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Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Dhananjay Munde’s second wife Karuna accuses him of hiding multiple affairs, six children

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Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Dhananjay Munde’s second wife Karuna accuses him of hiding multiple affairs, six children

Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Dhananjay Munde’s second wife Karuna Sharma Munde has accused him of being involved in multiple extra-marital affairs and hiding six children he conceived out of them. The NCP leader in 2021 had accepted that he had a consensual affair with Karuna Sharma after the latter’s sister, Renu Sharma accused Munde of rape charges. He had made the confessions in a Facebook post.

Karuna Sharma Munde is about to contest the mid-term assembly elections from the Kolhapur North Seat. While the election is scheduled on April 12, Karuna Sharma has entered into the fray as a candidate while making several statements on Dhananjay Munde. While alleging that Munde hid from her many of his affairs and his six children out of them, she announced that a film is being made on her love life with Dhananjay Munde.

She also said that a book in Hindi about their love affair is being written in Hindi and Marathi, and the same is its final stages. She claimed the book will have proofs of their affair of 25 years, and will also include photographs of their wedding. She said while her documents are correct, there are discrepancies in the documents of her husband, and he has hidden his six children and several wives.

While talking about the details of the film, she said that the work on the story is in progress. “If a picture is going to be made, then I am the only important topic. I’ve seen through the close quarters how politics in Maharashtra unfolds. At the age of 43, I am entering politics because I want to raise the voices of the people and work for them. If a film is to be made on me and Dhananjay Munde, it will turn out to be a superhit,” she added.

The truth about Dhananjay Munde’s affairs unfolded in January last year when Renu Sharma tweeted alleging that he raped her repeatedly in the year 2006 and a police station was not ready to lodge her complaint. After the allegations increased the political turmoil in Maharashtra, Munde had clarified in a Facebook post about being involved in a relationship with Karuna Sharma and having 2 children out of wedlock. However, he dismissed all allegations made by her sister Renu and asserted that this was a ploy to threaten him.

Starting on September 5, 2021, Karuna faced judicial custody for two weeks in a case of murder and was booked under the Atrocities Act. Karuna was in Beed, the turf of Munde and was soon to expose the wrongdoings of her husband Dhananjay Munde before her arrest. In December same year, at a press conference in Ahmednagar, she announced her entry into politics while announcing her new party, “Shiv Shakti Sena.”

‘The state itself should have allowed CBI to investigate’: Supreme Court slams Thackeray govt as it transfers Param Bir Singh case to the CBI

OpIndia Staff
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‘The state itself should have allowed CBI to investigate’: Supreme Court slams Thackeray govt as it transfers Param Bir Singh case to the CBI

The Supreme Court has taken away the investigation of all the cases against former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh from the Maharashtra police, and handed it over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The allegations against Param Bir Singh range from misconduct to corruption, and these allegations will now be investigated by the CBI.

While announcing the order, the Supreme Court bench of Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice MM Sundresh said that a very murky affair is raging amidst the highest echelons of power, and that the case should be investigated thoroughly to regain the faith of the people.

“This is not a reflection on the police of Maharashtra, which is respected, but a troubling scenario among the higher echelons. We cannot accept the argument that when a person in power loses power, then persons below him come out and file FIRs. We do believe there is some inter-concerted effort being made which requires investigation by an agency outside the state police,” the bench noted.

Further, the bench said “The exigencies in the advancement of principles of natural justice require the probe to be transferred to CBI. We are not saying appellant is a whistle-blower or anyone involved in this case is washed with milk.”

‘State itself should have allowed CBI to carry out the investigation’, SC pulls up Maharashtra Govt

The bench further added, “we are unable to accept the contention that an FIR is registered by those who had complaints against the petitioner. We are of the view that the state itself should have allowed CBI to carry out the investigation.”

“We are of the prima facie view that there is some concerted effort which needs the investigation by CBI. What is the truth, who is at fault, how does such a scenario come to prevail is something which investigation must get into? CBI must hold an impartial inquiry into all these aspects”, the bench went on to add.

The Court ordered that such a transfer takes place within one week. The Bench also stated that Singh’s suspension would not be lifted for now.

It may be noted that during the morning session of the hearing, Justice Kaul had stated that it is unaffected by media reports and will rule on cases without paying any regard to such reports.

“Media reports don’t bother us. Yesterday Maharashtra government officials made statements that they may not get a fair hearing by the judiciary and it was in the press today and we read it. But this has not bothered us. We put it in the dustbin where it belongs”, Justice Kaul said.

