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As court allows Ganeshotsav at Hubli Idgah Maidan, read how Congress govt had opened fire on Hindus for trying to hoist the national flag there

OpIndia Staff
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As court allows Ganeshotsav at Hubli Idgah Maidan, read how Congress govt had opened fire on Hindus for trying to hoist the national flag there

In a landmark judgement delivered last night, the Karnataka High Court allowed the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations to go ahead at the Idgah ground in Hubli-Dharwad in Karnataka. The High court rejected the petition filed by Anjuman-E-Islam seeking a stay order on the Dharwad Municipal Commissioner’s permission granted for the Hindu festival.

The Idgah Maidan in Hubli has been a subject of dispute for decades, with Muslims claiming that they own the ground exclusively, while the administration maintains that it’s a govt property only leased to Muslims. The long-standing ownership dispute was ended in 2010 when the Supreme Court ruled that the Idgah Maidan was the exclusive property of the Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC).

Before this historic judgement, the ground was subject to dispute for decades, and in 1994, six people were killed when the then Congress govt in the state had prevented nationalist people from hoisting the flag on the ground.

Hindu organisations were attempting to hoist the tricolour at the ground since 1992, but the Congress govt in Karnataka was preventing it, saying it will lead to communal tensions. But in 1994, several Hindu organisations had planned to hoist the national flag on Independence Day in that year. To prevent the planned flag hoisting, the Congress govt at the state had imposed curfew in the city.

But despite the curfew order, Uma Bharti and several other leaders managed to enter the city, and a large number of Hindus had gathered near the Idgah maidan to hoist the flag led by the BJP leader. However, Uma Bharti was arrested around 1 km from the ground, and it sparked communal tension. But suddenly, the police opened fire on the Hindus unprovoked, killing six unarmed people.

The Veerappa Moily govt had sided with the Muslims to not allow the Hindu organisations to hoist the national flag at the Idgah Maidan in Hubli on 15th August 1994. It was also reported that the police resorted to firing to disperse the crowd without using non-lethal methods such as lathi-charge, tear gas shells etc first.

Uma Bharti and several others were charge-sheeted by the people in the case that was filed in the matter. While the case remained dormant for a decade, Uma Bharti was arrested in 2004 after a court had issued fresh arrest warrants, forcing her to resign from the post of Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh.

The Idgah Maidan dispute

The dispute over the Idgah maidan was the result of an agreement signed a century ago that allowed AeI to use the ground for prayers. In 1921, the Anjuman-E-Islam had signed an agreement with the municipality that allowed it to use the ground twice a year for Ramzan and Bakri Id, and the agreement was valid for 999 years. However, the nature of the agreement was the subject of the dispute, as the agreement didn’t spell out the details.  The agreement said that AeI would have to pay a rent of Re 1 per year for the ground, but didn’t mention whether it was a lease or a licence.

The dispute over the Idgah maidan started in 1971 when the Anjuman-E-Islam started to build a commercial complex at the Idgah Maidan after obtaining permission from HDMC. Hindus objected to it, saying that the AeI is only licenced to use the ground, it does not own the land, and it is not allowed to build any permanent structure there. In 1992, B S Shettar and several others filed a petition against the construction, and a trial court ruled in their favour in 1994, rejecting the ownership claim of the Anjuman. The court also ordered the demolition of the commercial complex built by Anjuman.

Anjuman then appealed against the verdict in the Civil Court, the High Court, and the Supreme Court, and lost the case at every stage. In the final verdict issued in 2010, the Supreme Court ruled that the land is owned by the Municipality and the AeI is only licenced to use it for prayers. The apex court had also ordered the demolition of the commercial complex built by Anjuman, upholding the verdicts of the lower courts.

National flag on the ground

However, the hoisting of the national flag on the ground had started much before the SC verdict. After the riots in 1994, the Anjuman-e-Islam itself started to hoist the tricolour on the ground the next year, due to political pressure and the negative publicity it had received for refusing to allow the hoisting of the national flag.

After the Supreme Court verdict in January 2010 saying that the ground is owned by HDMC, the municipal corporation started to hoist the tricolour at the ground starting from Republic Day that year.

British publication publishes blatant lies on Hindus, inadvertently ends up calling the Gandhis ‘useless’, withdraws article, blames ‘bigoted Hindus’

Nirwa Mehta
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British publication publishes blatant lies on Hindus, inadvertently ends up calling the Gandhis ‘useless’, withdraws article, blames ‘bigoted Hindus’

It takes tremendous amount of shamelessness to publish blatant lies and laughable anecdotes by some random British woman of Indian descent who $hits all over Hindu diaspora in Britain and to again blame the same community while withdrawing the piece of trash after being called out for bigotry themselves.

