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A corporate sinner under the garb of a global saint? New documentary released on Sky App explores the dark legacy of ‘Mother’ Teresa

Siddhi Somani
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A corporate sinner under the garb of a global saint? New documentary released on Sky App explores the dark legacy of ‘Mother’ Teresa

On Monday, the Sky Documentaries released a new documentary on ‘Mother’ Teresa to reveal the dark side of her life and the NGO ‘Missionaries of Charity’ that was set up by her in the city of Kolkata, West Bengal. The documentary named ‘Mother Teresa: For the Love of God’ shows stories coming directly from her close aides and her enemies and allows the audiences to know the evangelical zeal that she possessed under the veils of love and care.

For years, ‘Mother’ Teresa has been accused of being a fraud. Her problematic history of following primitive health practices and her evangelical zeal to convert the weak and the vulnerable into the Christian fold were long cited by her critics to call out the unwarranted adulation that was showered on her. The latest documentary aims to catalogue and reinforce the dark side of ‘Mother’ Teresa’s ‘sainthood’ and assess the veracity of allegations levelled against the contentious evangelist.

According to the reports, the documentary claims that the globally known ‘saint’ had a severe dark side and that she defended the serial abusers and criminals. She also allowed her image to be used as a propaganda tool for the Catholic church.

‘Mother’ Teresa has been also a controversial figure for allegedly converting the dying patients and making them defecate in front of each other. For years, she has been accused of being a fraudster. In India, she started a Non-Government Organisation called ‘Missionaries of Charity’ that has long been accused of forcefully converting people on the pretext of social service.

The three-part series serves as the answers to many significant questions like ‘Did the nun deserve her saintly reputation?’ ‘Was she a global saint or a corporate sinner?’ or ‘Was her show of affection and care all a charade to conceal her evangelist objectives?’ The testimonies reportedly come from the persons closely associated with ‘Mother’ Teresa, giving a fair and authentic assessment of the darker side of her sainthood.

While the reel is set on air to serve the balanced range of contributors, reports mention that the documentary manages to melt the ‘life caring’ image of the widely claimed global ‘saint’. The documentary says that ‘Mother’ Teresa used to make the poor believe in theories like ‘pain is important and necessary’ or ‘love, to be real, has to hurt’. The hospitals run by the ‘Missionaries of Charity’ therefore never believed in maintaining hygiene or serving the patients with proper, required medical care.

“Our calling is not necessarily to cure. It is to pass on the love of God to every human being in whom we see the suffering Christ … suffering shared with Christ’s passion is a wonderful thing”, the claimed saint believed. According to the Daily Mail report, Mary Johnson, who worked with ‘Mother’ Teresa for 20 years said that the ‘saint’ believed that being poor was good since Jesus was poor. “It’s schizophrenia, you know”, she said.

Also, Dr Jack Preger who worked as a street physician for 40 years in Kolkata claimed that the hospitals run by the Missionaries of Charity were unhygienic and that the nuns never delivered proper care to the patients. “Needles were used over and over again. They were blunt”, he said adding that there was outright neglect behind the rhetoric about selflessly attending to the needy.

Teresa had made a business out of charity, and even after her death the Missionaries of Charity has been under public scrutiny numerous times, with the most recent being a human trafficking scandal that was exposed in 2018 by law enforcement agencies. 

There were also reports earlier that revealed that the nuns at the Nirmal Hriday, a hospice established by ‘Mother’ Teresa were into the business of selling kids. On July 7, 2018, a nun had been arrested and remanded to judicial custody by a court for allegedly selling a 14-day-old baby at the Nirmal Hriday home in Ranchi, Jharkhand.

Also, in December 2021, the Gujarat Police had registered an FIR against Missionaries of Charity in Vadodara on the charges of allegedly hurting Hindu religious sentiments and luring young girls to convert to Christianity. The FIR stated that the girls living in the house were forced to read Christian religious texts and that they were forced to participate in Christian prayers with the intention to lure them to Christianity.

The documentary series ‘Mother Teresa: For the Love of God’ is streaming exclusively on the Sky App from May 9, 2022.

Past documentaries and podcasts shine a light on the wicked practices of ‘Mother’ Teresa and her organisation ‘Missionaries of Charity’

However, this is not the first time that a documentary made on ‘Mother’ Teresa reveals the dark side of the ‘saint’ and her ‘social work’. Earlier in the year 1994, Christopher Hitchens and Journalist Tariq Ali had released a documentary film called ‘Hell’s Angels’ which brought the disgusting reality of Teresa’s organizations in front of the public. 

Hitchens had described her organization as a ‘cult’ that promoted suffering and did not help those in need. Last year, a podcast titled  “The Turning: The Sisters Who Left,” was released that brought to light gory details of what it was to lead a life inside the closed walls of ‘Mother’ Teresa’s Charity.