Param Bir Singh suspended for irregularities and lapses

In December last year, Param Bir Singh, who was posted as the DGP of Maharashtra Home Guard at the time, had been suspended by the Maharashtra government.

Param Bir Singh was removed from the post of Mumbai Police Commissioner after the Antilia bomb scare case. He was then demoted and made the Director General of Maharashtra State Home Guard after he leveled corruption and extortion charges against former home minister Anil Deshmukh.

Singh is also facing a probe by central agencies in the Antilia bomb scare, and Mansukh Hiren murder case.

Chattisgarh: ‘Ghar Wapsi’ of 1250 people in Mahasamund organised by BJP leader Prabal Pratap Judev

OpIndia Staff
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Chattisgarh: ‘Ghar Wapsi’ of 1250 people in Mahasamund organised by BJP leader Prabal Pratap Judev

In the state of Chhattisgarh, 1250 persons have returned to Sanatan Dharma. This occurred at the Vishwa Kalyan Mahayagya held in Katangpali village in Mahasamund district of Chattisgarh on Tuesday, March 22, 2022. Arya Pratinidhi Samaj arranged the Mahayagya. BJP State Secretary Prabal Pratap Singh Judev spearheaded the charge to bring people to their roots by washing the feet of those who returned to the Sanatan Dharma with Gangajal.

Judev said that the Ghar Wapsi campaign will continue indefinitely until every person who has been a victim of conversion returns to Sanatan Dharma. He also urged the audience to speak out against Hindus being pushed to convert. Swami Dev Nand, Acharya Anshudev Arya, Rajendra Bhai Saheb, Nandkumar Sai, Pandit Rishiraj Arya, Pandit Pankaj Bharadwaj, Ramchandra Agarwal, and others were among those who participated in the event.

It’s worth noting that at Khuntapani of Pathalgaon, Chhattisgarh, 1200 individuals from 400 households had already switched to Hinduism. While participating in the program, Prabal Pratap Singh stated that safeguarding Hindutva is the only resolution he has for his life. Most of the families that switched to Hinduism were from Basna Saraipali, he said. Families who converted to Hinduism said their forefathers converted to Christianity roughly three generations ago. They were quite impoverished at the time and had converted to Christianity after receiving some financial assistance from the missionaries as well as the enticement of receiving assistance in the treatment of ailments.

In a recent interview with OpIndia, Prabal Pratap Singh Judev stated, “I am carrying forward this work since the death of my father. In states like Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Odisha, we have got more than 10 thousand people coming back to Sanatan Dharma through such programs. Due to the Corona epidemic, this campaign of ours was stopped for about two years. Now again we are speeding it up. This is holy work, country-building work. It was started by my father and I am very proud to be associated with it.”

Prabal Pratap Singh Judev spoke to OpIndia

Prabal Pratap Singh Judev is the son of Dilip Singh Judev, a former minister in the government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Dilip Singh Judev had launched a campaign to reintroduce tribals to their original religion after they were converted by Christian missionaries. Following his father’s death in August 2013, his son Prabal Pratap Singh Judev has carried on the family tradition.

On conversion and Christian missionaries from Chhattisgarh’s rural villages, Prabal Judev stated, “Conversion is taking place in the state, especially in the tribal areas for years. Despite opposition, the Christian missionaries did not improve. They are converting gullible poor people by luring them, making deals in the name of service, insulting our Hindu gods and goddesses. They are being brainwashed. How long will all this last? Sometimes anger will come to the fore. People will do something to save their age-old culture and heritage. This is the reason why there is constant opposition towards the missionaries now.”

Prabal Judev explained two significant causes for the rise in conversion cases in Chhattisgarh. The first is the coronavirus epidemic, and the second is the presence of Congress in the state. “Taking advantage of the coronavirus pandemic, missionaries have converted people on a large scale. The Congress government was also helping them. Wherever there is a Congress, for example in Punjab, you see how many Sikhs have been converted, such activities increase. They are running it like an industry for which the funds are coming from Italy.” He further added, “Their policy is clear. Promote appeasement. Let the conversion happen. Convert converts into vote bank and rule. This is the reason for the misery of the Hindus in the entire country wherever Congress-ruled,” he said.

The detailed interview of Prabal Judev can be read here.

