Home Blog Page 3519

‘Imran Khan is a coward for always playing it safe’: Senior journalist slams Pakistan PM for not condemning Taliban, Hafiz Saeed

0

Pakistani senior journalist Marvi Sirmed described Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan as a “coward” while decoding his cryptic speech during his public engagement programme “Aap Ka Wazir-e-Azam, Aap Kay Saath.”

Speaking during a television program the journalist opined that Khan has always played it safe in every field, including cricket. “Imran Khan is a coward man. If you see his journey including his career in cricket. He is not a brave man as a person…he plays safe always,” she said during the TV show, citing examples of the Taliban regime.

Rebuking the Pakistan PM for hedging his bets, Marvi Sirmed further said, that Imran Khan never condemned the Taliban when they were killing our children, and when urged to do so, he answered, “Am I a fool, they would kill me as well.”

“He (Imran Khan) did not condemn Hafiz Saeed… he said that if Salman Taseer (former Punjab province governor) got killed, why should I say anything to them (Taliban)… he is a Coward man. So we cant expect from him that he alone stood in front of any powerful establishment,” the Pakistani journalist added citing the case of the Pakistani wanted terrorist who is the co-founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba and the chief of Jama’at-ud-Da’wah.

“Throughout his speech, Khan looked very nervous and stressed. He felt sidelined and felt that he is losing his grip (on the Pakistan government) and some power is trying to throw him away… but he (Khan) can’t say it directly,” she said referring to his speech during the public interaction programme ‘Aap Ka Wazir-e-Azam, Aap Kay Saath’.

Reham Khan, ex-wife of Imran Khan lambasts him after attack on her car

It may be recalled that earlier in the month, Imran Khan’s ex-wife Reham Khan had also slammed her former husband and Pakistan’s PM saying that Pakistan had become a land of ‘cowards, thugs and the greedy’ under Imran Khan’s rule. The statement came on January 3, after Reham Khan took to Twitter to reveal that her vehicle was fired at and held at gunpoint while she was coming back from her nephew’s wedding. She had attacked her ex-husband and questioned if the incident was a projection of his ‘New Pakistan’ rhetoric.

In a follow-up tweet, she said the government of Pakistan should be held accountable for whatever happened, and she was ready to take a bullet for her homeland. 

Reham Khan is a journalist of British-Pakistani origin. She was briefly married to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. She married him in January 2015 in a low-key ceremony and filed for divorce in October, just after ten months of marriage. In the autobiography she released in 2018, Reham had levelled sexual harassment accusations against Imran Khan.

This isn’t the first time Reham Khan has criticised Imran Khan. She has in the past called him ‘fake’ and a ‘hypocrite who would do anything to get power’. In 2019, she called Khan a closet bigot and claimed he regularly made derogatory comments on Hindus.

Locals meet BMC officials after latter chop off 100-year-old heritage tree, Mumbai police manhandle locals for objecting: Details

The residents and activists of Vile Parle (East) in Mumbai, where a 100-year-old heritage tree was hacked off by Bombay Municipal Corporation (BMC) authorities three days ago, have met with the BMC committee and urged them not to remove the stump of the tree so that the tree could be restored and recovered.

The civic body has, however, requested a copy of the Bombay High Court ruling halting the tree’s chopping, as well as an explanation as to “why they believe the tree’s chopping is illegal?” The BMC further stated that if the residents fail to bring a copy of the orders, the stump will be removed.

Mumbai police heckles activist for questioning the cutting of a heritage tree

The issue gained traction after videos emerged on January 22, Saturday, wherein the Mumbai Police were seen manhandling a man and pushing him into a police van. The man in question was a Mumbai based environmental activist named Abhay Azad of the Save Aarey citizens’ group.

In a video that went viral on January 22, Mumbai cops were seen holding the activist by his neck and pushing him into the police van. Reports suggest the police had forcibly detained Abhay Azad for raising questions when a huge 100-year-old peepal tree was hacked in the Gaothan area of Vile Parle (East) on Saturday. He was also threatened with a First Information Report (FIR) after he protested against the same.

Speaking to ANI, the environmental activist Abhay Azad said, “A 100-yr-old tree was being cut in the Vile Parle area today. I asked BMC officers for permission under which it was being done. I was later forcefully put in a police van and was threatened with an FIR against me. Last year, the Maharashtra govt declared every tree above 50 years as a heritage tree. If trees will be cut down like this, there will be no heritage left in the city. It is unfair if a citizen is punished for raising the voice for the protection of trees.”

