Historian S Irfan Habib made a tweet on Sunday in which he stated that staying ‘here’ is not a good idea for him and he will be deciding about this within some time. The tweet was made at 09:40 PM on April 24. The tweet read, “I feel many times that staying here is not a very good idea. May be watch for a few more more days and decide.”
The tweet.
However, after netizens offered him tickets to countries like Syria, Afghanistan and Pakistan, the ‘historian’ made another tweet clarifying that he meant Twitter when he mentioned ‘here’ and not India. The tweet in the thread read, “Staying here means twitter and not India. I see some confusion. India is my home.”
The tweet in the thread.
Apparently, Irfan Habib’s U-turn was prompted by netizens mocking him after they assumed he was considering leaving the country. Several users slammed him after he posted the initial tweet, claiming that he is not supposed to share anything he wants. Users even offered to finance his plane tickets and cab fare to the airport.
A Twitter user suggested that he consider settling in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen, Libya, or Iran.
The tweet made by a user.
Some people stated that they will pay for his plane tickets and cab rides as well.
Tweets made by users.
Another user mocked him, saying that Irfan has made a lot of money by plagiarising at ICHR, but he will gladly pay for his one-way trip.
The tweet.
Another user commended him for finally confessing how ignorance caused him to write the wrong history, as a result of which an entire generation of India’s original native civilization had to endure years of torment in order to return home to their gods.
The tweet.
According to S Irfan Habib’s Twitter profile, he is a Historian of Science and Modern Political History based in New Delhi, and he is not to be confused with Professor Irfan Habib of Mughal history at Aligarh Muslim University.
A day after Navneet Rana was remanded to judicial custody over the ongoing ‘Hanuman Chalisa row’, the Amravati MP alleged caste discrimination and abuse at the Khar police station on April 23, 2022. She has made the revelations in a letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
“It’s my honest & bona fide belief that Shiv Sena under Uddhav Thackeray completely strayed from its avowed Hindutva principles for obvious reasons since it wanted to betray public mandate&form post-poll alliance with INC-NCP,” she pointed out.
Rana emphasised, “I, with the sincere hope to rekindle the flame of Hindutva in Shiv Sena had declared that I shall go to the residence of the Chief Minister and chant the “Hanuman Chalisa” outside his residence. This was not meant to incite any religious tension.”
It’s my honest & bona fide belief that Shiv Sena under Uddhav Thackeray completely strayed from its avowed Hindutva principles for obvious reasons since it wanted to betray public mandate&form post-poll alliance with INC-NCP: Amravati MP Navneet Rana writes to LS Speaker Om Birla pic.twitter.com/B3XMOnn8NI
The Amravati MP said that she wanted to invite Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to chant ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ with her and her husband Ravi Rana. She added that her actions were not against the CM.
In fact, I had invited the Chief Minister to join me in chanting the “Hanuman Chalisa”. I reiterate that my actions were not against the Chief Minister: Amravati MP Navneet Rana writes to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla
Having realised that her action could cause a law and order situation, Navneet Rana withdrew her plans. Despite this, she was confined to her home by the police. She recounted the casteist treatment meted to her during her time in police custody.
“I was taken to Khar Police Station on April 23 and I spent the night in the Police Station…I made several and repeated demands for drinking water throughout the night, however, no drinking water was provided to me throughout the night,” the Amaravati MP added.
I was taken to Khar Police Station on 23.04.2022 and I spent the night in the Police Station on 23.03.2022…I made several and repeated demands for drinking water throughout the night, however no drinking water was provided to me throughout the night: Amravati MP Navneet Rana
Navneet Rana informed Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, “To my shock & disbelief, the police staff present told me that I belong to Scheduled Caste & hence they will not give me water in the same glass. Thus, I was directly abused on the basis of my caste and it is only for this reason that no drinking water was provided.”
I emphatically state that basic human rights such as drinking waster was denied to me on the ground that I belong to Scheduled Caste (Neechi Zaat): Amravati MP Navneet Rana writes to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla
She claimed that the cops denied her water because she belonged to the SC community. “Further, when I wanted to use the bathroom at the night, police staff paid no heed to my demands. I was again abused in the most filthy language…I was told that we don’t let people from Neechi Jaat Scheduled Castes use our bathrooms,” Rana had added.