From providing ‘military training’ to ‘isolating’ nuns from the rest of the world to the daily routine of ‘self flogging’, forcing them to wear spiked chains pointing inwards to not allowing them to take baths, the podcast bore testimonies of ex-sisters who blew the lid off the wicked practices that continued inside the Missionaries of Charity, making it a cult organisation.

As Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan’s biopic trailer drops, here is how Indian news channels put the lives of security personnel at risk during 26/11 attack

OpIndia Staff
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As Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan’s biopic trailer drops, here is how Indian news channels put the lives of security personnel at risk during 26/11 attack

The trailer of the movie Major, a biographical action drama starring Adivi Sesh, is now out. The film is centered around the horrible 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. Adivi Sesh plays Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, a warrior who gave his life for the nation.

Major is directed by Sashi Kiran Tikka. It will be released in Hindi, Telugu, and Malayalam on June 3rd, 2022. The film is a heartfelt portrayal of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan’s extraordinary life story.

Who is Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan

During the November 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai, Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan was the team commander of the 51 Special Action Group (51 SAG), which was deployed at the Taj Hotel to rescue hostages held by the Pakistan-backed terrorists. During the combat with the terrorists, commando Sunil Kumar Jodha was critically injured. Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan promptly arranged for his evacuation and continued the fight the terrorists. As the terrorists attempted to retreat to the next floor, he decided to follow them alone.

He single-handedly cornered the terrorists in the Taj Mahal hotel’s northern end in the subsequent combat, but he lost his own life in the process. His final words, according to eyewitness accounts, were, “Do not come up, I will handle them.”

For his remarkable heroism, persistent fighting spirit, and heroic sacrifice, Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan was awarded the nation’s highest peacetime gallantry medal, the Ashok Chakra posthumously. President of India Pratibha Patil conferred the Ashok Chakra to Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan on Republic Day in 2009 for his unwavering fighting spirit and heroic sacrifice.

Sandeep Unnikrishnan - Wikipedia
Sandeep’s mother received the Ashok Chakra on his behalf

How Indian media houses risked the lives of security personnel

During the 2008 Mumbai terrorist assault, horrible images from the scene of the attack were displayed live on our television screens. On 29 August 2012, the Supreme Court issued its decision in Md. Ajmal Md. Amir Kasab vs. the State Of Maharashtra, devoting a whole section and many pages to the behavior of the media and how it jeopardized operations on 26/11.

The Court stated that looking at the transcripts, especially those from Taj Hotel and Nariman House, it is evident that the terrorists who were entrenched at those places and more than them, their collaborators across the border were watching the full show on TV. The Court noted how the handlers of the terrorists sitting across the border were getting all the updates from Indian TV channels.

Supreme Court noted that after looking at the visuals on TV, the collaborators tell the terrorists in Taj Hotel that the dome at the top (of the building) had caught fire. The terrorists holed up in some room were not aware of this. The collaborators further advise the terrorists that the stronger they make the fire the better it would be for them. At yet another place the collaborators tell the terrorists at Taj Hotel the exact position taken by the policemen (close to a building that belonged to the navy but was given to the civilians) and from where they were taking aim and firing at them (the terrorists) and advised them the best position for them to hit back at those policemen. 

The Supreme Court judgment cited many such incidents where the terrorists were helped by the live telecast of the events. The court notes that the handlers of the terrorists were practically monitoring every movement of Indian security forces and guiding the terrorists on the ground based on such information that was freely available to them through Indian channels.

The judgment concludes that although it can’t be determined whether the security forces actually suffered any casualty or injury due to the telecast, “It is beyond doubt that the way their operations were freely shown made the task of the security forces not only exceedingly difficult but also dangerous and risky.”

In a 2012 interview with leftist media outlet Newslaundry, controversial journalist Barkha Dutt had admitted television channels’ role in endangering the lives of civilians as well as security personnel by not restraining themselves during the live telecast. She and her employer, NDTV, were at the forefront of live telecasts from the site. There is an accusation that she called the Oberoi hotel management, which was under siege by terrorists, and confirmed that there were hostages in the hotel that the terrorists were unaware of. She tried to spin it by claiming that the media was unaware that terrorist handlers were watching news channels.

‘All prior mahants at Dasna temple were either killed or driven away, police in fear of local Muslim politicians’: What Yati Narasinghanand told OpIndia

राहुल पाण्डेय
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‘All prior mahants at Dasna temple were either killed or driven away, police in fear of local Muslim politicians’: What Yati Narasinghanand told OpIndia

Yati Narasinghanand Saraswati Giri of Dasna Temple in Ghaziabad has accused the police and the authorities of failing to provide enough protection to him during the Dharma Sansad, which was held in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh on Sunday, May 1, 2022. He claimed that if it hadn’t been for the thousands of people who stood by him, the consequences would have been grave.