Arvind Kejriwal calls ‘The Kashmir Files’ a “jhoothi” film, refuses to make it tax-free, had earlier made movies like ’83, Saand Ki Aankh tax-free

OpIndia Staff
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Arvind Kejriwal calls ‘The Kashmir Files’ a “jhoothi” film, refuses to make it tax-free, had earlier made movies like ’83, Saand Ki Aankh tax-free

In response to people’s pleas to make The Kashmir Files movie tax-free in Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal asked filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri to make the film available for free on the video streaming platform YouTube.

Mocking the decisions of various state governments of making The Kashmir Files tax-exempted in their respective states, CM Arvind Kejriwal stated, “They are saying to make the movie The Kashmir Files tax-free, better upload it on YouTube and the whole movie will become free.”

“Why to insist on a tax exemption, if one is so interested, why not ask director Vivek Agnihotri to upload it on YouTube and everyone will see the movie in one day,” he added.

Kejriwal says ’The Kashmir Files’ is a ‘jhoothi’ film

Furthermore, the Delhi chief minister also insinuated that ‘The Kashmir Files’ is a movie not grounded in reality and that is a “jhoothi” movie.

Denying the genocide endured by the Kashmiri Pandits, Kejriwal took a swipe at the BJP and advised them to not promote a ”jhoothi” film. “We will grant you honour. We will give you respect. We will take you along in nation building. We won’t ask you to put up the posters of a jhoothi film. At least stop promoting this movie. It does not behoove you. You came to do something good in politics, not for promoting films and posters,” said Kejriwal while sporting a wide grin.

Kejriwal government had earlier made movies like ’83 and Saand Ki Aankh tax-free

It is to note that the same Delhi Government has provided tax exemptions for various movies. Very recently, the Ranvir Singh Very recently, the Ranvir Singh starrer movie, 83, was declared tax-free by Arvind Kejriwal in December 2021.

Back in 2019, Arvind Kejriwal also declared the movie Saand Ki Aankh tax-free. In a tweet made in October 2019, he wrote, “Delhi govt. gives tax-free status to the @taapsee & @bhumipednekar starrer #SaandKiAankh in Delhi. The message of the movie should reach to people of every age, gender & background―The power of a dream, & the power derived from it to achieve it, despite any socio-cultural blocks”

Back again in 2016, Kejriwal declared the Swara Bhaskar starrer movie Nil Batte Sannata as tax-free. In a tweet, he wrote tagging Swara Bhaskar, “Nil Batte Sannatta is a great great movie. U must watch it. Tax free in Delhi. @ReallySwara”

When a film is made tax-free in a particular state, the state government lets go of the entertainment tax levied by the state for that particular film. It reduces the price of ticket considerably which makes the film accessible to a wider audience. While Kejriwal led Delhi government had no qualms in making films like Swara Bhaskar’s Nil Batte Sannata and Taapsee Pannu’s Saand Ki Aankh tax-free, a film on Kashmiri Hindu genocide, which truly deserves to be seen by more people, is being mocked by the ruling party in Delhi.

Love pours in after creator of GIF file format Stephen Wilhite passes away at 74

OpIndia Staff
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Love pours in after creator of GIF file format Stephen Wilhite passes away at 74

Creator of the Graphics Interchange Format better known as GIF, Stephan aka Steve White passed away on March 14 due to Covid-19 related issues. Known for creating the short voiceless looped images format GIF in the 1980s, Wilhite was also known for building America Online – one of the first digital media companies that provided internet connectivity and developed its own email service, search engine in America when the Internet had just bloomed.

Stephen Wilhite lived an accomplished life after retiring as Chief Architect from America Online, while being known as the inventor of GIF. His accolades include Webby Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013 after the GIF format became shorthand for instant visual communication after the social media boom. The Oxford American dictionary named ‘GIF’ as word of the year 2012. In 1987, while working as an information manager at Compuserve, Wilhite paved way for GIF which later became an important tool of memetic conversation.

As a computer Scientist, he created runtime systems that dealt with the execution of computer programs in mainframe computers in the 1960s. His funeral took place on March 22 at a local cemetery in his hometown of Milford in Ohio, USA. Netizens have poured their love for the inventor of GIF soon as the news of his departure broke.

“The internet that we know today, wouldn’t have been the same without his contribution,” said a user while giving obituaries to Steve Wilhite. In a true sense, he led a revolution in the way we communicate things today without having to indulge in articulation.