Azad in an exclusive interview with Mirror Now revealed that he received information on WhatsApp that a tree near his home was being cut down. He then rushed to the location and requested that the officials there show him valid permissions for the tree to be felled. He said that they showed him an outdated 2018 letter to justify their action.

Azad further stated that three years ago, he and a fellow activist had made submissions to save the tree in question. The green activist said it was surprising to see BMC authorities arrive at the site years later and cut down the tree.

It may be noted that TOI that has named the aforementioned activist as Abhay Bavishi, reported that he has now written to the BMC, as well as state environment minister Aaditya Thackeray about the allegedly illegal tree cutting.

“This looks like an illegal tree cutting because the order to cut it is dated 2018. What was the need to hack it now, after nearly four years, when the tree was not coming in the way of anything? It looks like some builder lobby wanted to get rid of this heritage tree in order to develop the Gaothan area. It is tragic that this big peepal tree could not be saved,” TOI quoted another activist Zoru Bathena as saying.

Maharashtra Govt led by Uddhav Thackeray clears action plan for protection of heritage trees

It’s worth noting that the Maharashtra government passed an action plan in June 2021 to protect trees older than 50 years in urban areas, dubbing them as ‘historic trees’.

The plan that was passed on June 10, 2021, included the concept of heritage trees and conservation, a process to define the age of the tree, plantation as compensation, guidelines to be followed before cutting down trees, forming a Maharashtra Tree Authority, a local tree authority and their duties, tree census, selecting a tree plantation land, tree transplantation, and fines that would be imposed.

As per the plan, trees older than 50 would be termed heritage trees and a State-level Tree Authority would be formed to protect and preserve these heritage trees. 

Here it becomes imperative to recall how the Shiv Sena govt led by Uddhav Thackeray has been playing petty politics over the Aarey forest ever since the Shiv Sena supremo took over the Maharashtra’s chief minister’s seat.

Shiv Sena and its activism over Aarey Forest

The Uddhav Thackeray-led govt, in a vindictive order, had declared the Aarey area where the metro car shed was planed as ‘forest land’ and had shifted the facility to government land in Kanjurmarg. The decision to shift the metro car shed came after several left-wing activists and Sena prince Aaditya Thackeray had expressed their disapproval for the construction of the metro shed at Aarey.

Even though the metro project will substantially improve the environment by removing lakhs of fossil fuel-guzzling vehicles from the roads, the project was opposed due to political reasons. The decision to shift the metro car shed from Aarey to Kanjurmarg will now increase the project’s cost by at least Rs 4,000 crore, which was estimated by a committee appointed by the current government. Further, the project will also be delayed by several years due to ongoing litigation and the condition of the new site.

After cancelling Metro Shed project in Aarey, Maharashtra govt keen on monetizing ‘forest land’

Months after arbitrarily cancelling the much-needed Metro project near the Aarey area by claiming it as a ‘forest’ land, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra had suddenly appeared keen on monetizing the Aarey Forest land.

In a government resolution issued in May last year, the Maharashtra government had appointed a five-member committee headed by Madhav Kale, director of planning and transport of Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation, to suggest how the government can monetize its land and raise funds for its various projects.

U-turn of Shiv Sena on environmental activism

The ruling Shiv Sena in Maharashtra, which often advocates for eco-conservation by cancelling the metro project at Aarey on ‘concerns’ that trees are being cut, earlier took a U-turn by deciding to axe more than 300 trees for the construction of a metro line the elevated Metro-2A corridor between Dahisar and DN Nagar. Shiv Sena, especially under the leadership of Aaditya Thackeray, had been extremely vocal on the issues of environmental conversation, as the young Sena prince had opposed the BJP government’s decision of felling of trees at Aarey Milk colony to construct a Metro shed.

A month after extreme activism by Shiv Sena to impress its coalition parties – Congress and NCP, Sena had exposed its hypocrisy by ordering the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation to chop down 1,000 trees for a Bal Thackeray memorial in Priyadarshini Park. Interestingly, the environmental activists, NGOs and liberals who had hit the streets to protest against the then BJP government in the state for axing the trees at Aarey colony have now suspiciously chosen to remain silent. Perhaps, the activist seems to have come to a conclusion that it is a right step to axe the trees for the metro as the decision has been taken by the secular alliance of Shiv Sena, Congress and the NCP.

‘Our govt is coming, we will take revenge against each one of you’: SP leader Adil Chaudhary threatens

On January 23, a video of Samajwadi Party leader Adil Chaudhary started making rounds on social media in which he was heard threatening Hindus of consequences once SP came to power. The video was shared on Twitter by Punamchand Siddhu. In the 30-second video, Adil said, “I could not file FIR. But he said you should not worry. We are coming back to power. Insha Allah, we will not leave them. The way they are treating us, we will take revenge, and we will make sure they think 100 times before taking any action against us. My brothers, it is not a small fight.”

