In Colombo, MMC Ferdinando, the chairman of Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has resigned from his post days after claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi allegedly pitched for The Adani Group over a wind power project in the country before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. After taking back his statement earlier in the week, Ferdinando resigned from the state-run electricity company on Monday.
During the meeting of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE), Ferdinando claimed that President Rajapaksa had revealed to him that a wind power project in Mannar, Northern Province was awarded to the Adani Group after Indian PM Modi urged him to do so. Categorically denying his claims, Rajapaksa had cleared the air tweeting, “Regarding a statement made by the CEB Chairman at a COPE committee hearing regarding the award of a Wind Power Project in Mannar, I categorically deny authorization to award this project to any specific person or entity. I trust responsible communication in this regard will follow.”
Re a statement made by the #lka CEB Chairman at a COPE committee hearing regarding the award of a Wind Power Project in Mannar, I categorically deny authorisation to award this project to any specific person or entity. I trust responsible communication in this regard will follow.
According to the Times of India, Sri Lanka’s Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara has accepted the resignation letter of MMC Ferdinando. Notably, on Sunday the official had written to the COPE chair in Parliament that his claims were wrong and he had become “emotional” due to some questions that made him uneasy. He also stated that this retraction was not under influence of either Rajapaksa or any Indian High Commission officer.
A controversy was hatched in India after Leftist media portals like The Wire disseminated the officer’s withdrawn claims as facts. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was also quick to target the BJP and Prime Minister Modi over the Wire piece.
The Adani Group has won the tender bid to build a 1,000 MW wind power facility near Mannar worth more than USD 1 billion. Adani Green Energy, a subsidiary of the Adani Group, had presented a proposal to the Sri Lanka Board of Investment (BOI) and the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB). Around December last year, the agreement was approved.
The Hindu outfit Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) released a press statement on June 14 in which it strongly condemned the rising Islamic violence in India. The press release came days after the June 10th incidents of violence, when Islamist mobs ran riot in numerous parts of the country following the Friday Namaz, to protest against suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma.
— Vishva Hindu Parishad -VHP (@VHPDigital) June 14, 2022
The Hindu outfit has warned that the members of the Bajrang Dal, the youth wing of VHP will take to the streets on June 16 to protest against the rising Islamic intolerance and violence in the country.
It said that the Jihadi fundamentalists have continued to launch fatal attacks on Hindus. They have vandalised and burnt Hindu homes. To oppose the rising Jihadist activities in the country, the Bajrang Dal will deliver a memorandum to the President of India by organising a sit-in in district headquarters across the country on Thursday, June 16, 2022.
Milind Parande, the Union General Secretary of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, urged that rigorous vigilance should be maintained around mosques where Islamist crowds and rioters emerged after Friday prayers on June 10. Those who instigated the mob should be arrested as soon as possible.
Without naming anyone in particular, Parande urged that the safety of individuals who are being threatened by these radical Islamists be guaranteed and that those who have started this intimidation campaign be detained and criminal proceedings filed against them. Those who are involved in the violence and those who have a jihadi mindset should be brought to books. Mosques and organisations like Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Hind, which provide food and water to the rioters, should be shut down immediately, he added.
Mobs run rampage in several cities after Jumma Namaz over Nupur Sharma’s Prophet Muhammad remark
The press statement came after the June 10 incidents of violence reported from various parts of the country. After the Friday Namaz, Islamist mobs ran riot in numerous parts of the country to protest against ex-BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma. In some places, the enraged mob set fire to Nupur Sharma’s effigy and posters, while in others, stones were thrown, injuring cops and citizens, and causing property damage.
The vile campaign against the former BJP spokesperson began after Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair shared her video with a commentary on Prophet Mohammad to encourage trolls to attack her. In the last week of May 2022, during a news debate, Nupur Sharma asked what if she makes offensive remarks about Islam the way people were making offensive remarks about Shivling and Hinduism.
Since then, the domestic and foreign Islamists have been baying for the blood of the former BJP spokesperson. Multiple death and beheading threats have come her way. A number of FIRs have also been filed against her in different states of India. Despite her suspension from the BJP over her said derogatory and subsequent apology, Islamists have continued to target her with threats. There are multiple bounties on her head as well now ranging from Rs 20 lakhs to 1 Crore.