Karnataka: Hindu seers watch ‘The Kashmir Files’ in Belagavi, says the movie is attached to emotions of Hindu community

OpIndia Staff
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Karnataka: Hindu seers watch ‘The Kashmir Files’ in Belagavi, says the movie is attached to emotions of Hindu community

A group of over 50 Hindu Sadhus reached a theatre in Karnataka’s Belagavi on Thursday to watch The Kashmir Files on Wednesday. Led by Hindu seer Shivanand Swamiji of the Hukkeri Math, more than 50 sadhus and religious gurus watched the blockbuster movie – ‘The Kashmir Files’ at a theatre.

On Wednesday, the saffron-clad Hindu seers and several other Hindu activists arrived at the Nucleus mall in Belagavi. After watching the movie, the Hindu seers requested the people to watch the historic film. They also opined that this movie brings awareness among the audience.

The Kashmir Files brings the brutally honest account of the Kashmiri Pandit genocide to the big screen. The film has received an unprecedented response from the audience. Vivek Agnihotri’s latest directorial movie has become the talk of the town as it brings the heart-wrenching story of the genocide of Kashmiri Pandits, who were butchered by the Jihadi terrorists in the valley in the 1990s.

Hindu seers watched the movie ‘The Kashmir Files’ at Nucleus Mall in Belagavi.

“The Kashmir Files is just not a movie, but it is associated with the emotions of the Hindu community,” said Hindu seer Shri Shivanand Swamiji after watching the Vivek Agnihotri directorial movie.

Another prominent seer Kaivalya Shri spoke to the media and called ‘The Kashmir Files’, a revolutionary movement aligned with national well being. The Hindu seers asserted that Kashmir is the crown of our country and is an integral part of India. The Hindu seers also pointed out that there is a conspiracy at international levels to separate Kashmir from the rest of all India.

Hindu seers spoke to media after watching the movie – ‘The Kashmir Files’

Prior to the start of the film, the Hindu sheers chanted Shanti Mantra for the peace and well-being of humanity.

Abhishek Agarwal, the producer of the movie, revealed that the audience became emotional as they witnessed the movie that brings the horrific tale of atrocities committed against the Kashmiri Hindus in the valley in the 1990s. They expressed concern about the film industry not raising any voice about this movie and cautioned all of us about this behaviour of other film actors, said Agarwal.

Uttar Pradesh: Hindu women stopped from carrying out ‘Basauda Pujan’ for Sheetala Mata near Idgah mosque in Mathura

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: Hindu women stopped from carrying out ‘Basauda Pujan’ for Sheetala Mata near Idgah mosque in Mathura

On Wednesday, a group of around 20-25 Hindu women in Mathura was stopped by the members of the Muslim community from performing the Hindu rituals of Basauda Pujan. The women had gathered at the water well near the Idgah mosque to worship the Goddess Sheetala Mata. Clashes broke out between the two communities as Muslims accused the Hindu women of unnecessarily crowding the area around the mosque.

According to the reports, the Hindu women had arrived at the water well near the Idgah mosque at around 5 am to worship Sheetala Mata on the occasion of the Basauda Pujan. They were stopped by the members of the Muslim community, who did not allow them to carry out the Hindu ritual. The Govindnagar Police then reached the spot and tried to pacify the matter.

The Police explained to the Muslim community about the ritual and asked them to maintain peace, but to no avail. As the situation frazzled, the Govindnagar Police informed the Provincial Armed Constabulary who advanced to cool the matter down. The women worshipped Sheetala Mata and accomplished Basauda Pujan in presence of the Police officers.

Reports mention that the Hindu women have been visiting the water well and the Sheetala Mata temple near the Idgah mosque for Basauda Pujan for the past many years. Several other Hindu rituals are also performed at the well. The Muslims however kept on arguing that no such Pujan had happened at the spot earlier and that the Hindu women had crowded the area around the mosque. Circle officer Abhishek Tiwari meanwhile stated that the Basauda Pujan is a part of local tradition and the rituals should be allowed to happen. The locals also perform ‘mundans’ for their children in the area, as per the Amar Ujala report.

Stale food is offered to the Sheetala Mata on Basauda Pujan-

Basauda Pujan is a part of the Hindu tradition that is celebrated in many states as a symbol of ‘change of the season’. Hindus worship Sheetala Mata and pray for the well-being of their family and especially the small children. Sheetala Mata is considered the deity who grants wellness from diseases like chickenpox and skin ailments. The most amusing fact about the Basauda Pujan is that the deity Sheetala Mata is offered stale food and the same is consumed by devotees as ‘prasad’. The women cook delicious food offerings for the deity one day before the Pujan and keep it aside to make it stale.

