On 2 April 2022 (Saturday), violence had broken out in Karauli, Rajasthan during the Hindu New Year procession. Policemen trying to control the violence, along with Hindu activists involved in the procession, were injured in the attack by a Muslim mob. The police, however, had accused both Hindus and Muslims in their FIR related to the violence. Some of the accused who were arrested under that FIR are already out of jail while some others are still absconding. OpIndia on June 10, 2022, inquired about the current situation from Vaibhav Pal, who has been named as an accused in the incident.
Vaibhav Pal told OpIndia, “We had completed all the legal formalities of the procession. That is why the administration was with us and we were taking out the procession. We had no idea what happened after that. The place where the incident took place is the main road and was on the way to the temple, there was no Muslim majority population there. The homes of Muslims start from about 100 meters away from the incident site. The attack took place on the main road in which women and children were also involved.
Hindus were not attackers but victims of the attack
Vaibhav Pal said, “There was no attack or violence from the side of Hindus, we are the victims. About 70 people from our side were injured and our vehicles were also vandalized. After facing this violence, a case was registered against us only. Now dozens of Hindus have run away from their homes due to the fear of the police. Apart from those who have run away, many other Hindus are also in a state of panic. I am named in this case and have not been able to go to my house since then. Although the police are not doing anything wrong with my family in my absence, maybe because even they know that we are innocent. However, I don’t know what the Congress government is doing about the whole case.”
Amit Sharma’s condition is out of danger now
Vaibhav Pal further said, “Amit Sharma, who was injured most critically in the stone-pelting from the roofs is fine now and his condition is out of danger. Along with this, a Sangh worker was also stabbed, whose condition is now fine. Many others had also suffered injuries in the stone-pelting but are now recovering after treatment.”
After the incident, cases were filed selectively against Hindu youth
Vaibhav said, “The day the violence took place, the police registered an FIR and named dozens of people from both sides. After the passage of about 8 to 10 days, the people of the Muslim community selectively lodged FIRs against many Hindu boys in different incidents. These FIRs, registered during the course of several days, number close to 80. About 60 to 70 Hindu youths were named in these cases, most of whom are currently hiding and wandering here and there. The purpose of these FIRs is only to harass Hindus. Action is also being taken unilaterally in this.” Vaibhav also sent copies of dozens of FIRs to OpIndia.
Several Hindus arrested by Police after FIR
Vaibhav further said, “Almost all the people named in the FIR have been arrested except 1 or 2. Many of them have also got bail. On the day of the incident, even a Hindu going somewhere for his work in Karauli was also caught and named in the FIR. The action is totally one-sided. Most of those named in the FIR are in the age group of 20 to 22 years. When the police have written in its own FIR that the procession was going on peacefully, then why we were named as accused, it is not clear till now.”
Those working for Hindutva on target
Vaibhav said, “While registering the FIR, all those who used to work for Hindutva in Karauli were kept under watch. Even those having belief in Dharma were deliberately targeted. There are 30-40 people who were caught under Section-151 later on. Sahib Gurjar and Rajaram Gurjar of Hindu Sena have been made the main accused of violence by the police. Congress party MLA Lakhan Singh Meena fully supported the Muslim side.”
Main accused Matloob absconding
Vaibhav further said, “Matloob has not been caught so far. There are discussions in the area that Mushtaq Ahmed, a close aide of the main accused Congress leader Matloob, stabbed RSS worker Vipin. Mushtaq Ahmed is a compounder in a government hospital right here in Karauli. It is not known whether the police will take action against him, but Mushtaq is still said to be working at the counter distributing medicines in the hospital. It is also discussed in Karauli that the Congress MLA had helped the main accused Matloob to escape. All the people sent to jail from Muslim side have got bail.”
All the people named in FIRs are students, and their financial condition is bad
According to Vaibhav most of the boys implicated in the cases are young students and their financial condition is very bad. “They don’t have money for lobbying. Their studies are getting affected and there is no one to speak on their behalf. There are many such families among Hindus and they are not able to get bail. Meanwhile, the government is directly engaged from the other side with the support of Congress MLA”, Vaibhav added.
The National Herald scam is one of the most high-profile legal cases in Indian history since current members of the Gandhi family are directly accused. After an unconditional bail in 2015, it was for Rahul and Sonia Gandhi to finally appear for questioning at the ED office in connection to the money laundering case in Delhi. The mere news of the ED summoning the Gandhis had rattled the Congress supporters – who then complained of the Modi Government ‘misusing’ its power to target Rahul Gandhi.
However, the Gandhi family’s uncanny reluctance to submit themselves before the constitutional procedure results from their entitlement to see themselves as a family above the institutions of the nation. After spearheading the national politics for about seven decades after India’s Independence, members of the Nehru-Gandhi family have been asked to follow the rules of the State. While the money laundering accusation against the Gandhis has come after AJL’s unjustified acquisition of prime properties across Indian cities, appearing before the ED for a scheduled inquiry was a given.