Today (June 14), on the second death anniversary of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, his sister Shweta Singh Kirti took to Instagram to pen an emotional note for her deceased brother. The actor was found dead under mysterious circumstances at his apartment in Bandra, Mumbai on June 14, 2020.
His untimely death was mourned by millions of his fans and supporters around the world. It triggered a massive debate on Bollywood’s entrenched drug culture and toxicity of nepotism and power play, which fans blamed for the actor’s untimely death.
Paying her heartfelt tribute to her beloved brother, Shweta Singh Kirti urged late Sushant Singh Rajput’s fans to light a lamp today and perform a selfless action to bring a smile to someone’s face.
In her post, where Shweta Singh Kirti used an old picture of the 34-year-old actor holding the hand of one of his young fans, she wrote, “It has been 2 years since you left your mortal abode, Bhai, but you have become immortal because of the values you stood for. Kindness, compassion and love for all were your virtues. You wanted to do so much for so many. We shall continue to model after your wonderful virtues and ideals in your honor. Bhai, you have changed the world for the better and will continue to do so even in your absence,” she said.
“Let us all light a lamp today and perform a selfless action to bring a smile to someone’s face,” she added.
“Ghar se masjid hain bahut door chalo yuun karle, kisi rote hue bachche ko hasaya jae. #ForeverSushant”, she ended her post with a poem by Muqtida Hasan Nida Fazli, commonly known as Nida Fazli, roughly translated as, “since the mosque is too far away from home, let’s make a crying child laugh for a while.”
Sushant Singh Rajput’s death
On June 14, 2020, actor Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead at his apartment. He allegedly committed suicide, according to the Mumbai Police. However, the case took a lot of twists and turns over time and eventually, the case was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation. The investigation agency had issued a statement some time back in which they said that the investigation was underway and the death case was being probed from all angles.
The untimely death of the actor had, however, opened a pandora’s box for Bollywood, with a host of well-known actors and filmmakers opening up about the hierarchy in Bollywood or the ‘privilege club’ and how hard it is for an outsider to be successful in the industry. Moreover, the actor’s death also turned the spotlight on the drug culture prevailing in Bollywood, with NCB rounding up several Bollywood celebrities who were accused of consuming and procuring drugs.
On Saturday (June 11), the UK Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities removed an Islamic cleric named Qari Asim from the position of Deputy Chair of the government’s Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Group.
Reportedly, he was appointed as an Independent Advisor to the Government of the United Kingdom in July 2019. The decision to remove him came against the backdrop of the cleric’s call to boycott the film ‘The Lady of Heaven,’ which is based on the life of Prophet Muhammad’s daughter Fathima.
In a Facebook post on June 6, he had written, “The disparaging movie, The Lady of Heaven, has caused much pain and hurt to Muslims. We have been working with many brothers and Imams across the country to liaise with the cinemas.”
Screengrab of the Facebook post of Qari Asim
“As a community, in some places, we have been successful and those cinemas will no longer be showing the movie, in other places negotiations are still ongoing. Some Imams have taken a view to protest and others are in dialogue with the cinemas trying to resolve the situation,” he had added.
“All agree that the movie is derogatory, and uses sectarian and racist narratives. Freedom of speech is important and all citizens should be able to exercise their freedoms within the law,” the cleric had opined.
Imam Qari Asim pointed out that the movie had the potential to fuel extremism, sectarianism and hatred in the United Kingdom. He also called upon Muslim protestors to stay united and remain vigilant.
UK government fires Qari Asim
In a letter [pdf] written on June 11, the UK Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities stated that it cannot continue its association with Imam Qari Asim due to his campaign against artistic freedom.
“We write now because we have no option but to withdraw the appointment and end your roles with Government with immediate effect. Your recent support for a campaign to limit free expression- a campaign which has itself encouraged communal tensions – means it is no longer appropriate for you to continue your work with Government in roles designed to promote community harmony, ” it said.