Here is what happened. British publication The Independent last week published one article titled “British Indians have a racism problem – we need to be honest about it” [archived] by one Smriti Singh. In her article, Smriti claims her parents moved to the UK, but does not mention explicitly whether she was born in India or in the UK and where has she spent most part of her life. She claims that in the ‘early days’ they all faced racism. And now, she claims, Hindus in UK are ‘racist’ towards Muslims in UK which is ‘stirred up by extreme right wing government in India’.

See, this is what happens when you form your opinions based on Twitter chatter and suffer from Kaushik Basu syndrome where you very likely hold imaginary conversations with imaginary cab drivers, or in case of Smriti Singh, ‘WhatsApp conversations’. She does not give any basis or data to prove this increased ‘racist behaviour’ by British Hindus. But we must take her word for it.

Singh then claims that ‘Hindu fundamentalism’ is growing in India since 2014 ever since PM Modi formed government for the first time and everyone is trying to change ‘secular country’ to one that puts Hindu first. To make things clear to Singh, the Indian constitution as drafted by Dr B R Ambedkar did not mention India as a secular country. In fact, the words ‘socialist’ and ‘secular’ were added by Indira Gandhi during the 42nd Amendment that was done during the Emergency when entire opposition leadership was in jail.

And more importantly, secularism is a two-way street. Wasn’t it former PM Dr Manmohan Singh who said ‘minority’ have the first right to resources? That was how lack of secular behaviour institutionalised. Hindus may be majority in India but are global minorities. Which is why India will always be natural home to Hindus, the land of Sanatan Dharma, the civilisation.

Which brings me to next portion of Smriti Singh’s brain fart. She claims, “In 2019, the BJP passed the Citizenship Amendment Act, providing Indian citizenship to refugees from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan – but specifically excluding Muslims.” The CAA fast-tracks Indian citizenship to those religious minorities, including Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Parsis, who had to flee Islamic countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan because they faced religious persecution. The CAA only brought down the 11 year wait period to 5 year for these religious minorities.

Does it exclude Muslims ‘specifically’? No. Muslims from these countries *CAN* get Indian citizenship as per law of the land, just not get it fast-tracked under the CAA. Because the CAA is specifically for persecuted religious minority. It would be shocking if Muslims themselves are persecuted for their faith in countries where Islam is State religion. So, if Singh does not have her concepts clear and learns legislations from Instagram stories of low IQ woke influencers, how is it Modi’s fault?

Singh then mentions, “Muslim girls who wear the hijab are increasingly excluded from schools.” This is untrue. The hijabi girls have themselves chosen to wear hijab, that is not part of uniform, and not go to school. For years hijab has been seen as symbol of oppression. Islamists have been comparing women with candies and saying how ants are found on candies without wrapper, hijab acts like such wrapper for women. These hijabi girls from Karnataka who chose faith over education were hailed by Al Qaeda chief who recited a poem and even won praises from extremist organisation Taliban in Afghanistan.

Islamists have claimed hijab is a choice, but in countries like Afghanistan, women are killed if they choose not to wear a hijab. It is a ‘choice’ when you have the privilege you will not be killed for exercising your right not to wear something. Hence, hijab is not a choice. Further, hijab, unlike Sikh turban, is not essential part of their faith. Many practicing Muslims have been very vocal against hijab and have called it symbol of oppression. That Smriti Singh based her ‘intolerance’ opinion on half-baked information does not come as a surprise because that’s how the ‘liberals’ are.

Smriti Singh then invokes the so-called lynching of ‘Muslims’ over illegal cow smuggling, but carefully kept out the menace of forced religious conversion because obviously that doesn’t suit the agenda. She then expresses disbelief at how despite all this, PM Modi enjoys widespread support amongst Hindu diaspora.

She then tries to talk about the policy paralysis during Congress time and the red-tapism and dared to point out that despite losing last two elections the Gandhis continue to be the face of Congress and said in as many words that there is no effective political opposition. This is the only part where one could agree with Singh. Democracy is only as effective as the opposition. The ruling party needs an effective opposition to keep them in check. Instead, we are stuck with opposition which only believes in creating nuisance and acting like the Rakshasas from our ancient texts who would drop skulls and bones when the kings were doing a Yagna to create hindrance.

Anyway, more such rhetorics later, she asks British Hindus to introspect and speak out against ‘anti-Muslim’ prejudice back home in India.

Amusingly, what Smriti Singh, whoever she is, wrote in this writeup is nothing new. In fact, this is much milder version than what others like celebrity ‘journalists’ and ‘economists’ from India and other ‘brown sahibs’ write in foreign publications. While it as absolutely useless piece and waste of time, there was nothing ‘vile’ in it. Only thing that could have created problem in this was Singh saying it in as many words that the Gandhis are useless as opposition.