The date came June 13. While Sonia Gandhi was given a later date of June 23 given her ‘health concerns’, all eyes were now on Rahul Gandhi to see whether he appears before the central body. The Congress party announced to stage protests across the country at 25 party offices. Calling it a ‘Satyagrah’, Congress workers on Monday in large numbers took out agitations against the notice served to Rahul Gandhi, as he reached the ED office.
#WATCH | Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accompanied by party leaders and workers marches to the Enforcement Directorate office in Delhi to appear before it in the National Herald case pic.twitter.com/8sd7VctfEG
For creating a disturbance in civic order, several Congress leaders were detained from outside the All India Congress Committee’s (AICC) office. The party had planned the march from party headquarters to the ED’s office. Amidst heavy police presence, the party workers took out a march from the party headquarters to the investigative agency’s office.
The police detained several other Congress leaders for trying to foment trouble before Rahul Gandhi’s appearance in the ED office. Along with other workers, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala, senior leader Harish Rawat, Congress leaders Rajni Patil, Akhilesh Prasad Singh, L. Hanumanthaiah, and Thirunavukkarasar Su. were detained by the police.
#WATCH Congress leader Rahul Gandhi surrounded by hundreds of party workers marches to the Enforcement Directorate office to appear before the agency in the National Herald case pic.twitter.com/EN1sjuOqfx
Delhi | Congress leaders Rajni Patil,Akhikesh Prasad Singh, L. Hanumanthaiah &Thirunavukkarasar Su. detained in Mandir Marg PS for protest in support of Rahul Gandhi who’s appearing before ED in National Herald case
During the so-called Satyagrah March, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi arrived in a gesture to meet detained Congress leaders like Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and KC Venugopal at the Tughlaq Road Police station.
Delhi | Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra meets party leaders who were detained during the party’s ‘Satyagrah’ march at Tughlaq Road Police Station pic.twitter.com/U2ERjogHXF
Congress leaders, while talking to the media raised questions over the enquiry of Rahul Gandhi by the investigative body. Randeep Singh Surjewala, in a press conference, said that the BJP Government has imposed an ‘undeclared emergency‘ in Delhi, whereas, Congress MP Karti Chidambaram called it a ‘blatant misuse‘ of ED.
Enquiry by Supreme Court SIT against Narendra Modi
As the Congress party took over the nation to its whims when Rahul Gandhi reached the ED premises, one should be reminded of the time when Narendra Modi, the then CM of Gujarat was called for an SIT questioning in 2010. In the 2002 Godhra riots case, Supreme Court-monitored SIT was formed to look into the allegations of one Zakia Jafri and as part of the process in March 2010, the sitting chief minister of the state was grilled by the SIT for nine hours.
Narendra Modi answered every question that was asked to him regarding the case. Moreover, former CBI director R K Raghavan detailed about the inquiry in his book while he wrote, “When (we) asked him whether he would like to break for lunch, he initially turned down the offer. He brought his own bottle of water and did not accept even a cup of tea from the SIT during the marathon questioning comprising hundred-odd questions. Such was the energy of the man.”
When Modi came out of the enquiry following all legal procedures, he talked to the media asserting that he wanted to cooperate fully with the law. “The Supreme Court SIT had written to me a letter in which I was asked to visit the ED personally. On March 27, today, I am here before the SIT. They had a detailed discussion with me and have asked me all the questions they intended to ask. I have said this already that laws in the constitution are Supreme and as a citizen and the Chief Minister, I am too bound by the law,” Modi expressed after his grilling by the SIT was over.
In September 2013, The SIT gave a clean chit to Modi against Jafri’s allegations. The Ahmedabad court too rejected a protest petition filed against the clean chit given to Narendra Modi in the 2002 riots case. It was only then, that the BJP workers and Modi supporters held celebratory demonstrations in Gujarat and Delhi. Enthusiastic party workers burst crackers at the BJP headquarters after Modi, now the sought-after PM was cleared of all allegations.
BJP leader late Arun Jaitley, while acknowledging Modi’s faith in following the democratic process held, “There were pre-emptive and punitive arrests, cases were filed, people were punished, there were investigations by the SIT, there was a Supreme Court-monitored probe, an amicus curiae, then the SIT’s report to the magistrate, Mr Modi himself was interrogated for over nine hours.”
What’s the difference?
Two parties – one which claims to have brought democracy to India and the other which is often tainted to have backsided while upholding the same principles showcase different behaviour when real democracy is to be exercised. No BJP karyakarta protested while the sitting Chief Minister of Gujarat quietly went and appeared before the Supreme Court SIT. Narendra Modi too, through his demeanour, practised his commitment to following the rule of law.
