In an incident of love jihad that took place in the Lohardaga district of Jharkhand, one Muslim man named Rabani Ansari pretended to be a singer named Sajan Oraon from a tribal community to lure and sexually exploit a Hindu minor girl. The culprit then threw the girl into a well. The victim girl somehow survived. The police have arrested Rabani Ansari.
A 17-year-old girl from Hardaga district received a call six months ago from an unknown youth, Rabani Ansari, a resident of Navatad under Mandar police station in Ranchi district. He called the minor girl and told her his name was Sajan Oraon. He started calling often by talking about friendship. Gradually he entangled the girl into a love trap.
The girl also fell into his trap. After promising a love relationship, Rabani Ansari called her to Ranchi and kept her in different rented houses from February to July and made physical relations with her several times. Meanwhile, the girl came to know about his real name Rabani Ansari and she also learnt that he is already married. After this, the girl started protesting. Meanwhile, the accused youth had also made an objectionable video of her, which he made viral to put pressure on the minor girl.
While taking the girl to his village Navatad, Rabani Ansari pushed her into a field well near the village. He also hit the drowning girl with stones from above. Fortunately, the minor girl managed to save herself using a stair-like structure made in the well. She somehow escaped from there and came to Lohardaga. Lohardaga DSP Parmeshwar Prasad said that a case was registered at Lohardaga women’s police station under sections 376, 427, 379, 417, 307 of the IPC and section 6 of POCSO Act and the police arrested the accused Rabani Ansari. He runs a mobile phone shop under the Narkopi police station area in Ranchi district.
This incident has caused a lot of resentment among Hindu Sanatan organizations. Satish Pandey of a Hindu organization said that attempts are being made to lure and sexually exploit Hindu girls by hiding their original religious identity, and the government and administration should take strict legal action against such people.
On 2nd September 2022, Priyank Kanoongo, Chairman of NCPCR (National Commission for Protection of Child Rights) said that the NCPCR team was not given access to the school where the incident of sexual assault on a minor child studying in 3rd standard by a 10th class student took place.
Priyank Kanoongo said, “We sent a team to school, but were not given access, had to call the police. We wanted to speak with the counsellor & district child protection officer. The most imp process of counselling was never done. DCP did not show up, DC did not come.”
Delhi | We sent a team to school, but were not given access, had to call police. We wanted to speak with counsellor & district child protection officer. Most imp process of counselling was never done. DCP did not show up, DC did not come: Priyank Kanoongo, Chairman NCPCR https://t.co/RYhDJDXZihpic.twitter.com/G1Lu9i7edf
He further said, “Victim’s family says school tried to dismiss the matter, did not report to police. School teachers are not sensitized, are untrained, and are not aware of POCSO. The victim child is in trauma, unable to study for the past 8 days, should be compensated.”
Delhi | Victim’s family says school tried to dismiss matter, did not report to police. School teachers are not sensitised, are untrained, not aware of POCSO. Victim child is in trauma, unable to study for the past 8 days, should be compensated: Priyank Kanoongo, Chairman NCPCR pic.twitter.com/SrYy7mbEef
In a disturbing incident, a student studying in Class 3 was sodomised by another student in Class 10 at a Delhi government school in the Madhu Vihar locality of Mandawali in East Delhi.
Delhi| PCR call regarding sexual assault in a school in Madhu Vihar was received on Aug 30. On enquiry,it was found that a class 10th student sexually assaulted a class 3rd student in school washroom. Case filed; assaulter apprehended&produced before Juvenile Justice Board:Police
The father of the victim said, “The incident occurred on the school’s premises. My son complained to the School teacher about it, after which the incident was investigated and I was summoned.”
The movie ‘Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva’ is mired in controversies. The Dharma Productions film has been the butt of a joke, ever since the release of its trailer.
Amidst the public boycott of Bollywood movies, Brahmastra’s lead actress Alia Bhatt told people that they were under no compulsion to watch her movie. To add fuel to the fire, the Hinduphobic tweets of Dharma Productions’ Development Executive also went viral on social media.
It is however not known to many people that the Hindu-centric movie was once called ‘Dragon’ and the main protagonist of the movie was the 13th-century Persian poet Jalal al-Din Muḥammad Rumi.
