued that the Karnataka HC’s order might change the ‘character of the maidan’ and that ‘nod to the puja at the maidan might hurt communal harmony.’

Sibal further read a judgment, saying that just because land is vacant, it cannot be vested with the government. He says that the Idgah is mentioned in records far back as 1931 and in 1871. “So Possession and Idgah and Graveyard are established,” he argued before the SC.

‘What is your apprehension regarding? Is it only for one particular festival that is to be celebrated at the maidan tomorrow or regarding permission for all festivals to be celebrated at the maidan?’ the bench asked the Waqf side.

In response, Sibal reiterated that ‘no other religious festival should be allowed except what we are allowed to do.’

Appearing for the petitioner, senior advocate Dushyant Dave said it is an encroachment on religious affairs. “The Solicitor General before the Division Bench showed an order, did not share with us, which allowed for the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations on the ground and hence, this urgency. Waqf is an overriding act. It’s an encroachment on religious affairs. Is this the example they are setting on religious minorities that their rights can be tampered with?”

Justice Oka questioned if the land is used earlier for festivals like this. Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing the Karnataka Government, replied in the negative.

Justice Oka further said if you see the order of the single judge, even the single judge has granted liberty to apply for a modification, and instead of doing that you go for appeal.

Rohatgi said that even if the land was not used in the past, it cannot be an argument to say it cannot be used now. “All the revenue entries are in favour of the state. Properties that don’t belong to anyone are of the government. It was a suit for injunction, not for the title. Survey 40 has been noted as Sarkaari Land,” he said.

Responding to Rohatgi, Dave said, “If he is wrong he is in contempt.”

Rohatgi further said: “At the end of the day position is it (Idgah land) is open ground, they are allowed prayers for two days a year and children play on the ground. Does it even establish possession? Forget the title!”

“In India, the position is, In every house, every courtyard, Durga Puja happens in Bengal. In every building, in Gujarat, Dandiya is conducted. In Delhi, Dushhehra is celebrated in every park. So these people NEED TO BE OPEN MINDED!” the Karnataka Govt’s counsel Mukul Rohatgi added.

After hearing the arguments presented by both sides, the apex court 3-judge bench comprising of Justices Indira Banerjee, AS Oka and MM Sundresh asked that the status quo be maintained by both sides as of today and asked parties to approach Karnataka High Court for resolution of the dispute.

Meanwhile responding to the SC ruling Bengaluru Police Commissioner CH Pratap Reddy said, “We’ve deployed an adequate police force. SC judgment will be binding on all of us including the police. We will ensure that the status quo is maintained.”

What is the dispute over the ownership of the 2.5-acre Idgah Maidan in Chamarajpet

The 2.1 acres of land in the middle of Chamrajpet, one of the oldest localities of Bengaluru has been embroiled in an ownership issue. Two months ago, the city’s municipal corporation, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) claimed the playground to be its property. Meanwhile, Muslim organisations asserted that the land actually belonged to the Karnataka State Waqf Board.

What BBMP and the Waqf Board claims

According to the BBMP, the Idgah maidan was identified as a playground and public property belonging to the city corporation in the 1974 metropolis survey. The BBMP further claimed that neither the Karnataka State Board of AUQAF nor any Muslim organisation participated in the city’s 1974 survey, nor did any Muslim organisation document their claim to ownership of the contested land.

Because the title was not transferred to any Muslim organisation, the BBMP claims to have been in possession of the contested land since 2006. According to the BBMP, the authority has also constructed pavements surrounding the Maidan, a public restroom, and a drinking water facility.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka State Waqf Board asserts that the 2.1 acre of contested land is a registered waqf property and that it has been so since the 1850s.

The controversy re-surfaced in June this year after Hindu organisations demanded that the site be made accessible for events such as Independence Day, International Yoga Day, Ganesha Festival, and others.

In the first week of June this year, a newly formed Hindu outfit, Chamarajpet Nagareekara Okkoota Vedike approached civic authority Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) requesting permission to access the Idgah maidan.

In response, the BBMP clarified that the Idgah Maidan in Chamarajpet is a BBMP playground that may be used by all communities with permission from the Joint Commissioner, BBMP (West). The Karnataka State Board of Auqaf, on the other hand, claimed that the land was a gazetted Wakf property. Following this, the BBMP stated that no approvals for events would be granted until the disagreement was settled.