Further, when I wanted to use the bathroom at the night, police staff paid no heed to my demands. I was again abused in the most filthy language…I was told that we don’t let people from Neechi Zaat Scheduled Castes use our bathrooms: Amravati MP Navneet Rana
She is currently serving 14-day judicial custody at the Byculla Women’s jail.
The Background of the Case
MP Navneet Rana and her husband MLA Ravi Rana were earlier arrested by Mumbai police for planning to recite Hanuman Chalisa before Matoshree, the family residence of CM Uddhav Thackeray. Though they had later withdrawn their plan, the duo was arrested from their home. Charges of sedition were also pressed against them.
They were produced before Bandra Court on Sunday (April 24) and sentenced to 14 days in judicial custody. Both of them were booked under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 153 (A) (promoting enmity between different groups), 353 (criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), and Section 135 of the Mumbai Police Act (violation of prohibitory orders).
Public prosecutor Pradip Gharat said that IPC Section 124-A (sedition) is being attracted in this case as the Rana duo allegedly challenged the government machinery and made remarks against Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.
Advocate Rizwan Merchant who submitted a bail application on behalf of Navneet Rana and Ravi Rana said that all the charges against the couple are baseless. Merchant alleged that public prosecutor Gharat has framed sedition charges against the Ranas on instructions from the police department.
“Prosecutor Gharat was not able to show even a single word that was uttered allegedly by the Rana couple that shows disaffection towards the state government. The only content of the remand application was that they had prepared to come here for the purpose of chanting Hanuman Chalisa.” Advocate Rizwan, who appeared on behalf of the Ranas stated.
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday took to Twitter to laud the Assam police for cracking down on several modules of the Bangladesh-based terror group Ansar-ul Bangla Team. He informed that the Assam police have, as of now, arrested a total of 16 terrorists from the organisation.
The ABT is an Islamic terror outfit with links to Al Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS). Though it emerged in 2007 in Bangladesh as Jamaatul Muslemin, the group rebranded itself as ABT in 2013.
The CM Tweeted, “In a long-drawn Operation @assampolice has cracked down on several modules of Ansarul Bangla Team / Al-Qaida Indian Subcontinent in Assam. It’s a huge intelligence success and a true example of courage and dedication of Assam Police. Total arrests so far -16.”
In a long-drawn Operation @assampolice has cracked down on several modules of Ansarul Bangla Team / Al-Qaida Indian Subcontinent in Assam . It’s a huge intelligence success and a true example of courage and dedication of Assam Police. Total Arrests so far -16
On April 18, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had expressed confidence that the Jehadi network would be eliminated in his state. Sarma said, “There is information about Jehadis and we are working on it. We are getting intelligence input from the Centre. The jihadi network will be dismantled.”
Notably, on April 15, the police in the Barpeta district in lower Assam arrested six persons allegedly affiliated with Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), a Bangladesh-based terror outfit with links to Al Qaeda. All six, who are residents of the Barpeta district in Assam have been booked under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
This was not the first arrest of its kind in Barpeta. In March, authorities in the district detained a Bangladeshi national named Saiful Islam (also known as Mohammed Suman and Harun Rashid) and four other people with ties to ABT.
Following the arrests in March, the case was transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). After taking charge, NIA filed an FIR against Saiful Islam and four others under sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 121 (waging or attempting to wage war against the government of India), 121A (conspiracy to commit offences punishable under 121), sections 17 (raising funds for the terrorist act), 18 (recruitment for the commission of terrorist act), 18B (punishment for 18), 19 (punishment for harbouring), 20 (punishment for being members of a terrorist organisation) and sections of Passport Act and Foreigners Act for illegal entry to India and failing to produce a passport.
During the investigation, it was discovered that Saiful Islam, a Bangladeshi national, had illegally entered India and was working as an Arabic language teacher at the Dhakalipara masjid (mosque) in Barpeta.
According to authorities, Islam effectively indoctrinated and inspired the four others to join the ABT module with the goal of developing Barpeta district as a base for ‘jehadi’ work and illegal activities of Al-Qaida and its linked organisations.