The video went viral on social media, and netizens were outraged over the way he was threatening Hindus. Y Satya Kumar, BJP’s National Secretary, also shared the video and said, “His name is Adil. He is a candidate for Samajwadi Party. They have started threatening us. We are coming back and that too with over 300 seats. We will teach these elements a lesson.”

Sambit Patra, National Spokesperson, BJP, said, “This is SP candidate Adil Chaudhary. He says when his party comes in power, he will take revenge on us (Hindus). What kind of ‘Uttam Pradesh’ SP wants to build by giving tickets to gangsters and mafia? It is essential for the Yogi government to come back to power so that bulldozer treatment can continue for such elements.”

Adil Chaudhary had uploaded the video on his Facebook page

Interestingly, it is not a fan-recorded video of a meeting Adil was attending. The 30-second clip was part of a 5-minute Facebook Live video that is available on Adil’s Facebook page. In the video, Adil said, “When Corona happened, there were no hospitals. Why hospitals were not there, the government did not build a hospital because they thought Muslims would be benefited from them. The government wants to ruin the lives of Muslims. But I want to assure you. If you remember, just a year ago, no one would have thought this government could be removed. But the farmer protest laid down the foundation of removal of BJP from power. Now, everyone is with Samajwadi Party.”

Adil alleged Police killed Muslims in fake encounters and claimed his party would book all the officers involved in the encounter of Muslims during Yogi Adityanath’s tenure. He said, “These people are liars. You see, if anyone dares to speak against them, they file false cases against them, and law enforcement agencies haunt them. This government has demolished a lot of houses among you. My brothers, you have seen how five Muslims were shot dead in Meerut. I want to assure you all the officials involved will be booked. These were fake encounters. Those officers will not be spared. It is time to take revenge. We will treat them well so that they think 100 times before doing anything.”

“When our party was in power for five years, our leaders did not think the government could run like this. Now we understand this is how the government works. I want to tell you Teli community and Brahmin community are with us. All communities want the BJP should be removed from power. See how prices are rising. They file fake cases over electricity bills. They sent our brothers to jail and imposed penalty worth lakhs.”

He further alleged if BJP comes back in power, they will take away the right to vote from Muslims. He said, “See, if you do not act now, in future, they will take away your right to vote. What was NRC? They wanted to take away the right to vote from you (Muslims). Thankfully Corona came. Now see in Corona, there was no oxygen, medicine or beds available. Lakhs of people lost their lives. My brothers, if Corona was not there, NRC would have been implemented. Tell me what document would you have shown. We might have the documents but tell me, what documents can you show?”

Adil Chaudhary is the SP candidate in Meerut.

Adil alleged Corona was Allah’s way to help Muslims

He said, “They would have taken away your right to vote and threw you in jail. I am telling you it is Allah’s doing. Allah made it possible for farmers to start a revolution, and all communities come together to stand with us. My brothers, it is time to take revenge. They were given five years, and they stopped people from doing Namaz. It will be like China and Russia if they come back to power. Now you have to see what to do.”

In recent times multiple videos have surfaced on social media where people of a particular community could be seen threatening Hindus of consequences once SP comes in power. Recently, a man’s video went viral who was threatening a police officer with consequences as the officer had fined him for breaking traffic rules. Later the Police arrested the man and posted a video of him apologizing for his actions.

Our small victories against Twitter and other social media giants: Glorious, pointless victories

If you have guessed what I am going to say by looking at the title, Congrats! But let me also hasten to say, don’t get me wrong. I am, like most of us, glad for Aarti Tikoo. Her act of courage, taking on Twitter fascism and winning, is worthy of celebration, even if she had lost. And certainly, worthy of emulation, tough as it is. We have our work to do, lives to run, and most of us would have rolled over and played dead.

The depth of her victory is seen from the fact that the ecosystem is in mourning. I could not find the news on NDTV’s mobile website at least not without googling for it. The collective decision seems to be to black it out and forget bad news.

Yes, it is a glorious victory but is also totally pointless. Don’t agree? Try answering “Yes” to these questions, be honest to yourself:

  1. Is Twitter (or FB and others) going to start playing fair and honest?
  2. Is Twitter going to ban blatantly, and violently bigoted anti-Hindu comments?
  3. Is Twitter going to treat the Con-Left continuum with as much tender love and care as it gives to BJP or the right?

If you have answered yes to even one of these questions, stop reading. I have nothing further to say.