“You have encouraged an ongoing campaign to prevent cinemas from screening the film “Lady of Heaven”, a clear effort to restrict artistic expression, and the campaign you have supported has led to street protests which have fomented religious hatred,” the letter emphasised.
EXCLUSIVE: Qari Asim has been sacked by the government for campaigning to limit free speech which is incompatible with the role of government advisor. pic.twitter.com/icfQY8LrQW
The Department noted that he was responsible for mobilising protestors in Leeds by advertising a demonstration on his Facebook post. “This clear involvement in a campaign to limit free expression is incompatible with the role of a government adviser,” it added.
The United Kingdom government accused Qari Azim of encouraging sectarian chanting and anti-Shia hatred outside cinema halls. Although he was appointed as an adviser to counter ‘anti-Muslim hatred’, the government found him complicit in enabling such behaviours.
“Your actions are incompatible with the role of a government adviser on anti-Muslim hatred. This country is proud of its democratic values and freedoms, which include tolerance, freedom of expression, and community,” the letter concluded.
Islamic cleric justifies his actions
A day later on Sunday (June 12), Qari Asim wrote to Michael Gove, who serves as the Secretary of State for Levelling Upm Housing and Communities.
He claimed, “I have been contributing to the Government’s Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Group for over 10 years in a voluntary capacity and have served conscientiously in order to minimise anti-Muslim hatred in our country.”
He accused the government of creating hurdles in his work. “In the last 3 years, despite many attempts to make progress with my role, neither has a second adviser been appointed nor have terms of reference been issued to commence the process for establishing a definition which captures anti-Muslim prejudice,” he alleged.
“Due to this apparent lack of political will at the very top level of Government, I was not given any resources to undertake the work that my role demanded. This has fuelled perceptions that the current Government is not serious in tackling anti-Muslim prejudice,” he added.
My response to the Department of Levelling Up, Housing & Communities’ recent letter removing me as Government’s Adviser to define #Islamophobia ?? pic.twitter.com/EcdoWiVXwZ
In his defence, he claimed that he did not personally organise any protests outside any cinema halls against ‘The Lady of Heaven’ film. He also said that he believed in dialogue but supported people’s democratic right to protest.
“I am of the firm opinion that the challenge to and critique of the “Lady of Heaven” film is part of free speech, though violence and intimidation can never be. My concern has always been that due to the way in which this film was made, it risked fuelling extremism and tension in communities that would undermine cohesion in British society,” he remarked.
Qari Asim said that his concerns found acceptance among both Shia and Sunni scholars. “In the spirit of free speech, while I continue to be concerned about the divisive nature of this film, I remain fully supportive of open public dialogue and scholarly debate around historical narratives between Sunni and Shia perspectives that do not fuel hatred or division in communities,” his letter read.
“I did unequivocally condemn anti-Shia hatred displayed during the protests in Leeds, that came to my attention, to my own congregation. As soon as I learnt about the anti-Shia slogans being chanted during the Leeds’ protest, I publicly and firmly condemned such hateful rhetoric in our Makkah Mosque in Leeds,” he said.
The Islamic cleric stated, “I also reached out to the Shia mosque in Leeds to show our solidarity with the Shia community. I have spent a lifetime working to promote both interfaith and intra-faith inclusivity, peace and harmony. I am on record for challenging and condemning anti-Shia hatred and violence in this country and abroad.”
“I therefore strongly disagree with the characterisation of me in the letter as someone who has supported anti-Shia statements. I also refute any attempts to attribute comments made by individuals attending the protests to me, or any suggestion that I have any association with sectarian rhetoric,” he concluded.
Currently, Qari Asim serves as the head Imam at the Makkah mosque in Leeds.
Three members of the Kerala Youth Congress have been charged with an attempt to murder after staging a protest inside an airplane flying Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The Valiyathura police department registered the case under Indian Penal Code Section 307 after receiving a complaint from Chief Minister’s bodyguard Anil Kumar. The Director-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will also look into the incident.
Farzeen Majeed, Naveen Kumar, and Sunith Kumar, all Kannur residents, are the accused in the case. Other allegations against them include obstructing official duties, conspiring, and engaging in activities that endanger the plane’s safety.