In an Instagram post in March 2019, the movie’s director Ayan Mukerji informed, “It’s been a long long time since the Brahmāstra journey began… The movie was called Dragon in those days… I had no idea what VFX was but had dreamt up a movie full of it… I had long strange hair…”
He further added, “There have been so many milestone memories and discoveries for me through this ride, that sharing them with whoever is listening on Instagram is as much about connecting the dots for myself… Here is the first really simple concept art we made for the movie… but about something that is at the very heart of it… Fire.”
A few days later, Mukerji shared a still from the movie and informed how the lead actor once played the character of Rumi, prior to his transformation to Shiva.
The Brahmastra director said, “First, he was Rumi. Rumi with long hair. This image is from an early look test for the movie. Rumi said, ‘Love is the bridge between you and everything…’, and that feeling is the foundation we started building the protagonist of this movie on… “
“But then, there was new inspiration, newer thoughts… Dragon became Brahmāstra, we gave Ranbir a haircut, and Rumi became… Shiva,” he further added.
In December last year, Ayna Mukerji informed that the erstwhile title of the movie was not well-thought-out. “The title of the film ‘Dragon’ was temporary. I didn’t give much thought to it as Shiva, in the film, has the power of fire, I called it ‘Dragon’ on the script.”
“But the film was always rooted and inspired by Indian culture and history. When the time came to give it a literal title, Brahmastra was always the right title. But Dragon was named as it was relatable to fire, power,” he continued.
Several social media users have expressed their anger after learning that the earlier plot of the movie was based on Persian poet Rumi, who is known to have anti-Hindu antecedents.
Brahmāstra is one of its kind film in the Indian Cinema. After travelling with #BRAHMASTRA for the past 9 years, Ayan is finally bringing it on to the big screens on September 9th. pic.twitter.com/xxXDK1UqtX
A video has surfaced on social media wherein a female doctor is seen abusing and shouting at a journalist and misbehaving with the police personnel and the family members of a Dalit minor rape victim. The doctor in the video has been identified as Dr Asma Begum, who reportedly works in Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Women’s Hospital, Farrukhabad, Uttar Pradesh.
The video, which was shared on Twitter on August 31 and since then gone viral, was allegedly shot on August 24.
फर्रुखाबाद में हिंदू बेटी के साथ मुसलमान युवक ने रेप किया. पीड़िता के पिता और पुलिसवाले उसका मेडिकल कराने के लिए जिला चिकित्सालय गए. दो दिनों तक दौड़ाने के बाद अस्पताल की डॉक्टर आसमा बेगम ने लड़की को मेडिकल न कराने की सलाह दी. जब मीडिया इसकी कवरेज करने लगी तो आसमा भड़क गईं. pic.twitter.com/5Z2Hp5y7nB
In the viral video, Dr Asma Begum is first seen talking to someone on her mobile phone. She is heard telling the person to come and meet her as soon as possible since the CO (Circle officer) City has been calling her and bothering her by paying her daily visits. She then instructs the visitors to wait outside till the concerned authority arrives. Some cops and media are also seen surrounding her. She then gets up from her chair and walks inside, only to discover that the entire discussion was being recorded by a journalist.
The enraged female doctor returns and begins screaming at the journalist who was allegedly filming the entire fiasco. Sundaram Singh, the journalist in question, reportedly told the police in his complaint, that Dr Asma broke his mobile phone and abused him by saying, ‘हिन्दू काफिर @# के बच्चे’, roughly translated to ‘@# Hindu Kaafir’s children’.
The journalist filed a complaint against Dr Asma Begum on August 24 in this regard. The female doctor, in turn, filed a counter-complaint against the journalist.
In what transpired, on August 20, 2022, three youths namely Shadab, Wasim and Wasir raped a Dalit minor girl. On August 23, 2022, a case was registered against the accused at Maudarwaja police station. According to DSP City Pradeep Singh, the victim’s family delayed three days before filing a report because of the fear of reprisal.
After the complaint was filed, the victim was brought to Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Women’s Hospital, in Farrukabad, for a medical examination. Reportedly, the doctor in charge, Dr Asma was not available on the first day. The next day, she sent the victim back. She reportedly discouraged the victim’s relatives from getting her medicals done. The female doctor allegedly tried to instil fear in the victim’s family’s mind by telling them that if rape was proven, her future would be jeopardised, thus they should not get the medical examination done on her. OpIndia, however, could not independently verify these claims.