Police install CCTV cameras at Karnataka’s Idgah Maidan, as Hindus question why only Muslims were allowed to use the site

Meanwhile, the Karnataka Police, in partnership with the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), decided to install closed-circuit television cameras (CCTVs) around the 2.5-acre Idgah Maidan in Chamarajpet.

The department met with BBMP officials and decided to install CCTV cameras around Idgah Maidan, according to a senior police officer. “Twelve CCTV cameras are being fixed surrounding the site. The cameras come with 4MP Zoom and 4K Clarity features and will be connected to monitor the premises. Chamrajpet police station will have access to the footage,” he said.

The Central Muslim Association (CMA), which presented paperwork and records to the BBMP on Thursday supporting their claim to the site, stated on Friday that while they were unaware of the intentions for CCTVs to be placed there, they would not oppose it since it would boost security surrounding the land.

AAP Gujarat chief Isudan Gadhvi comes out to support video that shows anti-Gujarat ‘activists’ Medha Patkar and Teesta Setalvad in positive light

OpIndia Staff
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AAP Gujarat chief Isudan Gadhvi comes out to support video that shows anti-Gujarat ‘activists’ Medha Patkar and Teesta Setalvad in positive light

On Tuesday, August 30, the Aam Aadmi Party Gujarat chief Isuden Gadhvi took to Twitter to support a video that showed the anti-Gujarat ‘activist’ Medha Patkar and the self-proclaimed ‘activist’ Teesta Setalvad in a positive light. Teesta Setalvad is currently in custody in a case of forgery and falsifying information about the 2002 Gujarat riots

Actually, Isuden Gadhvai reshared a tweet posted by AAP leader Sanjay Singh. He captioned his Tweet in Hindi that roughly translates to, “This is the BJP model! The more sins you commit, the better your position in the party becomes.”

AAP leader Sanjay Singh’s Tweet, which the Gujarat AAP chief retweeted, was intended to mock Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinay Kumar Saxena, against whom the party has recently launched an ad hominem attack, accusing him of money laundering.

On 26 May, VK Saxena took charge as Delhi L-G, replacing Anil Baijal.

Sharing a Tweet posted by a Twitter user named Shubham, the AAP leader captioned his in Hindi, “From what I am listening, this LG is a very dangerous man. He is accused of attacking with help of gangs, he has an FIR filed against him. Why did Modi ji choose the person against whom significant accusations of corruption and criminality had been filed? L=Loot G=Gang LG_Saxena_Chor_Hai”.”

Twitter user Shubham’s Tweet that AAP leader Sanjay Singh shared included a video that attempted to portray anti-Gujarat ‘activists’ Medha Patkar and Teesta Setalvad in a favourable light while disparaging Delhi LG Vinay Kumar Saxena.

In the video, ‘farmer’ leader Dr Sunilam who is a former MLA from Madhya Pradesh and President of Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, eulogized ‘activists’ Medha Patkar and Teesta Setalvad while accusing Delhi LG VK Singh of trying to defame them. While giving a brief background about the Delhi LG and his association with an Ahmedabad-based NGO — National Council for Civil Liberties (NCCL), Dr Sunilam insinuated that Saxena had falsely tried to implicate Medha Patkar and Teesta Setalvad in several legal battles for gaining quick fame and trust of Modi.

Notably, Saxena has had prolonged legal battles with Patkar and Teesta Setalvad through an NGO named National Council for Civil Liberties, founded in 1991. These legal battles are said to be instrumental in clearing various hurdles in the way of the Sardar Sarovar Dam project.

By resharing the video in which Dr Sunilam portrays anti-Gujarat ‘activists’ Medha Patkar and Teesta Setalvad in a good light, AAP Gujarat chairman Isudan Gadhvi and leader Sanjay Singh have clearly extended their support to their actions against Gujarati interests.

It’s appalling, however, that while heaping praise on the two ‘activists,’ the ‘farmer’ leader chooses to ignore their previous misdeeds.