The two sets of arrests are linked, the Barpeta superintendent of police Amitava Sinha had stated. “They have been indoctrinating and radicalising people here,” the SP said, adding that one of them was part of the notorious Islamic outfit Popular Front of India (PFI), which the central government is mulling banning any time soon.
Avani Dias, the South Asian correspondent for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, took to Twitter on Monday to bring in a bizarre correlation between actor Will Smith’s reported meeting with spiritual leader Sadhguru to disseminate false information about an Indian law that she claimed did not offer Muslim refugees citizenship in India. Her tweet alluded to the Citizenship Amendment Act(CAA) that fast tracks the citizenship process of religious persecuted minorities from three neighbouring countries of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
“Will Smith has been seen for the first time since The Slap and he’s in India. Reports he’s seeing Sadhguru, a spiritual leader who runs an ashram and once called a Muslim student ‘Talibani’ The guru also supports a law which doesn’t offer Muslim refugees citizenship in India,” she said in a tweet on Monday.
The tweet now stands deleted.
However, after being slammed by several social media users, Avani Dias deleted the tweet. Avani’s tweet was full of false information. Journalist Aditya Raj Kaul replied to her tweet by stating that there is no rule in India prohibiting Muslims from becoming citizens. He lambasted her, accusing her of spreading false information deliberately.
Reply by Aditya Raj Kaul.
Thereafter, blatantly justifying her tweet, she said, “I never said that it’s “against citizenship to Muslims”. I said the act does not allow Muslim refugees citizenship in India, which is correct – read the legislation.”
The tweet by Avani.
Abhijit Iyer-Mitra, a Twitter user, replied by saying that all of her arguments are bogus. He reinforced Aditya Raj Kaul’s position, saying that the law simply expedites citizenship for minorities in neighbouring Islamic nations and that other Muslims are allowed to apply for citizenship through normal channels.
The tweet by Abhijit Iyer-Mitra.
Abhijit Iyer-Mitra made another tweet requesting action against Avani Dias. He wrote, “An @abcnews correspondent deliberately misrepresents a law & when pointed out, locks replies but doesn’t acknowledge the mistake or delete the tweet…”
CAA expedites the citizenship process for persecuted minorities from neighbouring Islamic countries
The tweet made by the ABC journalist is patently wrong as the Citizenship Amendment Act is non-discriminatory. The current legal procedure for attaining Indian citizenship by any foreigner of any type through Naturalization (Section 6 of the Citizenship Act) or Registration (Section 5 of the Act) remains in place, and the CAA makes no changes to it.
It only applies to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Parsi, and Christian immigrants who came to India from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan on or before December 31, 2014, owing to religious persecution. Muslims from these three nations are not barred from becoming citizens under the legislation. Hundreds of Muslims have been given Indian citizenship in the last few years after migrating from these three nations.
All future migrants will also be granted Indian citizenship if they are proven to be eligible, regardless of their number or religion.
Also, Avani’s statement about Sadhguru supporting a discriminatory law is also baseless as the law itself is non-discriminatory and is actually inclusive supporting the persecuted minorities in the countries neighbouring India.
A massive controversy kicked off in Rajasthan on Monday after pictures of Asif Ansari, the prime accused in last year’s Chhabra riots attending state CM Ashok Gehlot’s Iftar Party emerged on social media. The state wing of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has demanded CM Gehlot’s resignation and arrest for sheltering terrorists.
Communal riots had erupted in the Chhabra region on April 11 in 2021. As per reports, Kamal Singh Gurjar was stabbed by Fareed, Aabid, and Sameer on April 10 in Chhabra, Baran district in Rajasthan, during an argument over car parking. The stabbing incident had escalated into a major communal tension the next day.
Sharing pictures of Asif Ansari posing with dignitaries at Ashok Gehlot’s residence during his Iftar party hosted on April 23, 2022, BJP leader Amit Malviya Tweeted, “Ashok Gehlot hosted an “official” Iftar party on 23 Apr. In attendance was Asif Ansari, main accused of Chabbra riots, in which several homes and shops of Hindus were burnt down. The man who should have been in jail was enjoying CM’s hospitality! Sheltering rioters is secularism?”