Rahul Gandhi’s case was assumably different. While the Gandhis always thought of themselves as a family, way above India’s institutions, it was thus appalling for Congress workers to see their leader being made to answer tough questions before the ED. While the fifth-generation dynast was only asked to follow the investigation procedure, the party employed its members – from sitting Chief Ministers to ground-level workers to hold Delhi hostage, as Gandhi reached the ED office.
The police have revealed that the Islamists who ran amok on the streets of Ranchi in Jharkhand on June 10, after the Friday Namaz in protest against Nupur Sharma’s remark, used a WhatsApp group named ‘Wasseypur gang’ to mobilise the rampaging mob. The Ranchi police are now searching for the admin of the group. As per the report, the admin of the group was trying to gather the mob at Iqra masjid, one of the two places where violence broke out.
The police is currently going through the group and members of the group along with messages shared.
So far, one person has been arrested and 16 others have been detained in the case. According to authorities, an investigation into the identification procedure is underway, and required action will be taken against the identified accused, the police added.
The police have registered 25 FIRs against “thousands” of people in the aftermath of violent protests by Islamists against former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma that also reached the Jharkhand capital of Ranchi. Violent protests broke out in the city on Friday, 10th June, over the alleged ‘blasphemous’ comments by Nupur Sharma, and as per the police, the protests gathered pace after the Friday Namaz.
Islamists took to the streets in protest against the remarks of Nupur, and all the shops in the area were closed as a part of the protest. After the Friday prayers, the protests grew in intensity and resulted in stone-pelting, arson and vandalism. Islamists pelted stones at police officials and set vehicles ablaze. A local Police officer was injuredduring the violence along with some other police personnel. As per reports, the rioters also opened fire.
Police had also fired in the air besides resorting to lathi-charge to control the mob which spilt out on the road after Friday prayers and pelted stones and shouted slogans.
Till late evening on Friday, six injured were brought to Sadar Hospital. Two others had sustained bullet injuries and were referred to RIMS hospital where they succumbed to their injuries on Saturday.
Following the violence during the protests against Nupur Sharma, a curfew has been imposed in the violence-hit areas in Ranchi. The internet service has also been suspended. The administration has asked the citizens not to venture out or will be taken into custody. Section 144 has been imposed.
Amidst the ongoing controversy over the comments on Prophet Muhammad by former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and former Delhi BJP leader Naveen Jindal, people are raising questions over the hypocritical response to comments on Islamic Prophet when compared to comments on Hindu Gods. Much worse comments on Hindu Gods and traditions have been made which did not attract FIRs or calls for capital punishment while there are mobs supported by ‘liberals’ in every city asking for Nupur’s head
Over the past few years, many celebrities, journalists and politicians have gotten away with abusing Hindu Gods without any backlash. In fact, some of them have grown in their careers because of it. Here is an indicative and not an exhaustive list of such remarks and social media reports.
Arvind Kejriwal and Aam Aadmi Party
Let’s start with the Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal. While he had recently mocked Kashmiri Hindus’ misery and called ‘The Kashmir Files’ a fake film, there have been several instances where he had mocked Hindu Gods, holy symbols and traditions.
Before Ram Mandir was a distant reality, Kejriwal had said in 2014 that his Nani (grandmother) would never approve of it. He had repeatedly called for building Schools, Colleges and Hospitals in place of the Ram Mandir.
Apart from mocking Hindus over Ram Mandir, in 2019, CM Kejriwal shared a derogatory image where a person with a broom (his party’s symbol) in his hand was running behind the Hindu holy symbol Swastika trying to beat it up.
Derogatory Tweet by Arvind Kejriwal. Source: Twitter
In another tweet, Kejriwal shared a cartoon depicting Bhagwan Hanuman burning JNU to divert attention from alleged problems faced by the government of India.
Kejriwal is not the only one in AAP to give anti-Hindu statements or indulge in activities that go against Hindus. AAP leader Sanjay Singh, in an attempt to gain relevancy in politics, had run a misinformation campaign alleging funds misappropriation by the BJP and Ayodhya Ram Mandir Trust in June 2021.
In August 2020, the official Twitter handle of AAP had shared pictures of Kanchenjunga in Sikkim, held sacred by both Hindus and the Buddhists, Kamet Peak, and Nanda Devi hills in Uttarakhand, where lies a sacred temple of Nanda Devi, an incarnation of the Hindu Goddess Durga. It drew analogies between these sacred peaks and a humongous landfill at Ghazipur in Delhi. The contentious tweet was accompanied by the caption, “Highest Mountains of India.”