However, The Independent’s Deputy Editor of Opinions, Sunny Hundal, decided to take it down because he claimed she was getting threats. He did not explain what threats, and who those threats were from. He claimed she was being called anti-Hindu despite being Hindu herself.

Now, Hundal is also being quite vague. I am inclined to believe the article was taken down more because it called Gandhis useless and that goes against the international narrative of trying to portray Rahul Gandhi as the beacon of hope in Modi’s intolerant India.

To put things in perspective, in February 2021, Hundal, who was then associated with openDemocracy, was given platform by British state-run media British Broadcasting Company (BBC) to further the Khalistani narrative of creating a Sikh vs Hindu divide in India. During the farmer protests, where in there were ample evidence of Khalistani elements being involved, Hundal had claimed that if there is violence in India, there will be violence in the UK. He even said that the British government must intervene in India’s internal affairs. “It is our duty to tell Indian government to calm down its rhetoric,” he said.

From Khalistani group Sikh For Justice openly offering funds for fuelling the protests to pro-Khalistan Canadian politicians like Jagmeet Singh and Canadian businessmen Mo Dhaliwal extending explicit support and funding to fuel unrest in India, the protest of Punjab farmers had taken a turn that threatened India’s sovereignty.

But that’s not all, Hundal has earlier tried to propagate falsehood regarding the abrogation of Article 370 which made the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir an integral part of India without any riders attached.

Hundal has been associated with openDemocracy, a globalist institution that receives significant donations from the Ford Foundation, George Soros’ Open Society Foundation, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, the Heinrich Boll Foundation and numerous others. After ‘climate activist’ Greta Thunberg accidentally tweeted the ‘toolkit’ exposing global conspiracy to defame India, George Soros connection had emerged. Billionaire George Soros, who funds political NGOs to disrupt governments and economies, had openly declared his intentions to interfere in India’s internal affairs.

While speaking at the World Economic Forum, Soros had committed $1 billion to start a global university to ‘fight nationalists’, whom he referred to as ‘authoritarian governments’. He had even accused the Indian Prime Minister of ‘creating a Hindu nationalist state’. Soros’ Open Society Foundation has links with a vast network of organisations and ‘activists’. Organisations connected with Soros’ OSF have been pursuing media and legal battles against the Indian government from issues ranging from the Rafael deal to Article 370 and the CAA.

And now Hundal write long threads on ‘threats’ received by some random woman named Smriti Singh in UK for an article with calls the Gandhis useless and blames it on ‘Hindus’.

Watch: Third madrasa demolished in Assam over links with Islamic terror organisations, govt says it was ‘unsafe for human habitation’

OpIndia Staff
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Watch: Third madrasa demolished in Assam over links with Islamic terror organisations, govt says it was ‘unsafe for human habitation’

In Assam’s Bongaigaon district, a madrasa with links to terrorist organisations Al-Qaeda Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) is being demolished by the local authorities today. The madrasa named Markazul Ma-Arif Quariyana Madrasa, located at the Kabaitary Part IV village in Bongaigaon is being demolished with the help of bulldozers.

As reported by ANI, SP Swapnaneel Deka told, “District administration said in an order that the Madrasa is structurally vulnerable and unsafe for human habitation as the Madrasa buildings were not built as per APWD specifications/IS norms.”

SP Deka also added that a search operation was conducted at the same madrasa on August 30 to investigate certain links with respect to one of the 37 people including imams and madrasa teachers who have been arrested for terrorism links with AQIS/ABT in Assam. He confirmed that the directions to demolish the madrasa has come from the district administration.

Previous demolitions and the Assam govt’s crackdown on madrasas with links to Islamic terror organisations

On Monday, August 29, the district administration and police in the Barpeta district in Assam demolished a Madarsa, run by Maulvis Akbar Ali and his brother Abul Kalam Azad, arrested for their links with Bangladesh-based terror outfit Al-Qaeda Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT).

The madrasa named Shaikhul Hind Mahmudul Hasan Jamiul Huda Islamic Academy against which the action was taken was located at Dhakaliapara in the Barpeta district of Assam and is said to be illegally constructed on government land.

The police also arrested Mahmunur Rashid, the principal of the madrasa. The madrasa named Shaikhul Hind Mahmudul Hasan Jamiul Huda Islamic Academy had housed the Bangladeshi terrorist Md Suman alias Saiful Islam, who was arrested by the Assam police in March this year. Md Suman reportedly stayed here along with one of his aides, who is still on the run.

The demolition and the arrests are a part of the ongoing crackdown on Jihadi terrorists operating from mosques and madrasas in the state.

Earlier, the Morigaon district administration demolished the Jamiul Huda Madarsa in the Moirabari area.