Medha Patkar and her past misdeeds

‘Activist’ Medha Patkar is best known for her ‘Narmada Bachao Andolan’ against the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada river. The protest contributed to the years-long postponement of the Sardar Sarovar Dam project on the Narmada River. So-called social activists and environmentalists like Medha Patkar expressed concern as soon as the construction of the project started. When Medha Patkar visited the project site in 1985, she accused that the dam had fallen short of the social and environmental requirements set forth by the Ministry of Environment and Forests.

Interestingly, the social ‘activist’, who has been receiving accolades from AAP leaders and their supporters also had an FIR filed against her in a cheating case in July this year. Medha Patkar and several others were accused of misusing funds in the name of educating tribal children.

Prior to this, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had also filed an FIR against activist Medha Patkar on April 5 this year for suspected money laundering during the “Narmada Bachao Andolan”. In addition to the ED, investigations into Patkar’s shady dealings have also been initiated by the Department of Revenue Intelligence and the Income Tax Department.

Recently, there have been speculations that AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal will announce Medha Patkar as his party’s CM face for the upcoming Gujarat Assembly elections. The Party has, however, neither confirmed the news nor denied it.

Medha Patkar was an AAP candidate in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Mumbai. She had, however, been defeated by the BJP’s Kirit Somaiya by a huge margin. While rumors abound that Patkar will be the AAP Gujarat CM face, it is worth noting that she announced her departure from the Aam Aadmi Party in 2015, calling its working a “tamasha.”

Teesta Setalvad and her activities related to Gujarat riots case

‘Activist’ Teesta Setalvad is widely respected in liberal echo chambers as a great humanitarian activist who has dedicated her life to the welfare of marginalised communities. The truth, however, is far from it. She rose to national fame due to her involvement in the Gujarat Riots case and the dedicated campaign she ran against then Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

In June this year, the so-called activist Teesta Setalvad was taken into custody in a case of forgery and influencing witnesses during the investigation of the Gujarat riots in 2002 that occurred after 59 Hindus were burned to death in a train in Godhra. Teesta Setalvad is accused of coaching witnesses and making ridiculous accusations in several cases related to the Gujarat riots in 2002.

The development came a day after the Supreme Court rejected claims of a larger conspiracy into the Gujarat riots by PM Narendra Modi. It had accused Teesta Setalvad of exploiting the emotions of petitioner Zakiya Jafri.

Jharkhand: Naeem Ansari, second accused in Ankita murder case was influenced by banned Bangladeshi jihadi outfit Ansar-ul-Bangla

OpIndia Staff
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Jharkhand: Naeem Ansari, second accused in Ankita murder case was influenced by banned Bangladeshi jihadi outfit Ansar-ul-Bangla

Hours after the arrest of the second accused named Naeem Ansari in the Ankita Singh murder case, the Jharkhand police have disclosed shocking revelations about the accused. The investigating officer in the case said that Naeem was highly influenced by a banned Islamic Jihadi organization from Bangladesh named Ansar-ul-Bangla.

According to the reports, the Police confiscated the mobile phone of the accused and traced the suspected contacts from his phone list. The Police, after checking Naeem’s phone, said that he often used to watch the activities of Ansar-ul-Bangla on his mobile. Naeem is a resident of Jaruwadih Mohalla of Dumka and works as a painter.

He used to watch the jihadi activities of the banned Bangladeshi organization and was highly influenced by their content. Reports mention that the main objective of the banned organization is to incite Islamic men to trap non-Islamic women in a love affair, marry them, and further force them to convert to Islam.

Reportedly, Naeem was supporting prime accused Shahrukh at every step in his harassment of the now deceased Ankita. During the interrogation of Naeem, he confessed that Shahrukh was his best friend and that they both had met on the evening of August 22 (hours before the attack). He said that Shahrukh was upset as Ankita was not responding positively to his (Shahrukh) friendship.

“Shahrukh told me that he would burn Ankita if she refuses to talk to him”, Naeem said during the interrogation. He further confessed that he supported Shahrukh’s idea saying that it was the only punishment she deserved. Ankita was burnt alive on August 23 at 4 am when she was fast asleep in her bedroom. The duo threw petrol in her room through a window and set her on fire.