AAP mocked Hindu scared mountains. Source: Twitter
Shivling at Gyanvapi complex wuzukhana
The recent discovery of the Shivling at the Gyanvapi structure in the wuzukhana where the people who went to offer namaz inside the disputed structure would wash hands, triggered a slew of jokes on the Shivling.
TMC MP Mahua Moitra had shared a picture of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre with a snide remark saying that hoped it was not next on the digging list.
Derogatory tweet by Mahua Moitra. Source: Twitter
In a now-deleted Tweet, Saba Naqvi shared a picture of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre to take a swipe at the Shivling discovered inside the Gyanvapi compound.
Derogatory tweet by Saba Naqvi. Source: Twitter
RJD leader Kumar Divashankar made a derogatory reference to Shivling in his tweet mocking the BJP.
Derogatory tweet by Kumar. Source: Twitter
Peace Party’s Shadab Chouhan, who is known for his polarising tweets, posted a scornful tweet after a Varanasi court ordered to seal Gyanvapi mosque after a Shivling was found inside its wuzukhana. Chouhan had posted a picture of a curb-side lined with small poles to claim the judge would seal the area if someone made a claim of Shivling.
Derogatory tweet by Shadab. Source: Twitter
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen’s (AIMIM) leader Danish Qureshi had posted an extremely offensive comment on Shivling on social media, taking a dig at the discovery of the Shivling inside the disputed structure of Gyanvapi mosque. While he had added a rider that his intention was not to hurt the devotion of anyone and he only wanted to enhance his knowledge, his subsequent test made it clear that his only intention was to insult the concept of Shivling in Hinduism. Though he was arrested by Gujarat Police over the comment, it is very much possible that he would not face any strict action anytime soon.
Social media post by Danish Qureshi
Leaders are not the only ones to make derogatory comments. Economic Times had published a meme mocking Hindus by depicting the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre as a Shivling and captioned BOM BHOLENATH. The image was included in the MEME’S THE WORD Column of the print edition.
Meme published by Economic Times. Source: Twitter/AskAnshul
Another cartoon in the column mocks the call to open the Taj Mahal’s closed gates in the basement.
Catroon published in ET. Source: ET
Ratan Lal, an Associate Professor of History at Hindu College in Delhi University, had made a derogatory post on social media about the Shivling found in Gyanvapi disputed structure. He had said if that was a Shivling, “it seems that perhaps Shiva Ji was also circumcised”.
— RP Singh National Spokesperson BJP (@rpsinghkhalsa) May 17, 2022
Professor Ravi Kant Chandan had remarked during a debate over Gyanvapi disputed structure that it was demolished by Auragzed after he allegedly noticed illegal activities happening on the premises by the Pandits. The book and story he referred to have no trace in any historical document, and the book’s author himself had suggested not to take the book seriously.
Freelance journalist Raqib Hameed Naik, a notorious Hinduphobic element, put out an image of the White House and a fountain in front of it to discredit the recent findings of Shivling at the Gyanvapi. As per the ‘journalist’, the survey team did not find a Shivling, instead unearthed a fountain, which as per him, is being used by the Hindu side to push for ownership of the site.
Now-Deleted post by Raqib Hameed Naik. Source: Twitter
Insulting the faith
Dr Jitendra Kumar, an assistant professor of the department of forensic medicine at JN Medical College attached to the Aligarh Muslim University, was teaching about sexual offences in his classroom. In the PowerPoint presentation he used to explain the topic, Dr Kumar made derogatory references to Hindu deities. Summarizing a brief history of rape, he linked rape to Hindu deities. Kumar was suspended from the University pending inquiry but there was no update on any strict action taken against her.
Slide used during Kumar’s lecture.
How can one forget the derogatory remarks made by alleged comedian Munawar Faruqui against Maa Sita and 59 Karsewaks who were killed in Godra train burning incident in 2002. His multiple shows were cancelled over time after Hindus protested against him. However, he was still given chance in a reality show Lock Upp that he won.
Controversial Islamic preacher Ilyas Sharafuddin has compared the Shivling to a male body part and said that Hindus have a habit of worshiping the idol and male private organ. He was one of the participants at the ‘Taal Thok Ke‘ debate hosted by Zee News. Quoting the Vedas, Geeta, and Upanishads, Sharafuddin first argued that the Hindu texts mention that ‘people who would worship idols would be sent to hell’. “Hindus should not worship idol, ling and private parts of a human body”, he blatantly said in the debate named ‘Gyanvapi Survey video reveals the presence of Shivling?’ Not listening to the other participants, he burst into laughter and said, “Private parts ki puja nahi honi chahiye (private parts should not be worshiped)”.
— Major Gaurav Arya (Retd) (@majorgauravarya) June 8, 2022
Bengali film actress Saayoni Ghosh had shared extremely offensive cartoons on her Twitter profile. When she was threatened with action, she claimed her account was hacked. Later TMC gave her ticket for assembly elections.