On August 24, when the victim, accompanied by CO City Pradip Singh, Maudarwaja police station in-charge Amod Singh and her family members, was again taken to the hospital, Dr Asma Begum allegedly lost her cool and rebuked them. Seeing a journalist, who was also present there, recording the act she got further infuriated and went on to break his phone and abuse him by calling him ‘@# Hindu Kaafir’s child’.
Dalit minor raped by Shadab, Wasim and Wasir in Farrikabad, Uttar Pradesh
According to the victim’s father, his daughter was abducted when she was sleeping at night. The aggrieved father added that when urged the accused to release his daughter, he was also subjected to profanity. OpIndia has a copy of the FIR in this matter.
The father, in the complaint, further stated that Shadab had previously also abducted his daughter and his friends. At that time, however, she returned home after the intervention of Shadab’s father.
The police have taken action in this case under sections 363, 366, 342, 376-D, 504, 506, POCSO and SC/ST Act of IPC. The main accused Shadab has been arrested. According to DSP City Pradeep Singh, the police are investigating the matter. Some circumstances and facts, however, do not match with the evidence, he said.
DSP Pradeep Singh told OpIndia that the victim, along with the female constable, was sent to the government hospital for medical evaluation on the evening of August 23. Doctors were not available at the time. She was taken to the hospital again the next morning. However, the medical was not performed. Following this, the senior officer went to the hospital that evening. Meanwhile, other journalists also reached the hospital.
DSP Pradeep Singh remarked that the hospital administration’s decision to delay the medical was beyond comprehension. He added that the female doctor had gotten furious when he tried to explain the seriousness of the situation to her. The video going viral is from that time, said DCP Pradeep Singh, adding that the behaviour of the hospital administration was extremely reprehensible.
The victim’s medical examination was conducted on August 25
The Farrukabad Kotwali SHO told OpIndia that the victim’s medical was finally conducted on August 25. He also confirmed that the probe into the complaint filed by both the journalist and the female doctor Asma Begum is underway. Meanwhile, the accused Shadab was arrested on 26 August 2022, said the SHO.
Accusation meted at Dr Asma Begum
Journalist Sundaram Singh filed a complaint against Dr Asma Begum for what happened in the hospital on August 24. Singh accused her of prolonging the victim’s medical examination by generating fear in her that her future would be ruined. He said that she was urging the victim not to get the medicals done because the accused were also Muslims.
Allegations meted out at Dr Asma Begum by the victim’s father
The Dalit victim’s father also claimed that Dr Asma Begum was delaying medicals. He further said that in order to postpone the examination, the doctor kept calling them at odd hours of the day and night and sending them back. He further alleged that the female doctor assaulted the journalist in front of the cops.
Voices demanding investigation against Dr Asma Begum grows
After the video went viral, the demand for strict action against Dr Asma Begum has been growing. Several Farrukhabad organisations and public representatives have called for stern action against the female doctor. Criticising the doctor for her deplorable conduct, BJP MP Mukesh Rajput said that if a doctor can behave like this in front of the police what she could do otherwise is unfathomable.
Vijay Shankar Tiwari, the national spokesperson for the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, also urged Uttar Pradesh’s Deputy Chief Minister to take stringent action against the government hospital employee Dr Asma Begum.
उत्तर प्रदेश के फर्रूखाबाद में एक जिहादी ने हिन्दू लड़की का बलात्कार किया,पिता अपनी बेटी का जब मेडिकल कराने पहुंचा तो वहां की डॉक्टर आसमा बेगम ने लड़की का मेडिकल करने से मना कर दिया,@brajeshpathakup जी इसे संज्ञान में लीजिये और डॉ0को दण्डित करिये I
Meanwhile, Karni Sena has also given a memorandum against Dr Asma Begum. In its memorandum, Karni Sena has demanded prompt and strict action against her.
Memorandum submitted by Karni Sena
Dr Asma Begum files a counter-complaint against the journalist
Interestingly, Dr Asma Begum also filed a complaint against journalist Sundaram Singh accusing him of soliciting bribes, tearing government records, beating himself up, and creating a nuisance in a drunken state. In this regard, when OpIndia spoke to the journalist he urged the administration to make the CCTV footage of the time when the incident took place in the hospital available in the public domain. He has also raised concerns that the footage might have been tampered with.
Dr. Sri Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru of Sri Murugha Math in Chitradurga of Karnataka was sent to police custody for 4 days on 2nd September 2022. The Lingayat seer accused of sexual abuse will remain in police custody till September 5. The police had requested the court for the same. He was arrested on Thursday 1st September 2022 for allegedly sexually abusing two minor girls.