Former MLA K S Sabarinathan shared a video clip of the incident on social media, showing the two being pushed by a person accompanying the Chief Minister and the accused asking whether they have the right to question. Sabarinathan later claimed that LDF leader E P Jayarajan shoved the protesting Youth Congress activists. Two of the three accused Youth Congress activists are being treated at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College under police protection after claiming to have been beaten up during the incident.
What is the matter?
On Monday, activists of the Kerala Youth Congress boarded a commercial flight flying Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to Thiruvananthapuram from Kannur, waving black flags in protest of alleged police harassment.
The chief minister was at Kannur on a three-day official tour. The Youth Congress workers were nabbed by the CM’s security team and LDF leader Jayarajan, who was accompanying Vijayan, and were handed over to the CISF. Jayarajan described the incident as worse than a “terrorist strike.” The incident was also criticized by CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, who claimed that Youth Congress workers were plotting to attack the CM.
Meanwhile, Congress leader VD Satheesan described it as a “symbolic protest against police repression.” Farzeen Majid, head of the Youth Congress Mattanur block and one of the protestors, claimed that their objective was just to register a protest, and they were “brutally beaten” at the airport by the CM’s security team and Jayarajan, making them suffer serious injuries.
According to police, the Youth Congress activists started chanting slogans after the CM took his seat. Kannur range DIG Rahul Nair stated that they received an intelligence tip on this and warned the CISF, but the youth Congress workers managed to board the plane after displaying the medical history of a cancer patient receiving treatment at the Regional Cancer Centre in Thiruvananthapuram.
According to sources, this incident also prompted attacks on certain Congress offices, including the State Headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram, purportedly by members of the CPI(M) and its youth wing DYFI.
Attack on Congress offices
Unknown attackers threw a crude bomb at the Congress office in Perambra, Kozhikode, at approximately 12:55 a.m. on Tuesday, shattering the windows and doors of the building.
Aside from Kozhikode, similar attacks occurred in other regions of the state. The head office of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee was also attacked purportedly by DYFI workers. Protesters also pelted stones at the KPCC and vandalized a vehicle parked in front of the building. Congress leaders claimed that the attack was carried out by CPM workers to retaliate against the protest by Youth Congress workers.
On June 13, the Bombay High Court instructed the Chief Public Prosecutor (PP) of Maharashtra Aruna Pai to take instructions from the State Home Ministry and submit a no-objection statement over the release of 22-years-old pharmacy student Nikhil Bhamare from Nashik. At least six First Investigation Reports (FIR) were filed against Bhamare for alleged derogatory social media posts on Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar.
Bhamare had posted a tweet in May, following which complaints were filed against him, and he was arrested and as a result, had to miss his exams.
Bhamare was booked under Sections Sections 153, 153A, (Promoting enmity between groups) 500, 501 (defamation), 504 (criminal intimidation), 505, 506 (statements leading to public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
On Monday, a two-judge bench comprising Justice SS Shinde and Justice MN Jadhav heard the petition filed by Subhash Jha, Bhamare’s advocate, seeking the quashing of FIRs. Bhamare sought release from the custody as an interim measure. During the hearing, Justice Shinde observed that no name was mentioned in the FIR, but Bhamare has been in prison for over a month. He said, “Nobody is named on page 48 (which included the primary tweet by Bhamre) and to keep someone in prison for a month. How is this the basis of everything? What gave rise to the FIR as per page 48?”
In his argument, Advocate Jha pointed out that the first FIR against Bhamare was registered in Thane at Naupada Police Station. Justice Shinde remarked, “Some student is kept in custody like this. Even the towering personality will not like that such a student is kept in jail.” Notably, Justice Shinde had refused to grant bail to Republic’s editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami when he was arrested by the Mumbai police over a reopened case.
When Pai tried to explain to the court that the investigation had led to Bhamare, Justice Shinde was not pleased with the argument. He said, “[It] does not matter. What will happen if you take action like this, you are unnecessarily undermining the image of the person (Sharad Pawar) who has received the second-highest civilian award.” The Government of India had awarded Pawar with Padma Vibhushan in 2017.