Now-deleted post by TMC’s Saayoni Ghosh. Source: Twitter.
Apart from celebrities, leaders and media houses, brands also have a habit of mocking Hinduism and when called out, they often get support from the left-liberals. In recent times, several objectionable campaigns and brands were launched targeting Hindus. Though in most of the cases the ads were removed after the backlash from Hindus, the brands got away without any serious consequences of the anti-Hindu ads.
In 2019, Red Label launched an ad campaign on Ganesh Cathurthi projecting Hindus as hateful bigots. The ad showed a man shopping for a Ganesh idol to take home, where he talked to an elderly idol maker about the kind of idol he wanted to buy. The idol maker had a deep knowledge of Hindu mythology, not surprising for the profession he is in. During the conversation the idol maker pulls out a skull cap and wears it, indicating that he is Muslim. Seeing this, the prospective buyer hesitates and said that he will come back next, clearly implying that he did not want to buy an idol from a Muslim. The idol maker then offered him tea and has some chit-chat, which ‘reformed’ the Hindu man, who immediately ordered the idol. Red Label, a brand by Hindustan Unilever, has a habit of releasing such ads and taking them back after backlash.
An ad was released by jewellery brand Tanishq that glorified Love Jihad in 2020. A massive outrage broke over various social media platforms with users calling for the boycott of the jewellery brand Tanishq for their latest advertisement which showcased a Hindu woman married into a Muslim family, preparing for her baby shower. Heeding to criticism, the controversial advertisement which was accused of promoting ‘love jihad’ has been pulled down from YouTube.
In 2021, popular ethnic garment brand Fabindia launched a Diwali campaign and collection ‘Jashn-e-Riwaaz’ that did not go well with people on the internet. Several social media users have objected to yet another appropriation of a Hindu festival and sentiments. The cultural appropriation has left social media users uncomfortable, just ahead of another Hindu festival. Not many favoured Diwali being loosely translated to ‘Jashn-e-Riwaaz’. The campaign was removed after the backlash. FabIndia claimed it was not even Diwali campaign which was indeed a laughable excuse.
The Allahabad High Court on Monday dismissed a writ petition filed by Alt News co-founder Mohammad Zubair challenging the FIR filed against him on June 1 for using derogatory language against Mahant Bajrang Muni Udasin, Rashtriya Sanrakshak of Rashtriya Hindu Sher Sena along with Yati Narsinghanand and Swami Anand Swaroop.
Zubair was booked under sections 295(A) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 67 of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
Allahabad High Court refuses to quash FIR against Mohd Zubair, co-founder of Alt News, over his tweets calling Yati Narsinghanand, Bajrang Muni and Anand Swaroop as ‘Hate mongers’. Zubair has been booked u/S 295-A IPC.#allahabadhighcourt#HateCrimepic.twitter.com/B8CvhTXFjg
While refusing to quash the FIR filed against him, the Allahabad HC Bench of Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ajai Kumar Srivastava opined that the writ petition filed by Mohammad Zubair “lacks merit”. It also said that the prima facie records suggest that there is enough ground for investigation in the case. Hence the court dismissed Zubair’s writ petition.
A copy of the Allahabad HC judgement
A copy of the Allahabad HC judgement
A copy of the Allahabad HC judgement
A copy of the Allahabad HC judgement
It may be noted that seeking the quashing of the FIR, Zubair’s lawyer had argued in court that the Alt News’ co-founder, through his tweet, had not insulted or attempted to insult a religious belief of a class by his tweet and the impugned FIR has been lodged against him just for harassment with oblique motive, hence the FIR is liable to be quashed.
Meanwhile, opposing Zubair’s plea, the Advocate General of Allahabad submitted that the petitioner is a habitual offender and earlier also he has been involved in making offensive tweets for which four cases have been registered against him.
After hearing both sides, the court rejected Mohammad Zubair’s petition, stating that the case is still in its early stages and that the investigation has not yet begun, aside from some preliminary efforts made on the date of the case’s registration. It further stated that a review of the case record reveals a prima facie case at this time and that there appears to be sufficient ground for further inquiry in the matter.
FIR registered against Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair
On June 1, Khairabad Police of Sitapur district in Uttar Pradesh filed a First Investigation Report (FIR) against Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair for using derogatory language against Mahant Bajrang Muni Udasin, Rashtriya Sanrakshak of Rashtriya Hindu Sher Sena along with Yati Narsinghanand and Swami Anand Swaroop. The FIR was registered based on the complaint of Bhagwan Sharan, district head of Rashtriya Hindu Sher Sena, under sections 295(A) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 67 of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
Zubair’s derogatory tweet against Mahant Bajrang Muni Udasin
On May 27, while targeting Times Now editor Navika Kumar, Zubair said in a tweet, “Why do we need Hate Mongers like Yati Narasinghanand Saraswati or Mahant Bajrang Muni or Anand Swaroop to arrange a Dharam Sansad to speak against a community and a Religion when we already have Anchors who can do a much better job from News Studios.”