Ashok Gehlot hosted an “official” Iftar party on 23Apr. In attendance was Asif Ansari, main accused of Chabbra riots, in which several homes and shops of Hindu’s were burnt down. The man who should have been in jail was enjoying CM’s hospitality! Sheltering rioters is secularism? pic.twitter.com/9HyoGHbLSh
Pratap Singh Singhvi, BJP MLA from Chhabra Rajasthan also shared news clips to condemn Congress’ appeasement politics. He slammed Ashok Gehlot for hosting Asif, the prime accused of the communal violence that broke out in Chhabra on April 11, 2021.
विडंबना है कि मुख्यमंत्री श्री @ashokgehlot51 के राजकीय आवास पर सांप्रदायिक दंगों के आरोपित की मिजमानी की जा रही है! क्या इसके पीछे तुष्टिकरण से निकले वोट हैं? @INCIndia की ऐसी सोच निहायत शर्मनाक व बहुसंख्यक समाज के लिए अपमानजनक है। जनता सब देख रही है, समय आने पर सारा हिसाब होगा। pic.twitter.com/6bk5VQ4OxG
Singhvi accused the Rajasthan police of allowing an accused in the Chhabra violence at the residence of the Chief Minister and said that the matter should be investigated.
Rajasthan | The main accused of Chhabra violence was present in iftaar party organised at CM’s residence. This is a matter of concern & should be investigated that why was he allowed to enter CM’s residence. This is a compromise with CM’s security:Chhabra MLA Pratap Singh Singhvi pic.twitter.com/2MwjX6w0em
Leader of Opposition in the Rajasthan legislative assembly, Gulab Chand Kataria slammed the Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and said, “It is unfortunate for the state of Rajasthan that the Rajasthan Chief Minister invites those people who are accused in violence cases.”
राजस्थान के मुख्यमंत्री द्वारा छबड़ा दंगों के मुख्य आरोपी आसिफ को रोजा इफ्तार पार्टी में बुलाने से लगता है की उन्होंने राजस्थान को सांप्रदायिकता की आग में झोंक कर वोट बैंक को पक्का करने का मन बना लिया है। pic.twitter.com/KwcwSmYkhJ
Seeking an apology from Ashok Gehlot, Kataria added, “Congress is playing a cheap politics of vote bank, by allowing such accused to sit next to the CM.” He blamed the Congress government for spreading communal violence by allowing accused people in their Iftar parties.
“They are doing this only for their vote bank and this is why the whole state is in trouble,” Gulab Chand Kataria added.
‘CM sheltering terrorists’, BJP MLA demands Rajasthan CM’s arrest after pictures from his Iftar party go viral
BJP MLA Madan Dilawar also reacted angrily to the news, accusing the CM of sheltering terrorists. “The main accused, the terrorist of the Chhabra violence was present at the CM house. The house of CM has now become a hub for terrorism.” He slammed the CM for hosting a terrorist at his residence. He requested the Rajasthan Police to arrest the CM. “I request the police of Rajasthan to arrest the CM Ashok Gehlot,” he added.
On April 11, 2021, communal violence erupted in Chhabra in the Baran district in Rajasthan. The altercation began over a parking space and escalated after a stabbing incident. Fareed, Aabid, and Sameer stabbed Kamal Singh Gurjar during a dispute over parking in Baran. After the incident, a group of people allegedly reached the police station to demand action against the three accused. The police detained the accused and interrogated them. After learning about the police action, some people gathered at the Dharnavada intersection on April 11 morning. People of both communities started stone pelting at each other leading to a stampede in the market.
While at least six shops were set on fire, other shops were looted and ransacked. Vehicles parked in the area were also set on fire. The vehicles of the fire department were also attacked by the rioters. Around 12 police personnel also got injured while trying to control the violence.
Later, police had to resort to lathi-charge and tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. OpIndia had then spoken to one of the most prominent Gurjar leaders, BJP’s Vijay Singh Bainsla to get the ground reality.
Sitting MVA Cabinet Minister from Congress Vijay Wadettiwar has made unparliamentary remarks on Hindus over the Hanuman Chalisa Row. Wadettiwar, who was giving a speech in Maharashtra’s Chandrapur, said those who want Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray to chant the Hanuman Chalisa are ‘neech’ and ‘har*mi’.