Yati Narasinghanand voiced his unhappiness in the ongoing Dharma Sansad case. He was disappointed that Waseem Rizvi alias Jitendra Narayan Tyagi has been confined to jail for the last 4 months in the case.

It may be recalled that the Uttarakhand Police had on January 13 arrested Wasim Rizvi alias Jitendra Tyagi in connection with the Haridwar ‘Dharm Sansad’ hate speech case. The Uttarakhand police, subsequently also arrested Yati Narasinghanand Saraswati from his dharna site in Haridwar in connection with his alleged derogatory remarks against women politicians. Besides, many other cases were registered against him in various places in the country.

OpIndia spoke to Yati Narasinghanand Saraswati to inquire about the status of the cases in which he is the complainant. In addition, we attempted to learn about the history of the Dasna region and the temple there.

‘Hindus were majority once in this region, not any more’

“This Dasna area used to be once dominated by Hindus,” Yati Narasinghanand stated. However, currently, Hindus, have become a minority in this region. Many of them have migrated. They (Muslims) have risen rapidly in number over the past few years. Hindu traders from this region have settled in Ghaziabad, Pilkhua, and Noida. Now, Muslims make up 95 per cent of the population. People visit my temple from all around the country.”

‘Temple has been destroyed as a result of the Muslim invasion’: Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati

Speaking about the history of the Dasna temple, Narsinghanand informed, “Dasna Devi Temple is one of the oldest Shaktipeeths in India. History has it that this temple was broken by Muslim invaders, only to be rebuilt later. It’s been almost 300 years since it was rebuilt,” he said.

‘All of the Mahants who came before me were either killed or driven away’: Yati Narsinghanand reveals

“Along with the attempt to kill me, several dacoities in this temple have also been perpetrated,” the Mahant stated. All the priests who came before me were either killed or forced to flee. There was a prominent saint named Mouni Baba aka Ramanand Giri. He was the Juna Akhara’s Mahant. He too was thrashed thrice and robbed so he was forced to leave the temple premises. The last assault on him was so brutal that his ribs were almost shattered. All his deposits were looted. The continuous persecution had compelled him to leave the temple premises in the year 2003,” recalled the Dasna temple Mahant.

Speaking about how various other Mahants of the Dasna temple were persecuted and forced to flee, Yati Narsinghanand continued that after Mouni Baba his disciple Ganesh Giri joined the temple. He too was severely battered and driven away. “Until today, no one knows the whereabouts of Swami Brahmanand, the Mahant who was in charge of the Dasna temple prior to Maoni Baba”, stated Narsinghanand, adding, “People only know that the temple was robbed and vandalised, but no one knows what happened to Swami Brahmanand. There have been many more such cases,” the Mahant lamented.

‘Police do not take any action on our complaints’

Yati Narasinghanand Saraswati further spoke about how the police have continued to ignore their concerns. “There is a sizable Muslim population here,” he explained. As a result, Muslims get elected to positions such as Zilla Panchayat and Nagar Panchayat. They continue to wield political power over the police, said Narasinghanand.

Here he recalled how in August 2021, one Swami Nareshanand, who resided at this temple after arriving from Bihar, was attacked and his stomach was ripped open. However, no culprit has been apprehended in that case despite the fact that the perpetrators were visible on the CCTV camera.

Using the aforementioned incident as an example, the Mahant lamented how the local authorities in the region are so terrified of the Muslim population that any discussion or decision concerning the Dasna temple is invariably made by the local Muslims dwelling there.

Yati Narasinghanand recounts the long series of robberies and extremist attacks in the temple, but not a single arrest yet

The Hindu saint went on to say, “I became the Mahant of this temple in 2007-2008. This temple was the scene of a horrible robbery on July 10, 2010. Everyone present here had been assaulted. An attempt on my life was made that day, but I had left the temple at night. Everyone inquired about me. In this situation, no one has been apprehended to date, and the investigation has not even been opened. Following this, on July 23, 2010, a Muslim mob tried vandalising the temple. Even after a police complaint, until today, not a single miscreant has been apprehended in this case. A few years down the line, another horrific theft took place in the temple on September 17, 2014. There was a proper shootout that took place. In this case, too, a police complaint was made. The police, as in all previous cases, was unconcerned and took no action against the perpetrators.”

‘Those who issued fatwas against me are roaming scot-free’: Narasinghanand

The Hindu saint went on to discuss the multiple assassination attempts and conspiracies hatched against him. Bemoaning the police’s inaction in addressing issues involving him and the Dasna temple, the Mahant said, “Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists came from Kashmir to kill me, but only one of them was arrested. No efforts were made to nab the rest. In fact, within no time, the case was only closed. Similarly, many Maulanas have openly issued fatwas calling for my assassination. On social media, there are several reports about them. Huge rallies have been organised by Muslims at many places demanding my beheading. However, the police seem to have turned a blind eye toward all these radical Islamists,” said the Hindu saint.