Mann Ki Baat: PM Modi says how bhajan events were used to tackle malnutrition in India

OpIndia Staff
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Mann Ki Baat: PM Modi says how bhajan events were used to tackle malnutrition in India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his monthly radio address Mann Ki Baat talked about how various parts of India are doing their bit to tackle the menace of malnutrition.

At around 12 minute into the video, PM Modi talks about steps taken by Bongaigaon administration in Assam under Project Sampoorna in unique way. Under this program, one woman, who is a mother of a well-nourished child, meets mother of a child who is malnutritioned and explains importance of nutrition as a friend. Under this programme, over 90% of children are out of malnutrition.

PM Modi then moves on to Datia village in Madhya Pradesh. PM Modi said that under the “Mera Bachha Abhiyaan”, bhajan-kirtans (Hindu gatherings where devotional songs for Hindu gods and goddesses) were held in the districts. In such bhajan-kirtans, teachers were called in as nutrition gurus. Under ‘Matka’ programme, women would bring a handful of grains to the Anganwadi center and with this grains, a ‘Balbhoj’ is organized on Saturdays. This not only increased attendance of children in Anganwadis but also showed a dip in nutrition.

Similarly, unique campaign is underway in Giridih in Jharkhand where children are taught about good and bad habit about nutrition via game of snakes and ladder.

Poshan Maah

PM Modi said that the month of September is being celebrated as ‘Poshan Maah’ (nutrition month) as a campaign to fight malnutrition. Many creative and diverse ways are used to create awareness about nutrition with better use of technology and public participation. Angandwadi workers are given mobile devices which have poshan tracker to monitor accessibility of anganwadi services.

“The solution to the malady of malnutrition is not limited just to these steps – in this fight, many other initiatives also play an important role. For example, take the Jal Jeevan Mission…this mission is also going to have a huge impact in making India malnutrition free. Efforts for social awareness play an important role in tackling the challenges of malnutrition. I would urge all of you in the coming nutrition month, to take part in the efforts to eradicate malnutrition,” PM Modi said.

‘Not anonymous account, but an informer’: Delhi Police says on the person whose tweet led to arrest of Alt News’ Mohd Zubair

OpIndia Staff
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‘Not anonymous account, but an informer’: Delhi Police says on the person whose tweet led to arrest of Alt News’ Mohd Zubair

The Twitter user, ‘balajikijaiin’ with the name ‘Hanuman Bhakt’, has been termed as an informer by the Delhi Police in the Mohammed Zubair case. It is notable that his tweet led to the arrest of Alt News’ co-founder over a tweet from 2018. As of now, the handle displays an account suspended’ message for violating Twitter Rules.

As per Indian Express Report, the Twitter user is a 36-year-old real estate businessman who hails from Ajmer, Rajasthan and currently residing in Dwarka, Delhi. He had recorded a statement before the Delhi Police after a notice was sent to him for the same.

In June this year, Twitter user Balajikijain tagged Delhi Police while quoting a Tweet from Mohammed Zubair saying that the particular tweet had hurt his religious sentiments. The Delhi Police took cognizance of his tweet and filed an FIR against Zubair, following which he was arrested by Delhi Police’s Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit on June 27.

The Twitter user was traced by Delhi Police using his IP address that it got from Twitter in response to a legal demand for the same. The Twitter user was sent a notice asking him to record his statement. An unnamed Police officer was quoted by Indian Express saying, “He came to IFSO’s office in Dwarka and told the police that his religious sentiments were hurt after he saw the tweet.” He further added that the Twitter user did not appear to be affiliated with a political party.

The Twitter user had shifted to Dwarka a few years ago and currently resides with his family. The Police told Indian Express that the account was briefly deactivated on June 29, but it came back on June 30.

It is noteworthy that as the Twitter account was anonymous, its status was used by advocate Vrinda Grover who represented Zubair during the bail hearing. She had argued that the account was created with mischievous intent and to target her client. She further urged the court to ask the Police to investigate the Twitter user.

Refuting the argument, Additional Public Prosecutor submitted that the Twitter handle was not anonymous and “He is just a mere informer.” APP added, “He is not an anonymous complainant. His details are here. Without details, no one can get a Twitter account.”

On June 29, the Police sent a notice to Twitter India under Section 91 of CrPC seeking information about the Twitter user. “We asked them to provide IP log details of the Twitter handle @balajikijaiin, registration details of the account, mobile number, connected email ID, and device used by the user,” the Police officer told Indian Express.

Zubair was granted bail on July 20 by the Supreme Court of India. The apex court also disbanded the SIT formed by the UP government to probe six cases against Alt News’ co-founder. Also, the FIRs were clubbed, and the cases were transferred to Delhi, which is being investigated by Delhi Police.

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.

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