कुणाच्या घरावर जाऊन आंदोलन करणे याला आमचा विरोधचं..पण हनुमान चालिसाचे पठण करणे हा हिंदूस्थानात देशद्रोह कसा काय होऊ शकतो तसेच महिलांबद्दल अशी गलिच्छ भाषा वापरण्याऱ्या मंत्र्यांचा मी निषेध करते अशांचं जोपर्यंत महिला खेटरं पुजन करणार नाही तोपर्यंत यांचा मेंदू ठिकाण्यावर येणार नाही pic.twitter.com/WgiJ74MYKc
Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar was giving a speech at a health camp organised by party workers in Chandrapur’s Ballarpur. During his speech, he spoke on the recent Hanuman Chalisa row in Maharashtra that was sparked by the challenge of MP Navneet Rana and MLA Ravi Rana to recite Hanuman Chalisa as a protest in front of CM Uddhav Thackeray’s House ‘Matoshree’. Wadettiwar said, “Some people have questioned CM Thackeray to recite Hanuman Chalisa or else they will recite it in front of Matoshree. Tere baap ka kya jata hai? Tu Kaun hai Chot*e? H*rami…(What does your father got to do with this? What kind of a bugger are you?)”
Wadettiwar remarked that one can recite Hanuman Chalisa wherever one wishes to but to ask Uddhav Thackeray to do so the same is wrong. “Tere baap ka Naukar hai kya?” (Is the CM the servant of your father?). Such neech, nalayak and h*rami people have come to use the Hanuman Chalisa to divide people. As you all know, among Hindus, there’s a tradition of seeking the blessings of Hanuman before marriage. Now, these buggers will tell us to read the Hanuman Chalisa?” Wadettiwar asked.
The objectionable segment of Vijay Wadettiwar’s speech was flagged on Twitter by BJP state Vice President Chitra Wagh who asked how can chanting the Hanuman Chalisa be seditious. “We oppose going to someone’s house for a protest, but how can reciting Hanuman Chalisa be sedition in India? Also, I condemn such ministers (like Wadettiwar) who use such filthy language about women,” Wagh wrote on Twitter.
It should be noted that sedition charges were slapped against the Rana duo who were planning to recite Hanuman Chalisa as a protest against Uddhav Thackeray’s Mumbai House ‘Matoshree’. The couple was arrested on Saturday and is currently facing a judicial trial for 14 days in Mumbai.
Bollywood actors Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor, despite having a Hindu Punjabi marriage, did only four pheras. Dressed in Sabyasachi Mukherjee ivory ensembles, they even went the white wedding way merrily cutting cakes and sipping champagne at the affair. While their faithful fans fawned over their pictures, there were also voices that questioned their distortion of Sanatani traditions usually followed during a Hindu marriage ceremony. The loudest being that if they do not believe in the customs followed since ages or the sanctity of marriage being almost like a religious affair for Hindus, what makes these celebrities influence the youth the wrong way at a time when the Hindu civilization is already fighting an existential war to hold on to its age-old practices.
Close on the heels of their wedding pictures being splashed, a video clip went viral on social media where a bride questioned the very premise of kanyadaan, maangbharna and the pheras citing that they breach the concept of equality. The lady in the video proudly stated how she ensured a kunwardaan was held simultaneously with a kanyadaan at her wedding while she put sindoor on her groom’s forehead, too.
Since social media is quite a powerful avenue of influence for the masses, these videos, loaded with erroneous information, cloud the mind of those who are not really well versed with the significance of the various traditions that complete a Hindu marriage. Remember last September’s Manyavar-Mohey television commercial where Alia Bhatt called for a kanyamaan instead of a kanyadaan? Pseudo-feminists might have cheered yes, but there’s no denying that it not only proved the lack of research on the part of ethnic wear brands but also exposed Bhatt’s cluelessness about her Indian ethos and culture.