The Dasna temple’s Mahant recalled another assassination attempt at him. He recounted how on June 2, 2021, sevadaars of Dasna Mandir, Ghaziabad, caught two men identified as Vipul Vijayvargi, who converted to Islam and his brother-in-law Kashif, who went to the temple to kill him.

It may be recalled that the two radicalised youths Ramzan and Kasif had faked their identities as Vipul Vijayvargiya and Kashi Gupta to enter the Dasna Devi Temple in Ghaziabad on the night of June 2 to carry out an assassination attempt on Mahant Yati Narsinghanand. They were allegedly caught with surgical blades, cyanide, an acupressure pump and some religious books.

The Mahant further lamented how the accused were charged in minor sections and are currently out on bail. “They’ll hatch another plot against me tomorrow,” said Narasinghanand, adding, “Following that, a large gang of converts were apprehended, who even possessed cyanide. However, the cops let them go and never mentioned cyanide. Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath had then condemned the attack and ordered an inquiry but it is up to the officials to take action.

‘SP MLA Aslam Chaudhary’s son was caught molesting girls but was released’

The Dasna Temple priest continued, “The last time Aslam Chaudhary, a Samajwadi Party MLA was here in the year 2019-2020, his son assaulted a devotee near the shrine. We apprehended him. He was identified as the son of the MLA. He was beaten severely by the boys in our temple. We later handed him over to the police. The police, however, let alone taking any action, did not even file a report on the case.”

‘Powerful syndicate rallying together to save the assailants’

The Mahant went on to explain how an entire network of influential people in the Muslim community is rallying behind these miscreants, who, in turn, are carrying out the crime brazenly due to the former’s clout and connections. “Those who came into our facility armed with surgical blades were released on bail. The Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind defends these terrorists. You can figure out who’s behind them. These are powerful people who are rallying behind such miscreants. They will definitely kill me…if not today, then tomorrow. Their efforts are ongoing,” said Narasinghanand.

‘The temple is targetted since it is the epicentre of Sanatan Dharma’

“In the past, the Dasna temple was an epicentre of Sanatan Dharma,” the Mahant continued. “These radicals are afraid that the temple would once again become a Sanatan Kendra. That is the cause of their rage. Besides, they are also eyeing the temple’s land and property. The temple’s boundary has also been damaged multiple times. We keep the idols under strict security and supervision to ensure that no one may access them. However, the opposition’s main point of contention is religious”, said Narasinghanand.

‘I do not fear death’: Narasinghanand Saraswati

Further talking to OpIndia, Narasinghanand Saraswati said that he does not fear death. “The security provided to me and my temple does not imply that I fear death. Devi maa (the goddess) has determined the date and time of my demise, still, we continue to take precautions. Nareshanand Ji had been attacked by breaching this security. Two people came to kill me with surgical blades after bypassing this security. That is why my own companions guard me. Almost the majority of Dasna’s Muslims are against me.”

‘Murtaza Abbasi was sent to end Yogi Adityanath’s political career’

When asked about the Gorakhnath temple attack, Narasinghanand opined that it was carried out with an intention to stigmatize Yogi Adityanath’s political career. “Murtaza Abbasi was a chemical engineer and an IIT graduate. Still, he attacked Gorakhnath temple. He was sent there to derail Yogi Adityanath’s political career. He purposefully attacked the cops. If the police had turned and shot Murtaza, the news would have spread throughout the world that a young and promising IIT engineer has been slain by Yogi Adityanath’s police in Goraksha Peeth. Since he survived, he was deemed insane. Those who attack Hindu temples are either declared minors or mad. Actually, this is a massive conspiracy. If they are insane, why do they target temples?” asked Narasinghanand, adding that choosing minors to attack him and his temple is also a part of this particular conspiracy.

Dear Shashi Tharoor, what about justice?

Nirwa Mehta
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Dear Shashi Tharoor, what about justice?

Dear Shashi Tharoor,

I read your statement on the comments you have been receiving over the tweet where you talked about Vivek Agnihotri’s film The Kashmir Files being banned from screening in Singapore. The film which chronicles the sufferings of Kashmiri Hindus and began healing process for thousands of those who were displaced overnight 32 years back. The film which depicts the horrors of genocide of Kashmiri Hindus we had only heard about but when seen on big screen shook our collective conscience.

The film you reduced to one ‘being promoted by India’s ruling party’.