Zubair was accusing Navika Kumar of encouraging “a rabid communal hatemonger & a BJP Spokesperson” Nupur Sharma during a debate. It is notable that after Zubair pointed out the comments by Nupur Sharma on Prophet Mohammad during the same debate accusing her of insulting the prophet and Islam, she has been receiving repeated death threats and rape threats. Even bounties also have been announced on her head by Islamist organisations. The vile campaign against Nupur Sharma reached rock bottom on June 10, when Islamists carried out violent protests accompanied by arson and stone-pelting in several parts of the country wishing for the ex-BJP spokesperson’s arrest and also death.
Speaking to OpIndia, Mahant Bajrang Muni Udasin demanded strict action against Mohammad Zubair. “He uses his verified Twitter account to target Hinduwadis who talk about their religion. He incites to file FIR against Hinduwadis. Once FIR is registered, he demands their arrest.” Demanding Zubair’s arrest, Mahant said, “I request CM Yogi Adityananth and administration to arrest him and take strict action as per law.”
In a new development, the Kolkata police have summoned the ex-BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma in connection to the alleged ‘blasphemous’ remarks made by her about Prophet Muhammad and his child bride Ayesha.
As per reports, the summons is issued by the Narkeldanga police station. The former BJP leader has been asked to appear before the police on or before June 20 this year under Section 41A of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
The cops have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Nupur Sharma under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 34 (furtherance of common intention), 153A (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion).
West Bengal | Suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma summoned by Narkeldanga Police Station. Notice sent under 41A CrPC to be complied on/before June 20. The case has been registered under Sections 153A, 295A, 298, and 34 of IPC: Kolkata Police
Charges were also pressed under IPC Sections 295A (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) and 298 (Uttering words with deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings of any person).
A police complaint was earlier lodged against her at Kanthi police station in Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal by Trinamool Congress Minority Cell leader Abu Sohail. He had accused Nupur Sharma of disturbing communal harmony.
He had threatened to file a petition in the Supreme Court if the police fails to arrest her. Earlier, the Mumbai police had also issued summons to the former BJP spokesperson and asked her to appear before it on June 25, 2022, at 11:00 am.
Nupur Sharma has been the subject of death threats
Delhi BJP had distanced itself from Nupur’s remarks, and the party had suspended Nupur Sharma and Delhi BJP spokesperson Naveen Kumar Jindal for their remarks on Prophet Muhammad.
Following the suspension, the media had freely shared Nupur’s and Naveen Jindal’s addresses online, putting them at risk with multiple death threats coming their way daily.
Iranian attempts to strike Israeli citizens in Turkey last month were reportedly thwarted by Israeli and Turkish security forces. Israeli security authorities alerted their Turkish counterparts of Iran’s intention to carry out an attack on Israelis on Turkish territory and requested their cooperation in thwarting the attacks.
The attacks, according to reports, were organized by an Iranian network functioning in Turkey. Late last month, Israel issued a travel warning to Turkey, fearing that its citizens may be targeted in reprisal for the assassination of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps senior commander Hassan Sayyad Khodaei, which has been blamed entirely on Israel.
As per sources, Israel planned to issue a warning to Iran to cease the actions of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Core unit. According to the Jerusalem Post, Israel prepared for an Iranian retaliation to the Tehran killing by strengthening its air-defence batteries in the north, fearing an Iranian reprisal assault from Lebanon. Because of continuous international allegations indicating that Israelis travelling to Turkey and Cyprus were under threat, the National Security Council issued heightened travel warnings against them.
The assassination of IRGC commander Hassan Sayyad
In May this year, Israel’s secret agency Mossad assassinated Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps senior commander Hassan Sayyad Khodaei by entering Iran’s capital Tehran. Iran International announced his death. Hassan Sayyad Khodaei was the mastermind of an attack on an Israeli diplomat in India in 2012. Israel is believed to have avenged the attack by executing Hassan Sayyad.
Hassan Sayyad was the architect behind many high-profile Israeli diplomat attacks. He planned a bomb blast in New Delhi in 2012 to assassinate an Israeli ambassador. The diplomat’s wife was hurt in the incident, as did her driver and two other bystanders.
Following the attack, Khodayari was involved in a series of bomb blasts in Thailand aimed at killing Israeli officials. Hassan was also suspected of being engaged in the deaths and kidnappings of Israelis in Israel, Turkey, Kenya, Colombia, and Cyprus.