As misinformation abounds, here’s an attempt to deconstruct the reason why for ages Hindu weddings have featured the rituals of kanyadaan, maangbharna and pheraas. These are traditions that sanctify a Sanatani wedding gloriously because of the meaning they carry. Unless our youth understands what they mean, it becomes only too easy to be misled by jargons spewed by deracinated activists, celebrities and intellectuals who unfortunately hold a vice-like grip over the consciousness of a large number of Indians.
What power is in the Sindoor
The sindoor, also known as the kumkum, is a symbol of fertility. In ancient India one of the primary aspects of marriage was taking a family forward, the groom’s applying kumkum on the parting of the bride’s hair enhanced her fertility while the bright red colour signified power and passion. Earlier the vermillion was prepared with organic or herbal substances such as turmeric, lime, alum, mercury or saffron. The application of this powder from the forehead to the point of the pituitary gland stimulated the reproductive organs of the woman as well as regulated her blood pressure and controlled stress. While this is the scientific explanation of the practice, the sindoor gave a radiant glow to the face of a married woman who wore it like an adornment.
While ‘feminists’ deride this mark of marriage with baseless explanations, sindoor was also worn by women of the Harappa and Mohenjodaro civilizations for its medicinal value. It is said that when Hanuman asked Sita what the red mark was on her forehead, she explained it was her ‘love for Bhagwan Ram’. Hearing that, Hanuman went on to apply sindoor all over his body to mark his devotion to Bhagwan Ram. Such was the power in the fragrant red powder.
Decoding the Saat Pheras
While one cannot question the personal choices of celebrities, the moment they start influencing the youth it becomes a cause for concern. According to Sanatani traditions, a Hindu marriage is complete only after the seventh phera is taken by the couple doing parikrama around the auspicious havan. In the case of a Gujarati or Sindhi wedding that number should be four, signifying Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. Wonder why the Punjabi wedding of Bhatt and Kapoor was made short of the saat pheras! However, these pheras or vachans are significant because they reaffirm the concept of bonding and equality in a unique way.
In the first phera the groom promises to take care of his bride, their children and the family while the bride undertakes the responsibility of looking after the groom’s home and his food. The second vachan is about thegroom promising to protect his bride under all circumstances. In return, the bride promises to stand by her husband through thick and thin. In the third phera the groom promises to work hard and in return, the bride promises to effectively take care of the income and expenses. The fourth vachan is about the groom entrusting the responsibility of his household to his bride and respecting her wise decisions. The bride promises to fulfil her duties to the best of her abilities for a respectful living.
Then the groom promises to consult his wife on all important matters. In return, the bride promises to support her groom in all his endeavours. The sixth vachan is where the groom promises to remain committed and loyal to his bride while the bride promises to remain faithful to her husband. The final phera has the groom promising to lead his entire life with his bride, who is also his friend. The wife promises to spend her life with him till the very end.
The value in Kanyadaan
There is way too much misconception about kanyadaan that has been singlehandedly pushed forth by shoddy Bollywood films through the years. The worst part though is that despite having the right explanations in our scriptures, most Hindus slept through the process. This affected an entire generation’s understanding of the beautiful custom. Kalidasa’s Kumaarsambhav has chronicled the ritual of kanyadaan wonderfully during the Shiv Parvati vivaah.
There are two Daan that have the highest status in Sanatan culture, one being that of a kanyaa, who is Lakshmi swaroop. No one willingly parts with their Lakshmi (a good fortune in the name of health, well being, peace of mind and prosperity). When a father and a mother do that, they are in a higher position to give away their fortune (non-philosophical concepts like ‘giving away the bride’ don’t exist in the Sanatani tradition) to the less fortunate. They attain the position of a king and a queen almost. But since our Dharma is absolutely anti-Aham or arrogance, the givers fold their hands and say, “We are giving our Lakshmi to you.”
To this, the father of the groom and the groom fold their hands and express gratitude saying, “Thank you for bestowing on us your Putri Ratna (a gem of a daughter). This scene is elaborated in great detail in Valmiki Ramayan between Raja Dasharath and Raja Janak. If during a wedding we care to understand our Sanskrit shlokas, it happens exactly this way till date where the daughter is considered not a burden but a fortune that is being parted with.
Daan is not alms, bheek, charity or any such negative emotion in our culture. It is the parting of your good fortune for the betterment of another household and with that the society in general. Now, if only ignoramuses read up and understand the beauty in our dharmic traditions before they lunge to insult them.