While you now claim that your tweet mentioned only ‘factual’ news, you skipped the actual facts about the film. That it showed how BK Ganjoo, Girija Tickoo were killed by Islamic terrorists backed by Pakistan. How Judge Nilkanth Tickoo was shot dead in broad daylight for giving death sentence to JKLF terrorist Maqbool Bhat. You skipped the part where The Kashmir Files depicted threats received by the Hindu community – to leave, die or convert (to Islam). Weren’t these facts more important than your imagined fact of ‘film being promoted by ruling party’? Perhaps if you would have seen the film before putting out ‘facts’, it would have been of immense help.

It is indeed unfortunate that your late wife Sunanda Pushkar, a Kashmiri Hindu herself, was dragged into the conversation. You say how you accompanied her to the ruins of her ancestral home in Bomai near Sopore. You then decide for her, especially when we know she can’t speak for herself, that she would have ‘believed in reconciliation, not hate’.

Sunanda Pushkar’s tweets a month before her mysterious death

About a month before Pushkar was found dead under mysterious circumstances at Hotel Leela in New Delhi, she tweeted how she felt Kashmiri Hindus have been suffering since 1989. She had also revealed how her husband (you) was asked (likely by your party leaders) to make sure she doesn’t speak much. She said how as wife of Senior Congress leader and a minister in UPA government at that time, she had to choose between being a Kashmiri and a wife.

So for Kashmiri Hindu wife of a Congress leader, she had to ‘compromise’ (not reconcile or hate) and forget justice.

Did it ever occur to you that for lakhs of Kashmiri Hindus, it is more of a fight for justice? Something they have been denied for over 32 years? How did you come to conclusion that for displaced, persecuted Hindus especially from Kashmir, reconciliation and hate are the only two options?

Please see the screenshot again, which went viral, and which presumably caused you grief that your wife was dragged. Forget the haters who dragged her, just look at her words from 2013. Do they read like the words of someone who would stop at anything short of justice being delivered to the victims of genocide?

She wanted to talk about 1989 and the subsequent genocide and exodus of 1990. And she was asked to shut up. She had to make that decision of being a wife and shutting up so that your political ambitions are not hampered. But she wanted to talk. That’s exactly what the movie does. It talks about the dark history in post-independence India that no one has bothered to talk about. That’s what Sundanda wanted to do.

Hindus must shut up or they’d be called ‘haters’

Hindus in secular India must shut up or they’d be called haters by the likes of you, Mr Tharoor. The moment someone talks about how Hindus are made to feel unsafe or are mocked at, ridiculed and just called ‘bigoted’ for merely wanting to celebrate the festivals, we are all labelled communal.

When a film is made 32 years after genocide, it is labelled ‘propaganda film’ and accused of ‘widening communal divide’. What is it about Islamic terrorism in Kashmir that even speaking about it is blasphemy? In the secular framework in post-Independence Nehruvian India, justice for Hindus never quite figured, because ‘Hindu’ was a ‘dirty word’ which only bigots would identify themselves with.

Which is why when a Muslim political leader justifies beheading of a man over alleged blasphemy no one bats an eye but Hindus coming together and even celebrating birth of Shri Ram they are ‘provoking’ Muslims by ‘taking out processions in Muslim areas’. When another Muslim political leader is accused of instigating riots and communal violence against Hindus, despite evidence to prove his involvement, people cry political vendetta. When another Muslim politician gets on a stage and threatens that if police is removed for 15 minutes, Hindus will be eliminated, it does not fall under ‘hate speech’ and the secular courts acquit him. Apparently, recorded video tape is not evidence enough.

By pointing these things here I will be called a ‘hateful bigot’ by your party workers who will send choicest abuses my way on social media. But one is hopeful. That you may rethink your stand. And maybe introspect that perhaps your spunky wife would have, too, wanted justice.

And closure. Even about her death under mysterious circumstances.

From Konark Temple to Ellora Caves, Indians tell Elon Musk about architectural marvels of Indian heritage over his Taj Mahal tweet

OpIndia Staff
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From Konark Temple to Ellora Caves, Indians tell Elon Musk about architectural marvels of Indian heritage over his Taj Mahal tweet

As has been the case with Elon Musk, his tweets often sends the internet into a tizzy. On Tuesday, a tweet by Elon Musk praising Taj Mahal attracted quite a number of eyeballs on social media who suggested him other marvellous places and structures he could visit in India.

Responding to a tweet on the facade detail of Agra Fort, Musk recalled his 2007 visit to the Taj Mahal and said, “It is amazing. I visited in 2007 and also saw the Taj Mahal, which truly is a wonder of the world.”

His mother Maye Musk also shared a story behind Musk’s grandparent’s visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra. She said that Musk’s grandparents flew to the Taj Mahal from South Africa, on their way to Australia in the year 1954. “They were the only people to ever do this trip in a single-engine propeller plane, without a radio or GPS. Their motto- Live dangerously…. Carefully”, she said on Twitter.