Hundreds of Rahul Gandhi’s supporters’ gathered outside the All India Congress Committee’s (AICC) office in Delhi to showcase their support for him, before the Gandhi scion marched to the Enforcement Directorate’s office for questioning in the National Herald case. Interestingly, many of the so-called supporters who huddled outside the Congress headquarters in Delhi had no idea why they are there.
In a video shared by Republic TV, many woman ‘protestors’ appear completely oblivious when the channel’s journalist questions why they have gathered outside the AICC headquarters.
At around 2.10 minutes into the video, the journalist asked one woman protestor where she has come from and why. While she replied that she has arrived from Khajuri Khas in Delhi but she didn’t say why she was there.
The journalist approached two other protestors present at the site. He posed the same question to these two women. They also confirmed that they came from Khajuri. When asked what brought them there, one woman took off in Hindi, “humari kaam sunte nahi hai, mahenga sab samaan hai, humara ghar kahan se chale?”, which roughly translates to, “they do not listen to us, prices of everything has been skyrocketing, how should we manage our household?”
The journalist prodded them by asking if today’s protest is in favour of Rahul Gandhi. Though the women acknowledged that the protest is for the Gandhi scion, they appeared to be clueless about the National Herald money laundering case, for which Rahul Gandhi has been summoned to the ED’s office, and the fact that they had gathered there to protest Rahul Gandhi’s appearance before the probe agency. One of them said, “We want to meet him”.
The journalist continued to ask many women protestors whether they were told why they have been brought there but none of them answered. One of them responded by saying that they do not know but they would find out.
Congress leaders create a ruckus before Rahul Gandhi appears before ED
On June 13, before Congress leader Rahul Gandhi appeared for questioning at the Enforcement Directorate office in connection to the National Herald money laundering case in Delhi, the Congress leaders created a ruckus and protested against the law of the land.
As per news agency ANI, several Congress leaders were detained from outside the All India Congress Committee’s (AICC) office. These leaders were sloganeering in favour of Rahul Gandhi.
Earlier, posters were raised across Delhi by the party to show support for Gandhi. A mega ‘Satyagrah’ protest was planned in the city, but the Delhi Police denied permission for the same. The party had planned the march from party headquarters to the ED’s office. Heavy police presence was seen outside the investigation agency’s office on Monday morning.
Congress has claimed that the Central Government has been using the Central Investigation Agencies to settle a political score with Congress. The party had planned to hold demonstrations across the country at 25 offices.
Earlier, Sonia Gandhi asked for a new date to appear before the investigation stating she was suffering from Covid-19. Both Sonia and Rahul Gandhi were summoned by the ED in the National Herald case. Sonia Gandhi was called on June 23, considering her ‘health problems’.
As per reports, Rahul Gandhi has now reached the ED office where he is currently being quizzed by the investigating officers in connection with the National Herald case.
National Herald Case
The National Herald scam is one of the most notable legal cases in Indian history, as the Gandhis are directly accused. The Mother-Son duo of Congress President Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia, along with their aides – Oscar Fernandez, Motilal Vohra and Sam Pithroda, are alleged to have been involved in massive’ cheating and breach of trust’ in the acquisition of Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) by Young Indian Pvt Ltd (YIL). Assets worth crores of rupees had been allegedly transferred for purposes other than originally intended for a paltry sum. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi got unconditional bail in December 2015.
Srinivas BV, a Congress politician and the national president of the Youth Congress, literally ran away to evade police arrest during a ruckus caused by Congress supporters outside the Enforcement Directorate offices in Delhi. As a policeman moved in to greet him after he arrived at the ED office in his SUV, the Congress leader made a run for it to avoid getting detained.
— Niraj Pandey (ABP News) (@NirajPandeyLive) June 13, 2022
Ironically, earlier in the day, while talking to a reporter Srinivas was saying how he is never afraid of the police, and that the Congress party workers will definitely take out a march in support of Rahul Gandhi who is under the scanner of ED for financial fraud. However, faced with the first policeman he saw, Srinivas decided to make a run for it.
Apart from displaying false bravado, Srinivas was also mocking Veer Savarkar earlier in the day and proudly stated that Rahul Gandhi is no Veer Savarkar.
Savarkar has always been a favorite target of Congress leaders though so it comes as no surprise. Maybe it was because Savarkar was an unapologetic Hindu or maybe because of his fierce love for India, but the modern version of Congress loves to abuse him at any given opportunity. Despite the fact that Savarkar spent a decade in the most inhumane conditions in the cellular jail while being tortured daily for 10 years, he is no freedom fighter as per Congress. Ironically, people like Srinivas who mock him even after undergoing a decade of torture, run away at the first sight of a policeman.