The Police have arrested both the accused and have also collected evidence against them. The Police confirmed that the accused Shahrukh knew Ankita for a long time and used to harass her frequently. Days after Ankita’s death, videos of her last words are going viral over social media where she can be heard demanding a painful death for the accused who set her on fire. “He should die the way I am dying today,” the Dumka girl had said before breathing her last at 2.30 am on Sunday morning.

Ankita reiterated that Shahrukh Hussain had threatened her with dire consequences the night before the attack. She further recalled how she went and immediately informed her father about the same. Since it was late in the night, her father asked her to sleep and said they would think about what step needed to be taken the next morning.

Ankita further said in her dying declaration that she was in deep sleep at around 4 in the morning, when Shahrukh and his friend, threw petrol at her from the room’s window and set her on fire. When her eyes opened, she saw the two running away. On being asked, Ankita confirmed that the area she lived in had a predominantly Muslim population.

The police investigation into the case is underway. The Police said that they will also check Naeem’s old criminal records if any and will bring his contacts under the scanner.

Such incidents of burning keep on happening- Patna-based Journalist Simab Akhtar tries to normalise murder of Ankita Kumari, apologises later

OpIndia Staff
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Such incidents of burning keep on happening- Patna-based Journalist Simab Akhtar tries to normalise murder of Ankita Kumari, apologises later

There has been widespread outrage across the country and calls for Shahrukh Hussain to be punished in the wake of the Ankita Singh murder case in Jharkhand. Amidst all this, Simab Akhtar, a News4Nation journalist from Patna, has attempted to defend Shahrukh Hussain’s crime. Simab stated in a Facebook post that such incidents are common and that she was burnt alive because of cheating.

The screenshot of the comment by Simab has since gone viral over the internet. In the post, Simab wrote, “Shouldn’t get too agitated. This burning and all is anyway common” (translated). After reading this comment, a user asked him, “Where have you learned such journalism from? Simab Akhtar sir. Your language is not good at all.”

Image Credit: Twitter Shubham Bhardwaj.

To that, instead of condemning what Shahrukh did, Simab responded by saying, “She cheated, therefore she was burnt. Where there is lust, there sympathy…” (translated).

Following the comments by Simab Akhtar, several social media users condemned his attitude towards the victim. Raising the matter, Shubham Bhardwaj of Bajrang Dal took to Twitter and wrote, “Journalist Simab Akhtar has made indecent remarks on sister Ankita Singh who was burnt by heretics. Is there any government machinery to take action?”

Twitter user Mihir Jha wrote, “Meet Simab Akhtar – Patna-based senior Journalist of News4Nation. This is how he’s celebrating #Shahrukh burning #AnkitaSingh He then goes on to make se¥ually suggestive comments again.”

Following the outrage on social media, Simab Akhtar took a U-turn and apologised for his remarks made on Facebook. In a tweet, he wrote, “I had made an inappropriate comment on Ankita Singh for which I am very sorry and apologize to all of you. Shahrukh, who killed sister Ankita should get the death sentence..! There is no place for criminals who commit such acts in society.”

It is to be noted that Ankita Kumari, who was set ablaze by her stalker neighbour named Shahrukh Hussain on Tuesday (August 23) morning in Dumka in Jharkhand, died on Sunday in hospital. Ankita breathed her last at 2:30 AM on Sunday morning. She was admitted to Ranchi RIMS for treatment.

Karnataka: Udupi Municipality passes a unanimous resolution for ‘Veer Savarkar Circle’ near District Court, BJP welcomes decision

OpIndia Staff
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Karnataka: Udupi Municipality passes a unanimous resolution for ‘Veer Savarkar Circle’ near District Court, BJP welcomes decision

On Tuesday, the Udupi Municipal body announced its decision to name the circle near the District Court in the city as ‘Veer Savarkar Circle’. This is days after Udupi MLA Raghupati Bhat wrote to the city municipality and demanded to rename a circle near the District Court in the name of Veer Savarkar.

According to the reports, the Council of the Udupi Municipal Body unanimously passed an order stating that there will be a circle near the District Court which will be named after Veer Savarkar. Reportedly, there were no protests registered from the opposition political parties including Congress in the given case. The decision has also been welcomed by the BJP in the city.