Dr. Sri Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru is the chief pontiff of the Sri Murugha Math in Chitradurga. After getting arrested, he underwent a medical checkup as he complained of chest pain. He was taken to the district hospital from where the police took him to the district sessions court for the hearing.
An FIR was registered against him in Chitradurga after two minor girls accused him of sexual harassment. The FIR was registered under the POCSO (Prevention of Children from Sexual Offense) act. According to the FIr, the girls were harassed for more than two years.
Alok Kumar is the Additional Director General of Police, Law, and Order, Karnataka. He said, “The chief pontiff of Sri Murugha Math Dr. Sri Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru, accused of sexually assaulting minors, is arrested. The due procedure will be followed. Medical tests and investigations will be done as per the procedure.”
It is notable that on 3rd August 2022, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited Murugha Math in Karnataka and expressed that he wants the Sri Murugha Math to send him a private tutor to teach him more about Shivayoga in detail because he has read a little about the founder of the Veer Shaiva sect Shri Basaveshwar. In Chitradurga, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi got Linga Deeksha from Sri Murugha Math seer Dr. Sri Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru. People from the Lingayat community usually execute this process while going to wear a crystalline Ishtalinga.
Premsai Singh Tekam, Chhattisgarh School Education Minister sparked controversy on Friday by reading passages from the classic book ‘Madhushala’ written by Harivansh Rai Bachchan. At a de-addiction drive, the Minister addressed the public saying alcohol brings people together and should be used in moderation.
A one-minute clip of Tekam’s speech at the event, which was hosted by the police as part of its ‘Nasha Mukti Abhiyan’ and attended by school-going kids in Wadrafnagar, went viral on social media on Thursday. “Harivansh Rai Bachchan Ji had written ‘Mandir Masjid Jhagda Karate, Lekin Ek Karati Madhushala’. But there should be control (in the consumption of liquor). You should have control on your own”, the Minister was heard saying at the event.
#WATCH | At a de-addiction drive, Chhattisgarh Min Premsai Singh Tekam says, “There should be self-control. I once went to a meeting where they spoke for & against liquor. One side spoke of its benefits. Liquor should be diluted, there should be a duration (to consume it)”(31.8) pic.twitter.com/FE8HJd3ktD
“I attended a meeting where one section opposed the consumption of liquor citing its ill effects, while another section favoured it citing its benefits. Liquor unites everyone. We also use it sometimes in celebrations and elections,” he further added.
He went on to say, “Daaru (liquor) means ‘D,’ which also stands for dilution with water as well as time, as it could not be consumed all at once.” He warned the gathering about the dangers of drinking and also warned them not to become obsessed with alcohol.
Following the event on Tuesday, the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders targeted the Chhattisgarh government, saying that the state’s Congress government, led by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, was full of ‘cartoons’.
मान. मुख्यमंत्री(छ.ग.कांग्रेस शोषित), आपकी पार्टी और सरकार में कार्टूनों की कमी नहीं है… एक विद्वान प्रवक्ता ने आज 55 हजार करोड़ केंद्र से लेना बता दिया और मान. मंत्री, नशा मुक्ति केंद्र में शराब पीने के फायदे बताने लगे। आप सर्वजनिक रूप से बता दीजिये… @PremsaiSinghpic.twitter.com/AwZBVpCExq
BJP MLA Ajay Chandrakar lashed out saying, “Bhupesh Baghel Ji’s government and party are full of cartoons. None of them has an understanding of the subjects. This is not a functioning government but a puppet show being controlled by Delhi”.
Members of Extinction Rebellion, the climate activist group, today entered the House of Commons in London today, and some members superglued themselves to the speaker’s chairs. Some other members locked their necks with the gate of the building, while a large number of activists hoisted banners at various places in the Parliament House.
Extinction Rebellion UK posted several images showing the activists in the parliament. Some of the images showed three of its activists around the famous chair in Westminster. They informed that the three members superglued themselves to the chair. Two other people on either side are seen holding banners that said ‘Let the People Decide’ and ‘Citizens Assembly Now’. The activists were wearing white T-shirts with ‘Let the People Decide’ written on them.
BREAKING: Extinction Rebellion has begun a protest inside Parliament. People are in the commons chamber right now demanding a Citizens’ Assembly to let the people decide.