If you don’t believe me, don’t expect me to give you evidence after evidence. Test it out yourself. If your Twitter handle has any significant following, just take UK based leftist Priyamvada Gopal’s tweet about banning entry of Hindus into Western countries, replace Hindu with you-know-who and tweet it out. See how long your account lasts, even if you “clarify” in a later tweet that you really meant something else.

The real war

The problem with fighting fake battles and scoring meaningless victories is that we forget what the war is all about. It ends up strengthening the adversary.

When the UK went about issuing stamps, they did not put their country name in the stamps. They didn’t have to. When the USA, thanks to Al Gore, the first of climate warriors, invented the internet, they didn’t have to use US domain names. They controlled the commerce, ran the global government and were much better organised. We didn’t even notice but that is how dominance works. You subject yourself without question and don’t even know you are a serf under their boots.

Oh, by the way, poking fun of Al Gore’s claim has been “fact-checked” in the usual leftist way –he only said he “took initiative in creating” internet, did not use the word “invented”. Brilliant, isn’t it? That’s how leftist “fact-checking” works. They find semantic loopholes for you if you are in the “right” camp. Not the right camp, stupid!

Even today, much of internet traffic is routed via the USA or controlled by them. Most companies that host servers that host sites are based in the USA or run by companies that are beholden to the US for commercial reasons. Given that leftist wokes control the USA, they control the internet. 

They can crush you or me and not even pause to stop licking Biden’s boots, lest some other woke out licks them

For Twitter, totally controlled by Hindu hating Stalinist left and the global work partners, being a weapon in their anti-Hindu pogrom is a necessity. They have no choice, or they will be cancelled too.

Aarti Tikoo’s glorious victory is but a pin prick for an 800-pound gorilla.

Yet another problem is when you crave recognition from your own adversary, it is a losing game. A good analogy is the US defeat in Afghanistan. How can a bunch of demoralized kids who’d rather chase girls in a shopping mall somewhere in suburbia of the US hope to win against the Taliban, funded (directly as well as indirectly) by the world’s sole superpower, backed by a $6 trillion economy and a ready market for its opium?

The real victory

It goes without saying, the real victory is when the left’s control of the ecosystem is dismantled. That can happen in two ways. One is to wrest control of the existing ecosystem and the other is to create a parallel ecosystem equally powerful.

The first option is unworkable. It is a complete waste of time, as Aarti will likely realise soon. She is on a virtual deathwatch now. One can imagine a team of cyber coolies in some outsourced office, working 24×7 watching every one of her tweets, likes and re-tweets, ready to lower the boom in a split second. That is how it is with most RW handles. You get ZERO chance. You cannot “clarify” or be allowed to quietly delete the tweet unlike leftists advocating genocide or ban on Hindus. The suspension of BharadwajSpeaks accounts by Twitter is part of the Polpotist pogrom on anyone that dares to challenge Stalinist left narratives on “history”. It will not stop until the last Hindu is converted or killed or turned into a museum piece like native Indian faiths of Australia or the USA as Prof Banerji points out.

I am not saying give up your Twitter or FB handles or stop using them. Go ahead and use it 100%. If there is one thing we can learn from the left, it is how to use the adversary’s infrastructure to undermine him. The Taliban example is of relevance here. They defeated the Americans with American money and weapons as well as logistics. 

Left, responsible for millions of deaths, rapes and horrendous crimes against humanity, is cancer on the human soul and the only way to rid it is to use its own techniques. You have to be a cancer cell on the cancer cell.

The answer, my friends, is blowing in the wind. Let’s create and sustain a parallel universe. We have the heft to do it.

This is not going to be easy at all because the left controls not just Twitter or FB but hosting companies, search engines, payment gateways and many other things that make internet work. Ask rivals of Twitter how they struggle even to find vendors to provide such services and get “cancelled” out. That’s why I say, create an ecosystem.

I am not going to use this space to plug any one option, but the point s there are options out there. Are we using them? If not, how are we going to win this war?

More importantly, at the level of government, we must be thinking along these lines:

  1. Does every bit and byte of network traffic go across the oceans to the USA via cables to be studied, blocked at will by fascist wokes? How much of intra-India network traffic gets routed out and back?
  2. Expanding on this idea, can we work together with other countries that share similar issues, so our traffic stays within unless it has to reach others?
  3. How many media sites are hosted on servers that are overseas or run by companies that are headquartered overseas? I know this can’t be fixed overnight, but can we make a small start?
  4. Can we embrace technologies that are open, free, and not controlled by any country?