Pai further tried to argue that Bhamare had antecedents, but Justice Shinde refused to hear it. He said, “You take instructions. Talk to the home secretary and make a statement that you are not opposing his release from custody. People at the highest position are perhaps not aware of what is going on. Where are there allegations? There are hundreds and thousands of tweets every day. Will you take cognizance of each tweet?”
Apart from Bhamare, Marathi actor Ketaki Chitale was also booked and arrested for allegedly posting derogatory remarks against Pawar. She has spent over a month in jail.
On Monday (June 13) night, AIMIM leader Waris Pathan was schooled by a Muslim panellist named Subuhi Khan during a debate on the recent violence orchestrated by Islamist mobs over alleged ‘blasphemy’.
During the debate titled ‘Stop the Riot Culture’ on Republic TV, Pathan was seen crying foul over the demolition of illegal houses of Muslim rioters in Uttar Pradesh. Instead of answering the questions posed to him, the AIMIM leader remained fixated on his monologue.
“He will keep on repeating the same things,” a co-panellist named Subuhi Khan noted. At that point, Pathan responded aggressively, “You don’t teach me what I have to repeat. I never interjected when you were making a point. Khamosh (Silence).”
“Apni zabaan sambhal ke baat kijiye (Hold your tongue),” she remarked. The AIMIM leader replied, “Aree app sambhal ke baat karo. Mujhe tumhare se tameez nahin sikhna. (You, hold your tongue. I do not need to learn manners from you.)”
Subuhi Khan then requested Arnab Goswami to reduce the volume of Pathan’s microphone while the latter threatened to leave the debate. “This is not 1984 and I am not Shah Bano. And you are Waris Pathan. Stay within your limits,” she emphasised.
On hearing this, a red-headed Waris Pathan said, “Shut up and sit down. You and your entire lineage are 2-faced. Speak with respect.” He then went on to claim that she had not been made a spokesperson by the BJP because she is a Muslim.
“Your name is Subuhi khan. You have not been made the spokesperson by the BJP despite licking its feet,” he continued with his tirade. The Muslim panellist said, “I am not in active politics unlike you.” “Stop dreaming and come back to reality. You will get nothing… Sit down silently,” Waris Pathan replied in a crass tone.
Co-panellist objects to the indecent behaviour of Waris Pathan
At about 45 minutes into the debate, RSS ideologue and co-panellist Ratan Sharda asked Waris Pathan to apologise to Subuhi Khan for his unsavoury remarks. “You are a useless, bad person… You are an idiot, a lunatic,” the AIMIM leader told Sharda.
At that point, Arnab Goswami interjected and directed Waris Pathan to mind his language. He also instructed him against making personal remarks about any panellist. Subuhi Khan responded, “These men have the habit of mistaking every Muslim woman for Shah Bano… This is not 1984 but 2022. He has forgotten that this is a nationalist government.”
Today on @republic#StopTheRiotCulture AIMIM Spokie Waris abuses a Muslim lady shouting about her khandan, insulted her self respect talking of shoe licking. Shame. Same fellow goes under water when asked about his MP calling for hanging of #NupurSharma ?
— Ratan Sharda ?? रतन शारदा (@RatanSharda55) June 13, 2022
“I will insult her if she does not stop,” Waris Pathan threatened. Khan questioned, “Why are you hurt? Is your fragile male ego and manhood coming in the way of debate?”
Towards the end of the show, Subuhi Khan told Pathan that the Indian law will not work per his whims and fancies. She rubbished his claims of punishment accorded for hurting religious sentiments.
At that point, in a rather childish manner, the AIMIM leader tried to mock his Muslim co-panellist by imitating her expressions. “What do you even know? Chal, Chal?” he was heard as saying.
15 crore Muslims can dominate over 100 crore Hindus: Waris Pathan
The AIMIM leader is not new to controversies. In February 2020, Waris Pathan was seen inciting Muslims at an anti-CAA rally in Gulbarga, Karnataka, in the presence of AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi.
In a veiled threat to the Hindus, Pathan resorted to inciting Muslims by stating that the time had come for the Muslims of the country to unite and ‘achieve freedom’. He added that even though Muslims were just 15 crores in the country, they could still dominate over 100 crore Hindus.