Interestingly, it is believed in many parts of India that on the day of Basouda Pujan, Hindu devotees must stay away from the heat and hot substances. They should consume stale cold meals, cold beverages like curd milk, or ‘raab’ (traditional beverage made using curd, bajra flour, and cumin seeds). They must use cold water, also for domestic purposes. However, they can return to their daily ‘warm meal’ routine only after 24 hours of the Pujan.

Basauda Pujan is also called as ‘Sheetala Saptami’ or ‘Sheetala Ashtami’ and is celebrated every year around the Ashtami date of the Krishna Paksha of Chaitra month of the Hindu calendar.

TMC demands removal of West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar for raising his voice against the Birbhum massacre

OpIndia Staff
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TMC demands removal of West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar for raising his voice against the Birbhum massacre

A delegation of TMC MPs met Home Minsiter Amit Shah in Delhi regarding the aftermath of violent massacre in Birbhum which took place on Tuesday night. TMC MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay demanded Amit Shah the removal of West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar after he questioned the Mamata Banerjee-led state government over the killings.

Bandyopadhyay after his meeting with HM Shah said, “We’ve said that Governor of West Bengal should be removed, in view of the Rampurhat, Birbhum incident. His work is against our constitutional system. The parliamentary democratic system is under threat.” The MP from Bengal has forwarded a letter to the Home Minister from Mamata Banerjee regarding the same. He assured that while his Chief Minister is catering to the situation in a fine manner, no guilty will be spared who perpetrated the violence.

On March 22 late-night, a group of enraged miscreants set ablaze around 12 homes which resulted in the gruesome death of eight people including women and innocent children in Birbhum’s Rampurhat. The autopsy report of the burnt bodies shows that the people were beaten before they were locked in their homes before the houses were set on fire. The massacre had taken place in retaliation of the alleged murder of a TMC leader.

Taking cognizance of the violence, West Bengal CM Jagdeep Dhankar said he is considerably pained in a video address released on Twitter. “The Birbhum indicates the state is in grip of violence culture and lawlessness,” he wrote.

Attacking West Bengal Governor over his remarks, Mamata Banerjee said, “One ladsahab is sitting here and making statements every time that the situation in West Bengal is bad.” Countering Banerjee over her condescending remarks, Governor Dhankhar wrote an open letter to the Chief Minsiter the next day, asking her to calm down her ‘accusatory stance’ and not to indulge in ‘diversionary tactics’ while the violence has broke in the state. He wrote, “In the face of such enormity, I cannot ‘fiddle’ in Raj Bhawan and sit as a mute spectator. That would be unpardonable abdication of my constitutional duty.”

While the West Bengal Governor is in no mood to maintain silence over the Birbhum Burnings, the TMC has accused him of ‘meddling unnecessarily’ in the matter while the investigation is on. In a counter letter to Dhankar, Mamata Banerjee wrote, “It pains me that you have chosen an unfortunate incident which occurred in Rampurhat on March 21 that resulted in the loss of precious lives, to pass sweeping and uncalled for comments on the law and order situation in the state.”

On Thursday, Mamata Banerjee reached Baghtoi village in Rampurhat to meet the relatives of the victims killed in the violence. Handing over the cheque of Rs. 5 lakh to the kin of those killed in the violence, she assured that financial aid of Rs 2 lakh will be given for reconstructing affected houses.

This was not the first time when a war of words broke between Mamata Banerjee and WB governor Dhankar. The Governor took a fierce stand in Bengal in exposing before the world the cases of post-poll violence which emerged after the 2021 assembly elections. In 2022, when the Governor had raised questions about the rising human rights violations in the state, Sudip Bandyopadhyay had made a similar demand for the removal of Dhankhar before the President.

Preparing ground to blame Centre for non-fulfilment of AAP’s freebie promises? Punjab CM asks for Rs 50,000 crore aid per year

OpIndia Staff
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Preparing ground to blame Centre for non-fulfilment of AAP’s freebie promises? Punjab CM asks for Rs 50,000 crore aid per year

On March 24, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann sought Rs 50,000 crore per year for two years from Centre as financial aid claiming the financial health of the state is very poor. As per media reports, Mann informed PM about the financial condition of the state and told him that there are debt worth Rs 3 lakh crores. Further, he demanded a special package for Punjab worth Rs 50,000 crores for two years to improve the state’s financial condition. In a video statement, he said, “I met PM Modi today. He congratulated me on becoming CM of Punjab.”