Netizens remind Elon Musk India’s cultural magnificence extends beyond Taj Mahal

Musk’s reminiscence about his one-and-a-half decades-old visit to the Taj Mahal garnered rave reactions from the netizens, many of whom provided the Tesla CEO with a probable list of temples and places of historical import in India, attracting little tourist attention because of the outsize popularity of Taj Mahal. 

They suggested Musk, who became the owner of micro blogging site Twitter last month, to visit the Sun temple, Ajantha Ellora caves in Maharastra, the Kailash temple, Akshardham temple, and other architectural marvels in India.

One of the users shared the story of Konark Sun Temple and said that it is one of the most magnificent heritage buildings in India. Inviting Musk to India, the user said, “Built around 1026 by the Chalukyan King aBhima-I the Modhera Sun Temple predates the more famous Konark Sun temple by almost 125 years. That did not result in the degrading treatment of artisans that built it. Yes, come to India Elon Musk”.

Another user suggested that the Tesla CEO must visit the Kailash temple in Maharashtra’s Aurangabad. He said that the temple is carved from rock cliff face, in the 8th century, top to bottom and that it can never be build once again on the Earth. He also said that Musk should visit the Ellora caves which is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

A Twitter user named Raghu shared the details of Suchindram Temple, located in the state of Tamil Nadu, and said it was one of the best places for Musk to visit. “Would you believe me, Sir, if I told you there are over 100,000 carvings on the Gopura of this Temple? Some people will say this was built by the Aliens. Suchindram Temple, Tamil Nadu. The inscriptions of the Temple date back to the 9th Century”, he responded on Musk’s tweet..

The suggestions further included the Golden Temple in Punjab’s Amritsar, Murudeshwar Maha Shiva Mandir in Karnataka, the Ranganatha Swamy Temple in Tamil Nadu and many more.

While the tweet by Musk was entertained by people from all around the globe, he also got an invite to come to deliver the first Tesla car here at the Taj by digital payments company Paytm’s founder and CEO, Vijay Shekhar Sharma. “It will be an incredible challenge for Tesla to build FSD for India. We are known to be the most-unruly road users️. That said, when are you coming here to deliver the first Tesla here at The Taj?” he tweeted.

The netizens also were seen showing off their witty side asking the Tesla CEO to buy the Taj Mahal. Journalist, Editor Uma Shankar Singh responded to Musk’s tweet and said, “Now please don’t buy this, okay”. The other users continued saying, “Why don’t you buy it?”, “Buy it”.

Elon Musk on Aprli 25 became the new owner of the Twitter after the company accepted his offer to buy the social network for USD 54.20 per share in cash. He had earlier stated that he had no faith in the current management of the Twitter and that the company could perform potentially under the previous management. He aimed to take the company private so that he could have full control over it and direct Twitter to fulfill its full potential.

Delhi govt spent over 23 crores in ads but just a few lakhs for bio decomposers to tackle stubble burning induced air pollution: Read full details

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi govt spent over 23 crores in ads but just a few lakhs for bio decomposers to tackle stubble burning induced air pollution: Read full details

The Delhi government, led by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has spent more than 23 crores on advertising related to air pollution mitigation, but just a few lakhs on acquiring decomposers to actually mitigate pollution caused by stubble burning in the last 2 years. The Delhi government spent over Rs 15.8 crore on advertisement for the Pusa bio-decomposer in 2020-21, and 7.47 crore in 2021-22.

The Delhi government’s Directorate of Information and Publicity (DIP) revealed the amount spent in 2020-21 in a written response to BJP MLA OP Sharma’s inquiry during the Assembly’s Monsoon Session in July 2021. Accordingly, Rs 40,000 was spent on purchasing the chemical to turn stubble into compost in 2020-21.

The response by DIP.

The Agriculture Branch of Development sponsored 56 training programmes at a cost of Rs 4,69,000 to improve farmer knowledge about stubble burning. A total of 15.8 crores were spent only on advertising about the bio decomposer. In 2020-21, the amount spent on advertising is 336 times higher than the amount spent on effective mitigation measures for the problem.

Similarly, for the fiscal year 2021-22, Delhi Assembly Leader Ram Singh Bidhuri has inquired about this. He had inquired how much money the Delhi government had spent in the fiscal year 2021-22 to purchase a bio-decomposer solution for making manure from stubble. In response to this inquiry, the government stated that the Delhi government paid 3 lakh 4 thousand 55 rupees on purchasing a bio-decomposer solution.

The response of DIP.

According to the response, Rs 1 lakh 4 thousand 55 was spent on jaggery and gram flour, while Rs 2 lakh was spent on bio-decomposer capsules. A total of Rs 3 lakh 4 thousand 55 was spent in this manner.

In its answer, the Delhi Government stated that, in addition to purchasing a bio-decomposer, Rs 24 lakh 62 thousand was spent on a tractor rented for spraying it and Rs 18 lakh on tents during the fiscal year 2021-22.