Speaking at an anti-CAA protest rally in Gulbarga of Karnataka, Pathan warned Hindus to be scared of Muslims and reminded them of the consequences if Muslims united.
Waris pathan says
“We (minority) are only 15 crore of the population but if we take streets then we are bhari on majority of population
“We need to work together, we need to snatch our Azadi. The time has now come to achieve Azadi, if we cannot achieve it, we should snatch it. They were mocking us for hiding behind women (during anti-CAA protests),” he had said.
Pathan continued, “Do not forget, these are lionesses who have come out and you are already afraid of these women. Be aware and know what happens if we all (Muslims) unite together.”
“We are 15 crores but be aware we can still dominate over 100 crore Hindus and imagine what we can do to you,” he had threatened.
On June 13, Mohammed Zubair, co-founder of propaganda website AltNews, deleted or deactivated his Facebook profile (AltNewsZubair) after his Hinduphobic posts went viral on several social media platforms. He removed the page from the platform allegedly after a Twitter user, the hawkeye, posted a thread about how Zubair had been posting blatantly Hinduphobic posts.
Interestingly, Zubair has been a frontrunner in fanning the controversy around alleged derogatory remarks on Prophet Muhammad by former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Nupur Sharma. However, his parody page ‘Unofficial: Subramanian Swamy’ is still active.
Zubair deleted/deactivated Facebook after his Hinduphobic posts got viral. Source: Facebook
OpIndia had reported on Sunday that Zubair had himself mocked Hindu Gods and beliefs while leading an online campaign accusing people of insulting Islamic beliefs. In one of the tweets shared by The Hawk Eye, Zubair is seen mocking Shivling and comparing it with the top view of the Vatican City. He said the post comparing Shivling with the Vatican City inspired him to come up with a parody Facebook page, ‘Unofficial: Subramanian Swamy’ in 2014.
Apparently, one of the posts on the Facebook page ‘Unofficial Mohammed Zubair‘ mocks Arun Govil to take a swipe at Lord Ram, suggesting that ISRO must consult the actor because he would know more about the rocketry.
Another post by ‘Unofficial Mohammed Zubair’ shows an aeroplane under water with the caption: “Breaking: Underwater Pushpak Vimana used by Raavan 5000 years found in the Indian Ocean.”
Source: Twitter/TheHawkEye
Besides ridiculing Hindu Gods, Zubair has also poked fun at Hindu beliefs and even mocked Sanskrit, the ancient language that forms the basis of Hindu texts.
Source: Twitter/TheHawkEye
Interestingly, this is not the first time someone has pointed out how Zubair has been fanning hate and posting Hinduphobic posts. In 2018, a Twitter user TheSwartzLegacy posted a few tweets alarming authorities about his posts but no action was taken against him. In a now-deleted post TheSwartzLegacy wrote, “Dear UP Police in yet another example, Jihadi propagandist Zubair tried to instigate innocent Indian Muslims by claiming that CM Yogi Adityanath is using UP as a laboratory for Civil War. Zubair is dangerously manipulative and a threat to the peace of India.”
Now-deleted post by TheSwartzLegacy. Source: Twitter
In other posts, TheSwartzLegacy demonstrated how Zubair, through his troll page “Unofficial: Subramanian Swamy” attempted caste-based propaganda in Gujarat and insulted the 1857 Mutiny. Zubair not only mocked and insulted Hindus but also the freedom fighters of India.
Zubair tried to insert caste in a case where police categorically denied it. Source: Twitter
Zubair’s propaganda-filled campaign against Nupur Sharma
It is ironic that the posts by Zubair came to light days after he dog-whistled Islamists over alleged ‘blasphemy’ committed by former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma against the Islamic prophet. Sharma was at the receiving end of online harassment as indoctrinated Islamists on social media descended on her timeline, abusing her and issuing death threats to her and her family.
A few days later, the propaganda spread to Islamic countries, with many Gulf nations, which themselves have a poor record in religious freedom themselves, sanctimoniously protesting against the remarks on Prophet Muhammad that were derived from Islamic Hadiths.