I am no expert to provide answers, but as a citizen I am worried are even asking the questions? Call Xi Jinping what you may, he not only has asked himself these questions but has also started answering them too. Although we can’t leverage his methods or successes.

Because, this war on left control of internet has many implications.  It’s not just about some non-left handle getting her ID back.

If we are forced into a war with our terrorist neighbour, or its all-weather ally, remember, it will be the wokes sitting in NY or LA along with their pals in the Politburo deciding what gets tweeted and who is called the aggressor. Remember they run Wikipedia too. And decide what is “fact”. And you know who will be the real victim and who will be the fake one.

Congress leaders accuse former member RPN Singh of working against the party, a day after being enlisted as star campaigner: Details

Hours after Congress heavyweight RPN Singh had tendered his resignation to Sonia Gandhi, party leaders began claiming on Tuesday (January 25) that Singh was working in cahoots with the BJP for the past 1 year to weaken the Congress.

While speaking about the matter, Jharkhand MLA Irfan Ansari said, “RPN Singh came to Jharkhand to decimate the Congress. Our leaders did not understand this conspiracy initially. He was a BJP/RSS-minded person from the very start…A false king…He has betrayed us. Take my word. He will be a member even in NJP for some time.”

Ansari claimed that Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi did not agree to a meeting with him, even once in the past 3 years. He informed that the central Congress leadership had complete faith in RPN Singh due to which the State unit could not convey the ‘reality’ to it. He also alleged that RPN Singh sold his Lok Sabha seat and Ministry for money.

“He had done a lot of things. RPN Singh had made the Congress party weak from within. We are very happy today. It is good that he left the party on his own. The truth is now out for the public to see”, Irfan concluded.

Similar claims were made by other Congress leaders. Jharkhand MP (Barkagaon) Amba Prasad had tweeted, “For the past 1 year, Singh was conspiring along with the BJP to destabilise the Congress-JMM government in Jharkhand. We had notified the party leadership on several occasions. Every true Congressman is happy after he has defected to the BJP.”

Screengrab of the tweet by Amba Prasad

Singh was the in-charge of the Congress party in the State of Jharkhand. While sharing his resignation letter the Congress leader had tweeted: “Today, at a time, we are celebrating the formation of our great Republic, I begin a new chapter in my political journey. Jai Hind.”

Interestingly, a day earlier on January 24, his name was featured on the list of Congress’ 30 ‘Star campaigners’ for the first phase of Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections 2022, which is scheduled to begin on February 10. This raises critical questions about the Congress leadership, which seems to be ignorant to the contentious claims made by Jharkhand Congress MLAs Amba Prasad and Irfan Ansari.

RPN Singh joins BJP, might contest UP Polls against Swami Prasad Maurya

Following his resignation from Congress, RPN Singh defected to the BJP. While speaking to ANI, he informed, “I have joined BJP after being influenced by PM Narendra Modi’s work for nation-building. As a BJP worker, I will work to the best of my abilities for contributing to the nation-building

He had met BJP President JP Nadda, Minister for Home Affairs Amit Shah, Uttar Pradesh CM at BJP Headquarters in the National Capital.

Citing sources, News18 reported that the former Congress leader RPN Singh might contest against ex-BJP leader Swami Prasad Maurya during the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

Communist govt in Kerala wants to take away the power of Lokayukta, opposition parties urge Governor to not sign ordinance

Controversy has erupted in Kerala after the Pinrayi Vijayan-led state government in Kerala decided to bring an ordinance to amend the Lokayukta Act. The amendment ascertains power to the government to accept or reject the investigation report produced by the anti-corruption body. The opposition, including Congress and BJP, have criticised the government for ‘diluting’ the powers of the Lokayukta body.

The move came after the state cabinet recommended to Governor Arif Mohammed Khan to issue an ordinance to amend Kerala Lok Ayukta Act, 1999. The meeting was attended by CM Pinarayi Vijayan online from the United States where he is undergoing treatment. The amendment which is signed by the cabinet aims at giving powers to a ‘competent authority’ to either accept or reject the verdict of the Lokayukta after being given an opportunity to be heard.

As proposed, after the Lok Ayukta officer arrives at a conclusion in a case, the competent authority which will include either the Governor, The Chief Minister or the ruling government will have powers to accept or reject the verdict. The move thus snatches away the absolute powers of the Lokayukta while dealing with anti-corruption cases.

While the ordinance was passed during the last virtual cabinet meeting, there was no reference to it in the cabinet brief issued by the government. Critics have suggested that the Lokayukta now only has the powers to make recommendations or send reports to the government. The opposition including the Congress party has urged Governor Arif Mohammed Khan not to sign the ordinance in this connection.