On April 23, a Twitter user AminaaKausar claimed that actor Hrithik Roshan donated Rs 1 Lakh for the rehabilitation of Muslim settlements in Khargone, Jahangirpuri, and other locations via a Ketto fundraiser started by controversial NGO Miles2Smiles. In her tweet, she posted a few screenshots, out of which one had the name Hrithik Roshan as the top donor.
Source: Twitter
Several Twitter users raised questions over the name. A Twitter user Abeyyarsun questioned if she was sure it was the actor himself, to which Amina said she had confirmed before posting.
Source: Twitter
Many Twitter users raised questions if that was the actor or someone using his name.
Source: Twitter
Source: Twitter
One of the users who raised objections was The Hawk Eye. He dug up further to the claims and said, “For funds collection, some kiddish tactics also used like actor Hrithik Roshan donated 1L, however, there is no such entry. The top two donors with 1L are anonymous (well-wisher). The handle with 30K followers went one step ahead & “yes, I confirmed it” when someone raised suspicion.
For funds collection some kiddish tactics also used like actor Hrithik Roshan donated 1L, however there is No such entry. Top two donors with 1L are anonymous (well wisher). The handle with 30K followers went one step ahead & “yes I confirmed it” when someone raised suspicion. 9/ pic.twitter.com/PdR6d4KEEK
We checked the fundraiser to get more information if Roshan had donated or not. In the list of top donors, the name Hrithik Roshan does not appear.
Screenshot of the fundraiser. Source: Ketto
There are some fan accounts that claimed that they had asked the PR agencies, and they denied that Hrithik Roshan made any such donation.
Another important aspect of Ketto is you can put any name while registering the account or making the donation and it will show that name. It does not matter if it matches your real name or the name on the card or account that you have used. It makes the whole claim even more suspicious.
Source: Ketto
Notably, celebrities have donated to a fundraiser on Ketto before. To refresh memory, actress Anushka Sharma and cricketer Viral Kohli had raised 11 crores on Ketto last year. They had donated 2 cr themselves for the cause. Many social media users, therefore, raised suspicions as to why an actor of Hrithik’s stature would donate a paltry amount for the fundraiser. If the person was indeed Hrithik, why the name was changed (in case the screenshot by Amina was real)? There are many questions that need answers.
Anushka and Virat had donated Rs 2 cr for the fundraiser they started. Source: Ketto.
It is notable that Hrithik Roshan had joined hands with several NGOs in the past and spoke openly about it. In 2020 he helped Akshay Patra to provide 1.2 lakh meals for daily wage workers and senior citizens.
In case he had donated, there would have been some buzz around. The NGO that ran the fundraiser did not say or post any screenshots on their own or verify the claims made by Amina. Though the questions are being raised, Amina’s tweet is still there on Twitter.
We tried contacting Hrithik Roshan’s manager but could not verify if the actor had indeed donated to the said fundraiser. This is a developing story, and we will update when more information is available, or his manager or PR agency clarifies their stand on the matter.
The fundraiser for Muslim victims by Miles2Smile
A fundraising campaign was started to help the ‘victims’ of anti-encroachment drives across the country. Various state governments, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and the New Delhi Municipal Corporation authorities in the national capital, had razed down building belonging to encroachers, following which a campaign has been launched, apparently with the aim of helping the ‘victims’ of the anti-encroachment drive. Mohammed Zubair, the co-founder of the alleged ‘fact-checking’ website Alt News, put out a tweet to support the fundraiser.
Several other left-liberal ‘journalists’ also shared the links of the alleged fundraiser asking people to fund Muslim ‘victims’. They shared the links to fundraising events started by the Miles2Smile Foundation. The organisation had raised funds for the alleged victims and had previously raised funds for illegal Rohingya Muslim immigrants settling in the country. The Miles2Smiles Foundation claims to be an organisation that provides relief and rehabilitation to distressed individuals or groups and educational upliftment of the marginalised and underprivileged.