The controversy culminated with widespread violence across different parts of India as Islamists in several towns and cities across the country took to the streets, going on a rampage and indulging in violence, vandalism, and arson.
On June 12, a young 21-years-old columnist with leftist propaganda portal The Wire, Meer Faisal, tweeted one highly derogatory and problematic tweet in support of ‘activist’ Afreen Fatima. Faisal is currently associated with Maktoob Media, an Islamist propaganda portal, and is a regular contributor to various media houses, including Al Jazeera, The Wire, Nikkei Asia, First Post and The Quint.
In his tweet, visibly angry Faisal was not pleased with the action taken by the Uttar Pradesh state government against Prayagraj riots accused Javed Pump’s illegally constructed house. Fatima is Javed Pump’s daughter. He wrote, “Laanat on all opposition parties and leaders of UP. A kufr Millatun Wahida” followed by a hashtag #StandWithAfreenFatima.
In a now-deleted tweet, Faisal said ‘All disbelievers and enemies of Islam are the same’. Source:
Notably, Fatima’s father, Javed Mohammed ‘Pump’, was arrested by the UP Police as he had emerged as the mastermind behind Prayagraj violence. The violence took place on Friday during a protest against alleged derogatory remarks by Bharatiya Janata Party’s former spokesperson Nupur Sharma on Prophet Muhammad.
The line that followed the ‘laanat’ ‘A kufr Millatun Wahida’ translated to ‘All non-Muslims are the same i.e. Kaafir’. Shortly after the rant, Faisal deleted the tweet, but by then, his anger and frustration towards Kafirs or Kufrs (or Non-Muslims/Hindus who do not believe in ‘One God’) was all over the social media.
Meaning of Al-kufr millah wahida’ is that All non-Muslims are the same.
If we look at the history of Meer Faisal’s social media (Twitter) account, this is not the first time he has spoken against non-Muslims (especially Hindus). Faisal was also booked by Delhi Police for allegedly cooking up a story against Hindus and Delhi Police a few months back.
Delhi Police booked Meer Faisal for publishing a fake story
On April 4, Delhi Police booked Faisal and news portal Article 14 for disseminating false information using the social media platform Twitter. The false information was shared regarding The Hindu Mahapanchayat event organised by the Save India Foundation at the Burari ground in Delhi on April 3.
Deputy Police Commissioner Northwest Usha Rangnani said in a statement, “An FIR under Indian Penal Code’s Section 505 (2) has been registered at Mukherjee Nagar Police Station against some Twitter handles for tweets in circulation having content which could incite enmity, hatred, and ill-will between two communal groups. The investigation in the case has been taken up.”
On April 3, Faisal claimed that five Muslim journalists, including him, were ‘assaulted’ at an event by a “Hindu” mob. News portal Article 14 had also tweeted, “5 journalists, 4 of them Muslim,1 on assignment for @Article14live, have been taken by police to the Mukherji Nagar police station in Delhi after a mob at #Hindu#dharamsansad (for which the police had declined permission) discovered their religion, attacked them & deleted videos”.
The claims were refuted by DCP. She said, “Some of the reporters, willingly, on their own free will, to evade the crowd which was getting agitated by their presence, sat in PCR Van stationed at the venue and opted to proceed to Police Station for security reasons. No one was detained. Due police protection was provided.” DCP added that necessary action would be taken against those who spread the misinformation.
Faisal claimed Hindus attacked Muslims in Kanpur violence
On June 3 he claimed that it was a “Hindu mob” that pelted stones when poor Muslims were merely shutting shops to protest against “blasphemous” statements by Nupur Sharma. To put things into perspective, a report has revealed that after Friday prayers, the Muslim mob began forcing Hindus in the Beconganj district to close their shops. When they objected, the enraged mob began throwing stones at Hindus. The Islamists insisted on knowing the names of the people, and those who were Hindus were attacked.