As a result, the Delhi government spent around Rs 46 lakh on bio-de-composer spraying in the fiscal year 2021-22.  In another part of the response, it has been stated that the Delhi government has spent 7 crores 47 lakh, 26 thousand 88 rupees on advertising the same.

Combining the statistics for the previous two years’ expenditure on stubble burning mitigation, it is evident that more than 23 crore rupees are spent only on marketing. This is around 99% of the entire amount allocated for the purpose.

Stubble Burning and the resulting high levels of air pollution have been a regular characteristic of winters in Delhi, for many years. This issue needs serious attention from the authorities responsible.

Chinese firms threaten to close operations in Pakistan over non-payment of dues totaling $1.5 Billion: Reports

OpIndia Staff
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Chinese firms threaten to close operations in Pakistan over non-payment of dues totaling $1.5 Billion: Reports

More than 30 Chinese companies working in Pakistan under the banner of CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor) have threatened to shut down operations in the country over non-payment of dues, reported Dawn.

In a meeting on Monday (May 9), about 25 representatives of Chinese independent power producers (IPPs) complained about outstanding dues to Pakistani Minister (Planning and Development) Ahsan Iqbal.

Complaints by the Chinese side also included high taxation, a hike in fuel prices, a complex visa process for Chinese executives, and constant pressure to maximize power generation. Highlighting ‘serious liquidity issues’, they said that it was impossible to meet peak summer needs.

The Chinese authorities pointed out that coal prices have risen by 3-4 times and it was difficult to continue operations with the urgent need for 3-4 times greater liquidity

“One of the power producers reported that it was operating at half capacity due to low coal stocks, but the authorities’ push to increase output could exhaust fuel stocks in a couple of days,” the report by Dawn pointed out.

Several Chinese firms, associated with the CPEC, pointed out that the power sector was left handicapped by the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite no forthcoming payments, the tax authorities had begun charging higher rates.

“Also, the contractual requirement of a revolving fund for automatic payment of IPPs’ dues and subsequent promises by the previous government during former prime minister Imran Khan’s visit to China also remained unfulfilled”, they further said.

The Chinese authorities reportedly expressed concern over the international competitive bidding required for the upcoming draft renewable energy policy. The Pakistanis on the other hand complained that the Chinese often do not respond to their communication.

The meeting lasted for over 3 hours during which Pakistani Minister Ahsan Iqbal assured to ease the financial difficulties within the month of May. He also assured that all issues pertaining to pending CPEC projects would also be resolved and had sought a detailed report on it.

Chinese workers and citizens in Pakistan feel insecure

Earlier, it was reported that the Chinese workers in Pakistan had expressed no confidence in the Pakistani security systems. The Chinese workers conceded that the Pakistani security systems were not able to protect them in their hour of crisis.

It is notable that China has made heavy investments in Pakistan in various infrastructure projects. Chinese workers and Chinese funds both constitute an important part of the projects, one of which is the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

According to a report by The Dawn, senator Mushahid Hussain, chairman of the Senate Defence Committee, said, “The Chinese confidence in Pakistan’s security system’s ability to protect their citizens and their projects is seriously shaken.”

Mushahid Hussain led a Senate delegation to the Chinese embassy, earlier in May, to express his condole­nces over the loss of three Chi­nese lives in a suicide att­ack on their van on the university’s premises last mon­th. The Karachi University attack was the third instance this year when the Chinese citizens in Pakistan were directly attacked.

Reports of a second blast in Mohali intelligence office false, Police ask channels to be cautious

OpIndia Staff
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Reports of a second blast in Mohali intelligence office false, Police ask channels to be cautious

On May 10, some media reports stated that a second blast occurred near the intelligence office of Punjab Police in Mohali. However, the Punjab Police has refuted the claims and asked the news channels to be cautious. The Police has cautioned that they may take action against news channels that spread false or misleading news.

NIA initiates investigation

Officials of the National Investigation Agency visited the site and initiated an investigation into the first blast that happened on Monday night. NIA officials collected evidence from the possible site where the RPG was allegedly fired.

Mohali blast at Punjab Police Intelligence Headquarters

On Monday, Punjab Police Intelligence Headquarters in Mohali was attacked using a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG). Reports suggest by assessing the ammunition head, it was RPG-22. The warhead was launched at the HQ at around 8 PM by unidentified persons.

Mohali Superintendent of Police (HQ) Ravinder Pal Singh called it a ‘minor blast’ and said, “It’s a minor blast. The attack happened from outside the building. It has been done with rocket-type fire. No casualty or loss happened. Our senior officers and FSL team are investigating it.”

Notably, when asked if it was a terror attack, SP Singh said, “It can’t be ignored. We are investigating it.”