The Udupi Municipal Body is governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Earlier the issue of installing the statue of Savarkar at Brahmagiri Circle had become prominent as Hindu leader Yashpal Suvarna had appealed to the city municipality to install a statue of Savarkar at Brahmagiri Circle.

Also, banners of Veer Savarkar were put up by Hindu Mahasabha leaders at Brahmagiri Circle in Udupi on August 15. Suvarna also had garlanded the flex and had hoisted two saffron flags next to it. The Police however had removed the flags saying that there was no permission granted for the event.

The pressure on the city municipality had further mounted after several Hindu organizations including the Hindu Maha Sabha and Hindu Jagarana Vedike also started appealing for the establishment of a statue of Veer Savarkar. The Hindu leaders had then announced that they would install Savarkar’s statue at the spot of the banner put up at the Brahmagiri Circle in Udupi.

The matter of placing the banner of Veer Savarkar was also opposed by the SDPI who had said that they were against the ‘Hindu Rashtra’ and slogans related to it being written on the banner. SDPI Udupi district vice-president Shahid Ali had noted that SDPI had no issues with Veer Savarkar or any other freedom fighter, but it is opposed to the ‘oppressive and regressive captions and slogans’ that were being raised then.

However, MLA Raghupati Bhat on August 23 opined that it was better to rename a circle as Savarkar circle than to install the idol. “It is not right to install the statue. If someone vandalizes the statue, it will create controversy. I have written a letter to the city municipality to rename the circle Savarkar circle. I will propose this in the next session of the city municipality. Definitely, the Veer Savarkar circle will be formed in Udupi. In addition, we will make an Ambedkar circle also”, he had said.

Bhat then also had raised the issue of hijab and said that the CFI had deliberately escalated the issue. He had said that it was CFI who had started the hijab controversy. He also stated that CFI would be held responsible if any girl student is deprived of education due to hijab row.

Delhi: Student admitted to hospital after ceiling fan falls on her head inside school, concerns were raised earlier over poor quality construction work in Delhi schools

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi: Student admitted to hospital after ceiling fan falls on her head inside school, concerns were raised earlier over poor quality construction work in Delhi schools

According to reports, a Delhi government school student was injured in a mishap inside the school after a ceiling fan fell on her head during a class. The incident happened in a school in the Nangloi area of Delhi. The girl said that the classroom ceiling was moist and leaking water before the incident.

“The fan fell off the ceiling in the classroom on August 27 when the classes were going on. The ceiling was damp and water was dripping from it, because of which the ceiling broke off and the fan fell down,” the girl said. The Delhi government and the school administration have not yet responded to the incident.

Delhi Education Ministry had criticised PWD under Delhi government for poor quality construction work in schools

Notably, last month, a letter was written by Delhi’s education ministry, headed by deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, to the public works department headed by Satyendra Jain who is presently in jail. The letter complained about the poor quality of construction work that is being carried out in the Delhi schools.

In the letter, the education ministry mentioned that a number of complaints have been received from various schools regarding noncompletion of work, use of low-quality material, and various deficiencies in the construction by PWD.

In the letter, they also talked about a threat to students and the staff due to the poor quality of construction work.

BJP targets Kejriwal government for inflated cost of construction of schools

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party has accused the Delhi government of corruption in the construction of schools. The BJP said on Tuesday that the ‘Sharab’ (liquor) and ‘Shiksha’ (education) scandals have become the “twin towers of corruption” in Delhi, with the Arvind Kejriwal government steadily adding additional floors. The Delhi government, according to the BJP, has consistently upped the price of building classrooms and has even converted certain school toilets into classrooms to justify the “bloated” costs.

“So far, AAP’s morality was falling, and now ceiling fans in their schools are also falling,” said BJP leader Manoj Tiwari targeting the Kejriwal government.

Manoj Tiwari said that there was fraud in school construction and that the government had repeatedly increased the cost of construction in various projects. He displayed a paper saying that a cost of Rs 5 lakh was inflated to Rs 33 lakh, and in many schools, toilets were “counted and projected as classrooms” to justify the cost escalation.