The activists further took turns to read a speech. The group released a press statement informing about the protest, saying that they are demanding a “Citizens’ Assembly to cut through the corruption deep in the heart of Westminster”. The group is demanding a Citizen’s Assembly to discuss the issue of climate crisis.
Outside the building, two activists chained themselves to the railings with bicycle locks around their necks. Some others climbed up the scaffolding around Big Ben and held a big banner saying ‘Let The People Decide- Citizens’ Assemblies Now’.
BREAKING: Extinction Rebellion have dropped banners across The Palace of Westminster, including off the building.
The protest points to the need for a Citizens’ Assembly to cut through the corruption in Westminster, update politics & let the people decide.
“We are in crisis. And what goes on in this chamber every day makes a joke out of us all. We can not afford to carry on like this.
“It is possible to act on climate and costs in a way that is fair and supports everyone. But our political system is too out of date and out of touch to see beyond the next election cycle and do what needs to be done. We need a new way of making decisions, where more voices are heard, not just those at the top. We need the true diversity of the country to be represented.
“We need a Citizens’ Assembly, now. Citizens’ Assemblies empower ordinary people to make decisions that benefit everyone. Decisions that can get us out of this mess and make life better, safer, fairer for all of us.”
The Extinction Rebellion activists entered the Houses of Parliament legally, as they had booked a tourist tour of the monument. But once inside the building, they went to different parts and performed the stunts and displayed banners.
The group said that today’s action was an opening act for September plans of the group, and they plan to bring 100,000 people onto the streets in civil resistance next spring.
Extinction Rebellion describes itself as an international “non-violent civil disobedience” movement, and claims that life on Earth is in crisis and facing a mass extinction. The group known for unconventional and disruptive methods of protests wants governments to declare a “climate and ecological emergency” and take immediate action on it.
The activist group uses an hourglass inside a circle as its logo, signifying that time is running out for life on earth. In the UK, they are demanding that the government must declare a climate “emergency”, the UK must legally commit to reducing carbon emissions to net zero by 2025, and a citizens’ assembly must be formed to “oversee the changes”.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned of demonstrations and unrest in Pakistan as inflation reaches a 47-year high of more than 27% in August. The IMF stated in an executive summary of the seventh and eighth evaluations published under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF), “High food and fuel prices could prompt social protest and instability.”
Pakistan ?? has taken important steps to soften the blow to its economy from the pandemic and the war in Ukraine.
According to the report issued under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF), risks to the outlook and programme implementation were significant and skewed to the adverse due to the extremely complicated domestic and global scenarios. The study added that the effects of the conflict in Ukraine, including increased food and fuel costs as well as tighter financial conditions worldwide, will continue to put pressure on Pakistan’s economy, the currency rate, and external stability.
In addition to the dangers of protests, socio-political tensions are anticipated to stay strong and might affect how policies and reforms are implemented, the research stated. This is particularly true given the fragile political alliance and their slender majority in Parliament.
In Pakistan, consumer price index (CPI) inflation has reached a 47-year high, increasing to 27.3% in August 2022, the highest level since May 1975. The negative effects of the floods and the resulting interruption in food supply will be seen in the September inflation number, which may be much higher than that of August.
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) received the crucial $1.16 billion deposit two days after the IMF Executive Board approved the seventh and eighth reviews of the delayed $6 billion Pakistan programme. After accepting many IMF suggestions for reducing the budget, Pakistan was granted the funds.
The agreement mandated the government to raise the fuel duty to Rs 30 per litre on petrol and Rs 15 per litre on diesel in three stages by September 1. To cut diesel taxes, the government raised the duty on fuel to Rs 37.50 per litre on Wednesday, which is Rs 7.5 per litre higher than required under the IMF agreement.
It has been years since I started noticing Bhagwan being used for political and social statements. Though I am okay with it to a certain extent, some limits must not be crossed. The most absurd examples of such distortions come during Ganesh Chaturthi, and Navratri, where either Bhagwan Ganpati or Maa Durga idols are distorted, or pandals are used for social or political statements.
If you are making an idol around the theme of Earth giving a message to save Mother Nature, it is totally fine until and unless you are not distorting the original idol. However, people love to go overboard for some reason and think they are doing something extraordinary. Above all, the media and so-called open-minded Hindus promote their propaganda (I am calling it propaganda because it is what it is).