Former Opposition leader and Congress Politician Ramesh Chennithala who had complained to the Lokayukta against minister R Bindu regarding the Kannur University controversy, has questioned the government’s urgency to dilute powers of the Lokayukta system. He said, “CPI(M) has been always demanding to strengthen the Lokpal system to fight against corruption. However, the party politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan has decided to clip the wing of the anti-corruption body. The government’s move to rob the powers of the Lokayukta is unprecedented.”

The move came a month after several cases are pending before the Lokayukta against the Higher Education Minister R Bindu over her illegal interference in the re-appointing Gopinath Ravindran as the vice-chancellor of Kannur University.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Vijayan is himself accused of undirected distribution of financial aid from the Chief Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund (CMDRF) and cases are pending before the Lokayukta to probe the matter. Also during LDF’s last regime, higher education minister K T Jaleel has to step down after Kerala Lokayukta found him guilty in an illegal appointment of his relative at the state minorities development corporation.

State BJP Chief K Surendran has lashed out at the government alleging that the cabinet has taken the step the curtail the powers of Lokayukta considering some of the biggest corruption scandals against their ministers. He claimed that the Lokayukta department was seriously considering the allegations against Vijayan of anomalies in the distribution of CMDRF. “The move is the latest example of the Left government trying to take control of all constitutional institutions,” Surendran added.

#JusticeForLavanya becomes call to action, BJP launches massive agitation in Tamil Nadu after girl committed suicide because of forced conversion by school

On the 19th of January 2022, Lavanya, a 12th standard girl breathed her last after battling the consequences of her suicide attempt. Student of Sacred Heart Higher Secondary School, Lavanya had ingested pesticides after being tortured and pressurised to convert to Christianity by the school.

her dying declaration, originally in Tamil said, “My name is Lavanya. They (school) had asked my parents in my presence if they can convert me to Christianity and help her for further studies. Since I didn’t accept, they kept scolding me.” She also named one Rachael Mary who had allegedly tortured her.

Lavanya had been living at the St. Michael’s Girls Hostel near her school for the past five years, and the govt-aided Christian missionary school had been pressuring her to convert to Christianity. However, Lavanya was adamant about not leaving her religion and refused to get converted. Angered by Lavanya’s resistance, the school administration cancelled her leave application for Pongal Celebrations. Lavanya who was supposed to visit home during her holidays was forced to do chores like cleaning toilets of the school, cooking and washing dishes. It is reported that dejected Lavanya consumed pesticides used in the school garden to end her life.

It has been days since the news of the 17-year-old committing suicide surfaced. The media, on its part, has maintained a stoic silence. In fact, the Times of India went a step ahead and tried to secularise the incident. In their initial report, they wrote that Lavanya had ended her life because she was forced to “clean rooms”. Times of India failed to mention in their headline that Lavanya was forced to clean toilets, not for the act itself, but because she refused to convert to Christianity. Not just the headline, Times of India refused to mention that the girl committed suicide because she was being forced to commit suicide.

While the media looked away, the Tamil Nadu administration started harassing the individual who recorded the dying declaration.

During the hearing, the girl’s father S Muruganantham informed the court that the cops were trying to implicate the man, who had recorded the dying declaration of the class 12 student, for revealing the identity of the minor girl. He also demanded a CB-CID investigation into the death of his daughter.

S Muruganantham pointed out that the Thanjavur police was trying to protect the perpetrators who had tortured his daughter to convert to Christianity. In his petition, he highlighted how the minor girl was made to clean toilets, utensils and cook food by hostel warden Sagayamary for refusing to give in to their demands. 

The Madras High Court passed an interim order restraining the police from harassing the man. The court directed the cops to ‘conduct themselves appropriately’ after the girl’s father approached had submitted before it. 

The incident should have sparked massive outrage over the methods adopted by missionary schools operating in Tamil Nadu. It should have triggered a reckoning among the society, drawing people on the streets and demanding the state government to bring necessary laws to put an end to conversions in missionary schools. However, there was deafening silence amongst those who claim to care about the rights of women and children.

Several Hindu organisations and individuals have, however, have come out demanding for accountability and action against Sacred Heart Higher Secondary School.

Prabal Pratap Singh Judev, the head of All India Ghar Wapsi Abhiyan, has come out vociferously demanding action against the perpetrators.

Chhattisgarh BJP secretary Prabal Pratap said, “The suicide of daughter Lavanya in Tamil Nadu has left him stunned. Lavanya has taken a step like suicide due to harassment by Christian missionaries. I have no hesitation in saying that Christian missionaries bargain for service and use all kinds of tricks to convert. Opposing it is the only remedy.”

Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad activists have also demanded strict action against the missionary school for torturing and claiming the life of a young girl. They have appealed to the governor of Tamil Nadu to ensure justice in Lavanya’s case. In the memorandum sent to the governor of Tamil Nadu, ABVP has said that the entire nation is shocked by the unfortunate incident where Lavanya had to commit suicide because she was being tortured to convert to Christianity. The memorandum further said that the Tamil Nadu police was actively shielding the perpetrators and was not working to bring closure to the case.

Calls for justice grows, #JusticeForLavanya and #NationWithLavanya becomes a call to action

With the shock over the case of Lavanya spreading, the high-handedness of the Tamil Nadu police in dealing with the individual who recorded the dying declaration of Lavanya coupled with their refusal to act against the missionary school has several individuals up in arms.

Actress Pranitha Subhash took to Twitter to demand action in the case. She said it was unfortunate that religious dogma was being imposed on unsuspecting youngsters.

Activist Anshul Saxena took to the streets demanding justice for Lavanya.

Vinoj P Selvam, President of BJYM Tamil Nadu launched an agitation in Tamil Nadu today, going on a fast to demand justice for Lavanya. Taking to Twitter, Selvam said this was not like the one day fast that DMK was used to and if justice was not delivered, the protest would spread to the entire state.

In Valluvar Kottam, the protests have been growing against the school and the TN administration.

Jai Shri Ram Sene Sangathan took to the streets to hold placards demanding for justice.

Bajrang Dal too staged protests.

While BJP and ABVP have launched massive protests in Tamil Nadu, several Netizens have taken to Twitter to express their anguish in their case.

It may be noted that only on the 21st of January, the Tamil Nadu police had agreed to register the girl’s dying declaration in the case, where she alleged that the govt-aided Christian missionary school she went to had been pressuring her to convert to Christianity, and base the probe on it.

Prior to this, the initial FIR filed by the TN police had simply mentioned that the student was residing at the hostel and that on January 9, the warden reportedly compelled her to undertake household tasks. She apparently attempted suicide because she couldn’t stand the brutality any longer.

Speaking about this development, Thanjavur Superintendent of Police Ravali Priya Gandhapuneni had said that the girl’s parents’ initial statement was bereft of the conversion angle. She added that a new petition has been filed, in which the angle will be investigated as well.

‘It is our duty to cut those tongues who defame Adam and Eve’: Turkish President Erdogan threatens singer Sezen Aksu

0

In a veiled threat to legendary singer Sezen Aksu, Turkish President Recep Erdogan said nobody can defame Prophet Adam and those who dare so would have their tongues chopped.

“No one can defame our Prophet Adam. It is our duty to cut those tongues. No one’s tongue can say those words to our mother Eve,” Erdogan said after Friday prayers at Grand Çamlıca Mosque in Istanbul last week, indirectly referring to the singer’s new video of her 2017 song.

Aksu has been at the receiving end of an attack by Islamist groups and pro-government organisations, who have targeted her for one of her songs that were released in 2017 but whose new video was released a few weeks back. In her song titled “It is a wonderful thing to live”, the singer refers to Adam and Eve, two figures that are revered across Turkey, as “ignorants”, drawing the ire of rabid fundamentalists as well as President Erdogan, who is well known for his slide towards a more puritanical version of Islam.

The detractors of the song claim that not only does it insult the historical figures of Adam and Eve, but it also insulting to the “moral values”.

Turkey’s Radio and Television Supreme Council(RTÜK) have reportedly asked television and radio channels operating across the country to refrain from playing Sezen Aksu’s song. The government body had been threatening channels with heavy fines and sanctions should they play the aforementioned song.

RTÜK Deputy Chairman İbrahim Uslu, however, claimed that the warning applied not just to Aksu’s song but to all those songs which lacked “moral character”. But the analysts claim this clause of the Turkish criminal code has often been invoked by the Justice and Development Party(AKP)-led Turkish government in their bid to clamp down on films, television shows, songs and other artistic creations that perceive to go against Islamic principles. Of late, it has been overwhelmingly used to silence dissent.

Uslu said the meetings with the channels were just “warnings” so as to prevent them from inflicting upon themselves any further “damage”.

“We never gave an order saying ‘Don’t broadcast Sezen Aksu’, anyway, we don’t have that legal authority. The song was examined, we warned the organizations to act cautiously so that they do not become victims,” he said.