According to Aasif Mujtaba, the founder of the Miles2Smiles Foundation, the organisation had set up a learning centre at a Rohingya camp at Nuh in Haryana. The organisation had raised funds for the construction work for the Rohingya Refugees at Nuh in Haryana and had also built housing units, he had claimed on Twitter in January this year.
After MVA Government thwarted the efforts of MLA Ravi Rana and MP Navneet Rana to chant Hanuman Chalisa in front of Udhhav Thackeray’s house, The NCP now wishes to retaliate the same in front of the Prime Minister’s residence in New Delhi. NCP Mumbai north district working President Fahmida Hasan Khan has written to HM Amit Shah for seeking permission for the same.
I’ve asked HM Amit Shah for permission to chant prayers of every religion in front of PM Modi’s residence. If Hindutva, Jainism elevates for country’s benefit to reduce inflation, unemployment, starvation,I’d like to do it:NCP Mumbai north district working pres Fahmida Hasan Khan pic.twitter.com/QN4rtOheiJ
On Monday, Fahmida Hasan Khan expressed that she wishes to chant ‘prayers of every religion’ in front of 7, Lok Kalyan Marg in New Delhi. While speaking to ANI, she also made a condescending religious remark saying, “If Hindutva, Jainism elevates for country’s benefit to reduce inflation, unemployment, starvation, I’d like to do it.”
In the letter dated April 23, 2022, Khan asks Home Minister Amit Shah to permit her to read prayers of all religions outside the PM’s residence. “I request you to grant me the permission to read Namaz, Hanuman Chalisa, Navkar Mantra, Guru Granth and Novino in front of the beloved Prime Minister’s house. Please covey me the date and time for the same.”
This comes a day after, the Independent politician couple from Maharashtra’s Amravati, MLA Ravi Rana and MP Navneet Rana were arrested by the Mumbai Police for planning to chant the Hanuman Chalisa as a protest in front of CM Uddhav Thackery’s house ‘Matoshree’. The duo was booked on sedition charges and is currently facing 14-day judicial custody in two different Mumbai Jails. Fahmida Hasan khan is a known Muslim face for Sharad Pawar’s NCP and is a popular female face in areas with a high Muslim population in North Mumbai.
On Monday, April 25, the Indian Coast Gaurd and the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist department jointly apprehended a Pakistan boat ‘Al Haj’ with nine crew members on board on the Indian side of the Arabian sea. They seized heroin worth Rs 280 crore from the vessel, which has been brought to the Indian port of Jakhau for further probe.
The India Coast Gaurd shared the information about the same on Twitter. “In a joint Ops with ATS #Gujarat, @IndiaCoastGuard Ships apprehended Pak Boat Al Haj with 09 crew in Indian side of Arabian sea carrying heroin worth approx 280 cr. Boat being brought to #Jakhau for further investigation. @DefenceMinIndia @MEAIndia @HMOIndia @SpokespersonMoD”, Tweeted the department.
According to a defense spokesperson privy to the case, the Indian Coast Guard ships intercepted and apprehended the Pakistani boat ‘Al Haj’ when it ventured into the Indian waters.
According to the statement, officials discovered heroin worth Rs 280 crore on the boat, and the boat and its crew members were taken to Jakhau port in Gujarat’s Kutch district for further investigation.
In a thread of Tweets, news agency ANI reported that with advanced intelligence, a coast guard boat with two Gujarat ATS operatives caught the boat attempting to return to Pakistan. The people on board were attempting to throw the narcotics packet in the water.
Pakistani boat ‘Al Haj’ with 9 Pakistani crew members entered Indian waters late last night. With advanced intelligence, a coast guard boat with 2 Gujarat ATS operatives intercepted the boat attempting to return to Pakistan throwing away narcotics packets in water: ICG Officials
The media house quoted an ICG official as saying that the packets were recovered and the ICG boat started the pursuit of the Pakistani fishing boat. The boat was capable of high speed and was stopped forcibly as the Indian boat had to fire at the boat to prevent its escape.
One crew member suffered an injury and two others suffered minor bruises. The boat being heavier, ICGS Ankit in the vicinity was diverted for towing assistance. The Pakistani boat ‘Al Haj’ is expected to reach Jakhau port by 3 pm today, ANI quoted ICG officials as saying.