In a tweet in Punjabi informing about his meeting with PM Modi, Mann said, “Met Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji today to discuss the issues of Punjab. I sincerely hope to get support from the central government to resolve state’s issues.” Mann has claimed if the state gets the package for two years, his government would be able to stabilize the financial condition of Punjab.

One of the major poll promises of AAP was freebies to Punjab people. AAP chief and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had promised round the clock free electricity supply to everyone in Punjab. He had also promised Rs 1000 monthly financial aid to all women above age of 18 years in Punjab. He had also promised to renovate all schools and hospitals in Punjab and establishment of ‘Pind Clinics’ along the lines of Mohalla Clinics where everyone will be treated free of cost.

Soon after swearing in, Mann had announced 25,000 government jobs, which will also come from the state exchequer.

However, after having made these promises of freebies, Mann has claimed the state is under tremendous debt and sought the Centre’s help. This led to speculation that should the Aam Aadmi Party led government in Punjab fail to fulfil the freebie promises, they might put the blame squarely on Central government, a strategy Arvind Kejriwal has used quite often.

Amusingly, as pointed out by political humour Twitter handle Political Kida, Kejriwal had already listed out how he would turn the 3,00,000 crore Punjab debt into surplus.

He had claimed that he would eliminate the corruption and save Rs 34,000 crore, get rid of sand mafia and save Rs 20,000 crore revenue. However, it now seems the math did not fall through and newly elected AAP government in Punjab has given up on eliminating corruption in Punjab.

Kashmiri Hindus demand the restoration of over 200 destroyed temples that were attacked by Islamists in the 1990s

OpIndia Staff
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Kashmiri Hindus demand the restoration of over 200 destroyed temples that were attacked by Islamists in the 1990s

Kashmiri Hindus residing in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir have requested the restoration of over 200 Hindu temples that were destroyed by Islamic terrorists during the targeted violence against the community which broke out in the 1990s. The temples vandalised during the continued violence in the valley, still remain non-functional, existing in a dire, damaged state.

As per a Times Now report, victims of the Islamist violence and exodus in the Kashmir valley have reiterated their demand for restoration and reconstruction of Hindu temples that were vandalised and desecrated in the 1990s. Government figures show as reported by the Omar Abdullah government in 2012 in the state assembly that over 438 temples in the valley had been damaged over the years. 57 temples were vandalised in Srinagar alone, 56 faced damage in the Anantnag district as well. During the attacks, many of the temples were burnt, with deities desecrated and idols broken.

Activists from the Kashmiri Pandit community have now demanded the full restoration of these temples to their original state from the ruling dispensation after successive governments over the years have failed to do so. Talking with Times Now, a Kashmiri Pandit resident said, “This has been our long-standing demand to successive governments including the present one to restore the centres of our faith in the valley. We’ve demanded a bill for the protection and preservation of our religious sites, shrines and temples so that there’s a legal recognition to face this issue.”

The large-scale vandalisation of Hindu temples during the genocide

While the destruction of Hindu temples remains a contested issue in our history writing, often ignored is the dark chapter of vandalisation and plundering of temples in the Kashmir valley as late as the 1990s. The religious isolation followed by targeting of the Hindus in Kashmir valley by Islamic terrorists also included attacks on their temples and age-old shrines. The Islamic radicalisation and resulting violence against the minority Hindu community saw the mass desecration of temples across the Jammu and Kashmir state in the districts of Srinagar, Anantnag, Baramulla, Badgam and Pulwama.

The year 1992 witnessed some of the gruesome attacks, vandalisation, arson and looting of Hindu temples including the Raghunath Mandir in Srinagar which witnessed successive terrorist attacks. Nandkishore Temple in Baramulla, Shadipur Temple in Srinagar, Shri Vishnu Temple on the Bank of River Jhelum among others were the prominent temples desecrated during Islamist violence.

After the abrogation of article 370 in Kashmir, the BJP had drawn a plan for re-opening the thousands of temples in the now union territory which remain shattered. In 2020, restoration of the centuries-old Raghunath temple – one of the few temples dedicated to Rama commenced after thirty years of dilapidation.

While the dialogue of Anupam Kher in The Kashmir Files highlighting the region as a land of Saraswati, Shiva and Panchatantra is winning hearts, local Kashmiri Hindus want the temples of the land to be revived to their lost glory.

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