Pakistan: Minor Hindu girl abducted and raped in Sindh, body found dumped in a farm

0

In a recent addition to relentless atrocities against minorities in Pakistan, a 16 year Hindu girl was abducted, sexually assaulted and murdered by three unknown men in the Dadu area of Sindh province in Pakistan. The incident came to light when the body of the girl named Nageena Chandio was found dumped in a farm near Mehar town.

Voice of Pakistan Minority, a non-profit organization committed to protect the rights of minorities in Pakistan shared a video in which the family of the girl was seen mourning her death. “If you are a girl in Pakistan, you are not safe and if you belong to the religious minority then you are definitely not safe. Lack of authorities’ interest makes the issue worse”, the NGO tweeted.

Roshan Chandio, father of Nageena had lodged an official complaint at the Mehar Police Station after his daughter went missing on January 19. He maintained that the victim was alone in the house on the day when she had gone missing. The strangulated body was found from an abandoned place near Sindhi Buttira and was shifted to Mehar Hospital, where her parents identified her body.

According to the local reports, there were marks of injuries with sharp objects on her legs, arms and back and that it the police suspected that she was tied tight to some base with a rope, marks of which were visible on her body. Her father said that the police has not yet arrested the suspects even after the case has been filed.

As the signs of torture and assault were visible on the body, the Police said that a murder FIR against three unknown suspects has been registered at the Sita Road town police station. The investigation in the case is underway by a five member team of Dadu Police since Sunday, Jaunary 23.

The team under Mehar DSP Mohammad Younis Rodhanani has recorded the statements of the family and a few residents of the area. Reports suggest that the Police has already collected the circumstantial evidence from the crime scene and is probing into the matter.

Delhi Police busts arms syndicate ahead of Republic Day celebrations, two arrested and a cache of 25 weapons seized

0

On Tuesday, the Delhi Police Special Cell busted an arms syndicate being operated by two persons in Delhi ahead of the Republic Day celebration. The police have apprehended the two and have recovered 25 weapons from the accused.

According to the reports, the Delhi Police had received inputs about the gang active in Delhi ahead of Republic Day. While the police are investigating the issue, it has revealed that the accused belong to Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

Earlier the day, the Delhi Police had also arrested two persons named Manish and Shaukin from Delhi for supplying illegal weapons to the members of the gang led by Neeraj Bawana and Tillu Tajpuriya. A total of 27 firearms along with live cartridges were recovered from their possession.

It is worth noting that the Delhi Police has issued guidelines for people who are to attend the Republic Day parade on January 26. It has also ensured that all the security measures are undertaken and put well in place in the city. This is after intel inputs show data of major threats appearing on the big day tomorrow. According to the exclusive reports by Republic TV, ‘two groups of terrorists are waiting in launchpads opposite Samba district of Jammu, one group of terrorists which includes 3 individuals are in the area opposite to Ramgarh sector of Samba and another group of Jaish terrorists is in the area opposite to Ghagwal sector of Samba’.

Security arrangements by Delhi Police

Delhi Police commissioner Rakesh Asthana said on Monday that more than 27,000 personnel of the force have been deployed for security duty and anti-terror measures intensified in view of Republic Day celebrations. The police are also getting assistance from 65 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), Asthana said.

Some of the anti-terror measures which have been intensified comprise checking of vehicles, hotels, lodges and Dharamshalas, blockades at several locations and verification of tenants, servants and labourers. The Delhi Police is also putting out facts and important details to ensure that no anti-social elements run misinformation campaigns, the police commissioner said.

Reports mention that the Delhi Police has installed 30 Facial Recognition Systems (FRS) and CCTV cameras to strengthen security in view of Republic Day. The FRS has a database of 50,000 suspected criminals and is set up at various locations including 6 entry points for frisking, the police said.

Threat to PM Modi and other dignitaries

As reported earlier, the Intelligence agencies are reported to have got some details about a probable terror plan targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries on Republic Day this year.

According to a nine paged document, the threat apparently originates from factions headquartered in the Pakistan/Afghanistan-Pakistan area. The document further mentions that Pakistan-based Khalistani organizations are also mobilizing cadres to reunite and resurrect militancy in Punjab.

Dignitaries from Central Asian countries, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan are expected to be invited as key guests.

Khalistanis hijacked protesting mob on 26 January, last year, hoisted different flags

The Khalistani groups had hijacked the so-called farmers’ protests on January 26 last year and had hoisted different flags in place of the Tricolour on the 72nd Republic Day. Moreover, several pro-Khalistani slogans were raised during the protests. In several instances, banners of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, the Khalistani terrorist, were also held during the protests.

A few Khalistani terror sympathisers disguised as farmers were caught gloating over the assassination of the former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who also had threatened PM Modi with a similar fate if their demands went unfulfilled.