Shaping a political leader as Maa Durga or shaping Bhagwan Ganesha in the form of a film character is not only against the very nature of the festival but also highly derogatory towards our Bhagwan. You may not agree with me but stay here for a few minutes, read towards the end and then think if you are right or wrong.
Today, I am going to talk about the trend of making Chocolate Ganesha, submerging it in hot milk towards the end of the festival and distributing chocolate milk among the less privileged. Though it may sound “like such a noble and eco-friendly” idea to many, I would like to explain why you are absolutely wrong and should stop such practices right away. Notably, this practice has been going on for years, and most of the credit for this ill-thought practice goes to Harjinder Singh Kukreja, a chef from Ludhiana.
Punjab: Ludhiana-based restaurateur, Harjinder Singh Kukreja, has prepared a Ganpati idol with chocolate; says, ‘it took us 10 days & 20 chefs to make this 65 kg sculpture. We’ll immerse it in milk & distribute the chocolate milk as ‘prasad’ among poor children’. #GaneshChaturthipic.twitter.com/05H6IcdQpr
Recently, a Food Vlogger, Chahat Anand, published a video on her Instagram account where she was sitting in a restaurant and pouring hot milk on the Ganesha idol. The video got viral, and following the criticism, the video was deleted by the vlogger. However, instead of apologising for what she had done, there were two stories justifying the act that again attracted sharp criticism and led to the deletion of those stories. The very active food vlogger has been silent since then on her social media accounts.
Hey food vlogger @chahatanand what exactly are you doing ? Who has give you the rights to do such nonsense things on the name of creativity. Apologize or be ready to face the consequences ? #Ganeshotsav2022pic.twitter.com/3xrhw1Qx74
While there has been a lot of criticism, there is a section that supports the act. Here are the arguments they have in places and the counters.
‘There were no ill intentions but a genuine desire to save the planet’
Okay. This is a very good argument considering the mess Plaster Of Paris idols create following the visarjan. Majority of the people who oppose the practice of chocolate Ganesha often do not find an answer to this argument. But the thing is, if you are so considerate about the planet, why not promote eco-friendly clay-made Ganesha with eco-friendly colours? There are some people who made Ganesha using Gau Gobar which is also a good option. Both clay and Gau Gobar are eco-friendly and do not harm the environment.
But what is the logic behind making it out of food items and then distributing pieces of it or milkshakes as prasadam? There is no sane explanation for it. None. If you are saying it is eco-friendly, why not clay or Gobar? If you are saying it will go to the poor, why not just make the milkshake and distribute it? Why do you have to make a “statement” on a Hindu festival? The reason is simple. You want PR. You want to be seen as some progressive Hindu who is “socially responsible”. Nope, I am not going to ignore your ignorance. If you have the money to spend on Chocolate Ganesha, it will be better to buy food items, make the chocolate milkshake and distribute it. You will be able to reach out to at least double the number of people by simply making the milkshake.
Notably, Chahat tried to justify her act and deemed the critics as trolls. She later deleted those stories too.
‘The idol was not meant to be worshipped, so it is not Bhagwan’
This is the most illogical argument I have seen on social media. First of all, in the case of the Ludhiana chef Harjinder Singh Kukreja, Chahat Anand and any other who promotes chocolate Ganesha on his or her social media profile categorically suggest that the chocolate idol should be worshipped. So the argument meets its painful fate right here.
Once you have done pran pratishta of an idol, it becomes Bhagwan. Even if you do not know how to do a pran pratishta and start worshipping the idol, it becomes Bhagwan. There are countless stories where Bhagwan blessed their bhakts with small gestures. Once an idol is Bhagwan, you must give respect. You do not go out and eat your Bhagwan.
One more counterargument is that when you buy an idol from a shop, are you okay with stepping on it before it is placed in a Mandir?
‘Bhagwan is our family member. We should be allowed to worship in our way’
Another beautiful argument, but it does not hold any ground. Yes, Bhagwan is our family member. But tell me one thing. Tomorrow I will send you replicas of your parents, children, spouse and other relatives made out of chocolate. Will you be okay with snipping off their head and eating it? Will you be okay with chewing the chocolate replica of your family member while the person is sitting right in front of you? If not, how can you do it to your Bhagwan, whom you worship and treat like an elder? I literally dare you to do the same with any other religion and see how they react.