Violence broke out in #Kanpur during shutdown called by Muslim community protesting against @NupurSharmaBJP blasphemous comments against Prophet Muhammad SAW. When Muslim shopkeepers were closing their shops after Friday prayers, the Hindutva mob started pelting stones at them. pic.twitter.com/MdEfRuQBwr
On April 10, he claimed that Hindus target Muslims during Hindu festivals and such festivals had become a ‘nightmare’ for Muslims. He said, “Hindu festival have become a nightmare for the Muslims of India. Hindus can’t even celebrate their festivals without targeting Muslims. Laanat hai!”
Faisal declared Hindu festivals nightmare for Muslims. Source: Twitter
On April 10, Hindus celebrated Ram Navami, the birthday of Bhagwan Ram. On this day every year, Hindus take out Shobha Yatras across the country to celebrate the birth of their beloved Bhagwan.
This year on Ram Navami, multiple Shobha Yatras were attacked and Islamists indulged in pelting stones, throwing petrol bombs and attacking Hindus with swords. At some locations, they even fired bullets at innocent Hindus. Such reports came from Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Gujarat, Karnataka and Rajasthan.
The left-liberals and Islamists on social media, news media and other platforms tried to paint Hindus in a bad light and claimed it was Hindus who attacked and provoked Muslims by ‘chanting provocative slogan of Jai Shri Ram’. People like Meer Faisal ran a propaganda-filled campaign to malign the image of peace-loving Hindus. He shared several tweets blaming Hindus for arson and attacking Muslims. He conveniently missed the details of Hindus who were peacefully taking out Shobha Yatra and were attacked by the Muslim mob.
Faisal fear mongered about a peaceful Bajrang Dal rally in Mewat, the ‘mini Pakistan’
In December last year, Faisal took to Twitter to post a host of videos about a Bajrang Dal rally in Mewat to fearmonger about Hindu outfits trying to create a “communal divide” between Hindus and Muslims of the area.
Meer Faisal stated in his Twitter thread that on the 12th of December, Bajrang Dal member Jeet Vashisht took to Facebook to post videos of a saffron rally in Nuh, the Muslim-majority area in Mewat. He said that Jai Shree Ram slogans were raised in front of Muslim households and that the rally was carried out with over 500 cars filled with “Hindutva supporters” who had entered the area to saffronise Mewat.
On the contrary, the police also confirmed that the rally was completely peaceful and no untoward incident was reported. Interestingly, the rally had happened with due permission of the Police which Faisal ignored.
Support for anti-India forces
On several occasions, Faisal showed his support for anti-India forces. In 2020, he posted a thread in support of Sharjeel Imam where he called him the ‘spark that awakened the public that was sleeping for over 70 years. Completely ignoring the fact that in his provocative speeches, Imam had talked about cutting the Northeast part of India, Faisal demanded the release of Imam.
Thread in support of Sharjeel Imam (Source: Twitter)
Faisal inadvertently rightly said that “he [Imam] is well known for fighting the war of Qaum”.
He also came out in support of Sharjeel Usmani and demanded his release while calling him a student leader. Though he kept supporting Usmani, Faisal ignored the fact that Usmani was booked and arrested for instigating riots and giving provocative speeches.
Faisal supported Sharjeel Usmani on several occasions. (Source: Twitter)
This is not even the tip of the iceberg. Faisal has countless posts against Hindus targeting Hindutva and blaming Hindus for “atrocities against Muslims”.
The government of India is all set to hire a whopping 10 lakh people in the next 1.5 years. As per PMO India, PM Modi has asked for the positions to be filled to meet human resource requirements across all departments and ministries of the government.
PM @narendramodi reviewed the status of Human Resources in all departments and ministries and instructed that recruitment of 10 lakh people be done by the Government in mission mode in next 1.5 years.
In a tweet, the PMO India shared, “PM Modi reviewed the status of Human Resources in all departments and ministries and instructed that recruitment of 10 lakh people be done by the Government in a mission mode in next 1.5 years.”
It is notable here that large-scale employment generation was a key poll promise of the Modi government and the Department of Personnel and Training, the government of India’s department for hiring human resources for its various administrative divisions, comes directly under the PMO.
It recruits staffers through 2 organisations, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and the Staff Selection Commission (SSC). The UPSC recruits officers for higher civil offices while the SSC hires the subordinate staff.