Gujarat: Stones pelted on Ganpati procession passing through a Muslim majority area in Vadodara, 13 detained

OpIndia Staff
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Gujarat: Stones pelted on Ganpati procession passing through a Muslim majority area in Vadodara, 13 detained

On Monday, August 29, an incident of stone-pelting was reported from the Panigate Darwaza neighbourhood in the Mandvi locality of Vadodara in Gujarat. The incident occurred when, on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, a procession carrying an idol of Lord Ganesh was passing through the Muslim majority area.

Speaking to the media, Joint Commissioner of Police Chirag Koradia that the situation is under control, and the crime branch is looking into the matter. The officer urged people not to fall for any rumours because the situation in the area was peaceful.

According to reports, members of two communities pelted each other with stones after an argument broke out between them over some issue when the Ganesh procession was passing through Panigate Darwaza in the communally sensitive Mandvi locality.

The police have detained as many as 13 people in connection with the incident which broke out late Monday night, they said, adding that no one was injured in the stone pelting. An FIR was registered under various Indian Penal Code Sections including 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 336 (rash act endangering human life or personal safety) and 295 (defiling place of worship), the official said.

Meanwhile, a video of the incident has also emerged on social media, wherein people can be seen pelting stones as the tempo carrying the Lord Ganesh idol passes the area. the police are seen using mild lathi charge to disperse the mob.

Vadodara’s Deputy Commissioner Panna Momaya told the media, “A Ganesh procession was passing through Panigate area on Monday night when an internal fight broke out resulting in stone pelting. Unfortunately, one of the stones hit a window of a religious place breaking it, sparking speculation about members of the minority being attacked. This was retaliated, leading to a clash between the two groups.”

According to Yuvrajsinh Jadeja, Deputy Commissioner (Crime Branch), as soon as the city control room received a call about the incident, police forces from all nearby police stations rushed to the scene and brought the situation under control.

Following the incident, security has been stepped up in the region.

Violent attacks during Hindu festivals have become the new norm in recent years. Many incidents of stone-pelting, arson, and vandalism during the celebration of Hindu festivals have been reported in recent years, and each year the intensity has only increased.

This year, like other previous years, has been no exception. Whether it’s a Hindu religious procession for Hanuman Jayanti, Ram Navami, or Saraswati Puja, Islamists haven’t missed an opportunity to wreak havoc. Though the list is endless, OpIndia in April this year tried to chronicle a few of the wanton attacks against Hindu religious festivals.

Another step towards decolonisation- Indian Navy to drop St George’s Cross from its ensign, PM Modi to unveil new ensign on September 2

OpIndia Staff
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Another step towards decolonisation- Indian Navy to drop St George’s Cross from its ensign, PM Modi to unveil new ensign on September 2

Indian Navy is all set to get a new ensign this Friday with the commissioning of indigenous Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will unveil the new ensign while commissioning India’s first indigenous Aircraft Carrier. A statement released by Prime Minister’s Office said that the new ensign will do away with the colonial past and would be befitting India’s rich maritime heritage.

The details of the new ensign have not been shared yet but as per reports, the St George’s Cross present on the current ensign will not be present now. Following its unveiling on-board INS Vikrant, it will be subsequently used on all Indian Navy ships.

The Indian Navy ensign has been changed 4 times previously

This is not the first time that Indian Naval ensign is being changed. It has been done 4 times in the past as well. However, St George’s Cross has remained in the ensign since Indian gained independence from the British, except during a brief period from 2001 to 2004.

St George’s Cross was removed from the naval ensign in 2001 but it was brought back in 2004.

Image Source: @ShivAroor on Twitter

Another step towards decolonising India

During the Independence Day speech from the Red Fort, PM Modi stressed the need of decolonising India. He called for decolonisation and urged everyone to look for the traces of slavery within and around them so that India could completely eliminate the traces of servitude.

PM Modi also pointed out that because of the colonised mindset, talent in India often gets stuck in the shackles of language. He urged the people of India to be proud of the Indian languages, whether they know them or not. As our ancestors gave those languages to the world, we should be proud of them.

Earlier, Modi government had dropped Christian hymn ‘Abide by me’ by Scottish Anglican poet Henry Francis Lyte from the Beating Retreat ceremony during Republic Day celebrations in order to add more Indian tunes to the ceremony.

The new Naval ensign is another step towards detaching India from its colonial past.

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