Meanwhile, police detained several other Congress leaders for trying to foment trouble before Rahul Gandhi’s appearance in ED office. Along with other workers, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala, senior leader Harish Rawat, Congress leaders Rajni Patil, Akhilesh Prasad Singh, L. Hanumanthaiah, and Thirunavukkarasar Su. were detained by the police.
The National Herald Case involving Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi
Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are directly charged in the National Herald fraud case, which is one of the most famous judicial cases in Indian history. Congress President Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia, as well as their top aides Oscar Fernandez, Motilal Vohra, and Sam Pitroda are accused of massive “cheating and breach of trust” in the acquisition of Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) by Young Indian Pvt Ltd. (YIL).
Assets worth crores of rupees were reportedly moved for reasons other than those planned for a paltry. In December 2015, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were granted unconditional bail in the matter. The Enforcement Directorate is currently investigating the case.
On Sunday (June 12), the Bethuadahari Business Society called for a 3-day strike after Islamists vandalised the properties of common people to avenge the supposed ‘blasphemy’ committed by ex-BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma.
In a letter, it said, “It is hereby informed that today miscreants had set fire on several shops, and houses of common people. They have destroyed the motorcycles of the members of the Bethuadahari Business society and created an atmosphere of terror.”
“The Bethuadahari Bazar will remain closed for a period of 72 hours as a mark of protest. We demand the immediate arrest of the miscreants involved in the violence. If they are not nabbed during this period, then, we will intensify our protests. “
The Bethuadahari Business Society has called for a 72 hour strike, protesting how the mob stoked “Terror” (as they’ve termed it) & demanding the arrest of the culprits. If Administration fails to act, they would scale up their agitation. I extend my support to this genuine cause. pic.twitter.com/jlmPSFc0z3
— Suvendu Adhikari • শুভেন্দু অধিকারী (@SuvenduWB) June 12, 2022
BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari pointed out how the media has been selective about the mayhem unleashed by Islamists.
“What the Media covered: Rioters pelted stones & vandalised a local train in Bethuadahari Railway Station in Nadia district,” he had tweeted.
“What the Media didn’t cover: The mob looted & vandalised hundreds of shops & homes at Bethuadahari. Motorcycles were burnt. People were terrorised,” Adhikari informed.
What the Media covered: Rioters pelted stones & vandalised a local train in Bethuadahari Railway Station in Nadia district.
What the Media didn’t cover: The mob looted & vandalised hundreds of shops & homes at Bethuadahari. Motorcycles were burnt. People were “terrorised”.
— Suvendu Adhikari • শুভেন্দু অধিকারী (@SuvenduWB) June 12, 2022
A march was organised in Nadia on Sunday (June 12) to protest against the remarks of Nupur Sharma. Soon after, the rally turned violent and Islamists vandalised shops en route to the Bethuadahari market. As a result, the national highway 34 remained blocked for several hours.
Even though the cops were present at the spot, they could not control the situation. A group of Islamists entered the nearby Bethuadahari railway station and vandalised it. The mob also pelted stones on the Krishnanagar Lalgola local train, resulting in panic among the passengers of the train.
As such, the train services on the Lalgola section of the line were blocked. After about an hour and a half, the train services resumed on the Krishnanagar-Rampur line.
Islamists go on a rampage in West Bengal
On Thursday (June 9), a mob of frenzied protestors blocked the National Highway connecting Howrah and Kolkata, thereby resulting in traffic woes and public inconvenience. The protestors, dressed in skull caps and lungi, created a ruckus on NH116.
They yelled Islamist slogans and burnt tyres. In videos that have now surfaced on social media, dark plumes of smoke could be seen engulfing the skies in many cities and towns across the state. Reportedly, the blockade began from Nibra (Kona Expressway-NH16 junction) at around 10:30 am and ended at 9:30 pm.
Located at about 12 km from the second Howrah bridge, it extended up to the AJC Bose Road in Kolkata.Instead of acting against the mob that had brought traffic to a near halt in Howrah, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee asked them to disrupt public life in other states instead.
On Friday (June 10), the Islamists disrupted the vehicular movement in the Park Circus area in Kolkata. Following the Friday prayers (Jumma Namaz), Islamists began gathering on the road and demonstrating against the remarks made by BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma.
Similar scenes were seen in Kolkata’s twin city Howrah, where Muslim mobs resorted to violence and vandalism. They burnt down vehicles and police booths during the violent protests.
On the same night, a frenzied mob of Muslim men ambushed the Beladanga police station in the Murshidabad district of West Bengal. As per reports, they hurled stones and bricks at the police station and demanded the arrest of a Hindu girl named Aishwani, who had asked rioters in the State to migrate to nearby Islamic countries.
Forced by circumstances, the cops had to fire tear gas shells to disperse the violent mob and pacify the situation. The girl was subsequently detained by the police.