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann held a high-level meeting on the matter. He assured that the culprits would be captured soon.

Members of Hindu organizations detained after reciting Hanuman Chalisa at Qutub Minar, were raising demand for renaming it to Vishnu Stambh

OpIndia Staff
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Members of Hindu organizations detained after reciting Hanuman Chalisa at Qutub Minar, were raising demand for renaming it to Vishnu Stambh

On May 10, Wednesday, members of several Hindu organizations like VHP and Mahakal Manav Sewa gathered near the Qutub Minar complex in Mehrauli, Delhi to stage a protest. They recited Hanuman Chalisa at the site after gathering there. The groups are demanding that the Qutub Minar should be renamed Vishnu Stambh. They have also been demanding that roads named after Mughal rulers should be renamed.

Members of the Mahakal Manav Sewa and the VHP who sat near the premises and peacefully chanted Hanuman Chalisa were later detained by a police contingent stationed in the vicinity.

It may be noted that personnel of Delhi Police and CAPF personnel were deployed outside the monument after an international Hindu Organisation by the name of United Hindu Front (UHF) announced a recital of Hanuman Chalisa on the premises of the Qutub Minar on Tuesday along with other Hindu groups.

Image source (Twitter user @Samriddhi0809)

According to reports, the members of the UHF gathered in front of Bhool Bhulaiya and marched toward Qutub Minar.

Numerous Hindu organizations objected to the placement of two inverted idols of Lord Ganesha in the building of the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque in the Qutub Minar complex, claiming that it violated the religious sentiments of Hindus. The organizations demanded that the idols be removed from the edifice and placed somewhere where they could be worshipped.

Notably, on April 7, Thursday, The National Monuments Authority (NMA) also asked the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to retrieve two Ganesha idols placed in the Qutub Minar complex in Mehrauli, Delhi. 

As per the report, the NMA chairman wrote to ASI late last month, requesting that the two Ganesh idols called, Ulta Ganesh and Ganesha in a cage, be removed from the complex and relocated to the National Museum. He believed that the “placement of the idols is disrespectful,” and that it should be changed.

Meanwhile, Jai Bhagwan Goel, the working president of UHF, stated that he intends to proceed peacefully with their plan to demand that the mosque inside the Qutub Minar be deemed a temple and that permission to perform Hanuman Chalisa on the site be granted.

Goel further stated that he just requested permission to worship the Hindu God idols in the edifice or their removal and subsequent re-establishment in a worshipful location.

Qutub Minar built after the destruction of 27 Hindu and Jain temples

Goyal further asserted that the mosque inside the Qutub Minar was erected after destroying 27 Hindu and Jain temples. Goyal cited the existence of scientific proof supporting that the Qutub Minar is actually a Vishnu pillar. He lambasted historians of different ideologies for penning incorrect history. The UFF president further demanded that the Qutub Minar be renamed Vishnu Stambh.

Notably, on April 18, in a conversation at World Heritage Day in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, renowned archaeologist KK Mohammed also said that 27 temples were demolished to build Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque near Qutub Minar in Delhi. He said, “Remnants of temples were found near Qutub Minar, including Lord Ganesha temple. It proves there was a temple.”

The Delhi Tourism website also clearly mentions that the 73-meter high Qutub Minar was built using the material obtained from 27 Hindu and Jain temples.

The website says, “An inscription over its eastern gate provocatively informs that it was built with material obtained from demolishing ’27 Hindu temples.”

Mamata Banerjee’s govt gives Bangla Academy award to Mamata Banerjee for her book ‘Kabita Bitan’ which has 946 poems

OpIndia Staff
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Mamata Banerjee’s govt gives Bangla Academy award to Mamata Banerjee for her book ‘Kabita Bitan’ which has 946 poems

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has been awarded the first Bangla Academy award for her ‘relentless literary pursuit’. The award was introduced this year and CM Mamata has been given the first award for her book ‘Kabita Bitan’.

The award to Mamata Banerjee was presented at the ‘Kavi Pranam’ event organised by the West Bengal government’s Information and Culture Department on the occasion of the birth anniversary of legendary poet Rabindranath Tagore.

However, as per reports, though Mamata Banerjee was present at the event and was sitting on the stage when the award was presented, she did not receive the award herself. The award was received by state education minister Bratya Basu on the CM’s behalf.

The minister stated that Mamata’s name was chosen for the award by a panel of some of the best writers of the state.

Mamata Banerjee got the award for her 2020 book ‘Kabita Bitan’ which was launched at the Kolkata Book Fair that year. The book contains 946 poems written by the chief minister herself.

The award for the ‘relentless literary pursuit’ will be given to persons who write literature while working in other fields. Some BJP leaders have also mocked CM Banerjee for giving herself awards. It is notable here that state education minister Bratya Basu himself is the chairperson of the Bangla Academy.

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