I feel the shivers to even think if Kukreja had decided to do the same with a Sikh symbol. Instead of choosing Ganesha, he should have done it with the Sikh symbol, and then I would have sat back and witnessed the mayhem with a bucket of popcorn. But he did not. He knows the consequences.
‘People make Bhagwan-shaped Rangoli and decorations’
You do not step on Rangoli. You do not eat the decorations. Ideally, a visarjan of the items used for decorations and Rangoli should happen if you have made Bhagwan out of it. You cannot just wipe off Bhagwan-shaped Rangoli. It is disrespectful and very bad in taste. No one stops you from making Rangoli but make sure to do the visarjan. Do it by the book.
‘We drink water where visarjan happens’
Okay, that is a good argument but tell me something. Do you know what Awahan and Visarjan are? What do they signify? When you do Pran Pratishta of an idol, you call an Ansh or a part of Bhagwan to reside in that idol. After the pooja, you do the Visarjan, which is basically saying goodbye to Bhagwan and sending the Ansh that you had called back to their Dham or Home. The moment idol touches the water and clay gets mixed in the water, the Ansh of Bhagwan leaves the idol that then becomes the part of Dharti or Mother Nature. This is the process. Pouring hot milk on Chocolate Ganesha and then consuming it is NOT Visarjan. It is disrespectful to Bhagwan.
There are some people who say such idols to spread social messages are being made for decades. Here is one example.
In maharashtra, people make Ganesh statue in variety of ways. When India won 2011 world cup, almost every city has one Ganesh Statue with world cup in hand.
Thats how modernity and religion can coexist. Thats how Sanatan Dharma remained alive for 3000 years pic.twitter.com/ijqeHfO83r
I can only tell such people that if something wrong has been happening for decades, that does not mean you have to continue. There is a need to correct the course. By the way, you would not find an ancient idol of Ganesha or any Bhagwan being used to “spread the social message”. It is high time we correct our mistakes. In the end, I can only say with folded hands to stop disrespecting Bhagwan. Find another way to satisfy your urge to get viral on social media.
On 2nd September 2022, the Supreme Court granted interim bail to Teesta Setalvad who is accused of falsification of evidence related to the 2002 riots case. The Supreme Court also ordered Setalvad to surrender her passport.
Supreme Court asks Teesta Setalvad to surrender her passport, says she shall be produced before concerned court and she shall be released on interim bail with conditions as the court thinks fit #SupremeCourt#TeestaSetalvad
The court said, “We are not considering whether Setalvad will be released or not, That will be gone into by High Court. We are only considering this from standpoint of custody for her or grant of interim bail.”
Teesta’s case against the Gujarat High Court’s denial of her bail was heard by a bench comprising Chief Justice U.U. Lalit, Justice S. Ravindra Bhat, and Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia. The court said in the order, “She shall be produced before the concerned court and she shall be released on interim bail with conditions as the court thinks fit. We have not expressed any view on the merits of the Appellants case. The entire matter shall be considered by the High Court, independent of any observations or order made by this Court.”
Supreme Court: We have not expressed ANY view on merits in Appellants case. Entire matter SHALL be considered by High Court, independent of any observations or order made by this Court. #TeestaSetalvad#SupremeCourt
The Supreme Court further said, “Since the appellant happens to be a lady, this shall not be taken as a reflection and should not be used by other accused as and when the situation arises. The issues in those cases are to be taken up independently.”
Supreme Court: Since appellant happens to be a lady, this shall not be taken as a reflection and should not be used by other accused as and when the situation arises. The issues in those cases to be taken up independently. #TeestaSetalvad#SupremeCourt
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta represented the prosecution while advocate Kapil Sibal appeared for Teesta Setalvad. On 30th July 2022, a sessions court in Ahmedabad Gujarat rejected the bail application filed by Teesta Setalvad and former IPS officer RB Sreekumar.
Teesta Setalvad, the self-proclaimed ‘activist’ was arrested by the Gujarat ATS in June 2022 in a case of forgery, influencing witnesses, and the investigation of the Gujarat riots in 2002 that occurred in the aftermath of the Godhra Train burning incident, when 59 Hindus were burned to death after a Muslim mob set ablaze a Sabarmati Express bogey carrying passengers from Ayodhya. Teesta Setalvad is accused of coaching witnesses and making ridiculous accusations in several cases related to the Gujarat riots in 2002.
