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Karnataka: Congress suspends Mekedatu padayatra after High Court slammed state govt for not stopping “super spread” event and BBMP cancelled permission

OpIndia Staff
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Karnataka: Congress suspends Mekedatu padayatra after High Court slammed state govt for not stopping “super spread” event and BBMP cancelled permission

The Bangalore Municipal Corporation on Thursday cancelled the permission to Congress for the final event of Mekedatu Padayatra scheduled on January 19. This is after the High Court slammed the Congress party for the ‘super spreader’ event and had also slammed the Karnataka Government under CM Basavaraj Bommai for taking no action to stop the march. Subsequently, today the party decided to suspend its Padayatra program in the state for the time being.

The Karnataka High Court had questioned the state govt for its inability to stop the padayatra amid the third wave of Covid-19. The court had asked whether the state Government and its authorities were ‘helpless and totally incompetent’ to stop the event when no permission was granted, and the Covid-19 guidelines prohibit such rallies and gatherings.

The Padayatra was scheduled to enter Bengaluru tomorrow, but now that has been cancelled as the BBMP cancelled the permission given for the same. After that, the party call-off the program after growing criticism over the event that has turned into a super spreader event.

“We have been successful in the last five days. We were supposed to end the padayatra in Bengaluru. Because of the third wave we have to postpone it for now,” former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah informed. He added that the party will resume the event after the third wave is over.

Earlier today, CM Basavaraj Bommai had also written to Siddaramaiah and state Congress chief DK Shivakumar, urging them to call off the program. Bommani assured them that the Mekedatu dam project on the river Cauvery is on track, the demand of the padayatra.

The Congress party leaders who attended the padayatra already for four days were seen blatantly violating the COVID norms. Several participants of the padayatra were also reported COVID positive. Congress member and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge today revealed his COVID positive report after he attended the opening event of the Mekedatu padayatra.

Kharge is fully vaccinated and asymptomatic, according to a statement issued by his secretary. “He is, however, not yet eligible for a booster shot”, said the statement. Two days ago, an official complaint was lodged against Congress chief DK Shivakumar for refusing to undergo a COVID-19 test. He was found coughing publicly while leading the padayatra protest against the Mekedatu dam.

The Congress leader had also defended the padayatra on multiple occasions and had allegedly said that he is perfectly healthy and does not need any test. The Congress party leaders called the ban, a politically motivated move of the ruling BJP in the state.

The 10-day padayatra with the theme ‘Our water, Our right’ was launched on January 9 at the Sangama, the confluence of Cauvery and Arkavathi rivers at Kanakapura in Ramanagara district. The march from Mekedatu to Bengaluru, passing through Kanakapura, Ramanagara and Bidadi, was scheduled to culminate at Basavanagudi in Bengaluru on January 19.

The shocking visuals of the padayatra emerged on Sunday where a large group were seen attending the padayatra without wearing masks or observing social distances. The Bommai Government has also banned the movement of vehicles to and from Ramanagar to avoid a state-wide health calamity. Several FIRs have already been filed against several Congress leaders for violation of Covid-19 norms.

The state government has also imposed a curfew on weekends and restricted public gatherings to fight the surge in COVID-19 cases, till January 19. It has also imposed a night curfew, and prohibited all rallies, dharnas and protests, among others. Reporting yet another spike, Karnataka on Wednesday has registered 21,390 fresh cases of COVID-19 and 10 fatalities, taking the tally to 30,99,519 and the death toll to 38,389. The total number of active cases across the state is now 93,099.

Rajasthan: Raped and left to die, specially-abled minor girl undergoes surgery, minister assures justice

OpIndia Staff
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Rajasthan: Raped and left to die, specially-abled minor girl undergoes surgery, minister assures justice

The specially-abled girl who was found left to die in a critical condition at the Tijara flyover in Alwar, Rajasthan, after suspected rape, has undergone major surgeries and is currently stable. Rajasthan Health Minister Parsadi Lal Meena has confirmed that doctors have successfully operated on her and she is out of danger now.

The girl was rushed to the JK Lone hospital and admitted to the ICU after being found in an unconscious state on the flyover on Tuesday.

The Rajasthan Minister while speaking to ANI has assured that a Special Investigation Team has been formed to investigate the matter. “SIT has been set up to probe the matter. The accused will be arrested and brought to justice at the earliest”, He added. The Minister has assured that the entire treatment of the girl will be the government’s responsibility.

The medical superintendent of the hospital, Dr Arvind Shukla said, “The minor was admitted at around 2 am, was under shock and bleeding profusely. A blood transfusion was done. She is stable and has undergone surgery, where plastic surgeons and gynaecologists were called. Her blood pressure has come back to normal.” Owing to the nature of wounds, the police believes the girl was raped and has been brutalised with sharp weapons.

SP Tejaswani Gautam informed that over 150 CCTV cameras in the area are being examined and probable suspects are being interrogated.

Former Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Vasundhara Raje Scindia has raised serious questions about the safety of women in the state. She tweeted, “Rajasthan has become No 1 in crimes against women. This cannot be tolerated. The Congress government needs to take urgent steps to protect women and save them from exploitation.”

The state of women safety in the state has been alarming for the past months, with several cases of rape and molestation being reported. On January 10, a mentally challenged woman was brutalised by two men in Banswada. On January 9, it was reported that an std 11 student was gang-raped by three people, after being kidnapped by her own teacher in Jodhpur. In Nagaur, on January 08, a two-and-a-half-year-old child was taken to the bushes and raped.

Harish Rawat gets his rival out, former Uttarakhand Congress president Kishore Upadhyay removed from all posts for ‘hobnobbing with BJP’

OpIndia Staff
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Harish Rawat gets his rival out, former Uttarakhand Congress president Kishore Upadhyay removed from all posts for ‘hobnobbing with BJP’

The former Uttarakhand Congress president Kishore Upadhyay has been removed from all party posts on the charge of ‘anti-party activities’, days after he reportedly met senior state BJP leaders. While further action is pending against him, Upadhyay is stated to be unhappy with former Congress CM Harish Rawat who is heading the assembly election campaign.

On January 3, Upadhyay had met some senior Uttarakhand BJP leaders at the residence of BJP organisational general secretary Ajeya Kumar. The BJP election in-charge Pralhad Joshi was also present in the meeting.

Uttarakhand in charge of the Congress, Devendra Yadav in his letter to Upadhyay accused him of continuous anti-party activities and hobnobbing with the BJP and other political parties. Yadav said that despite multiple warnings, Upadhyay was indulged in anti-party activities.

“People of Uttarakhand are yearning for change and are waiting to throw out the corrupt BJP government. There is wide spread anger with the maladministration, misgovernance and all-round corruption aided and abetted by the BJP leadership. It is the solemn duty of each one of us to rise to the challenge and serve the Devbhumi of Uttarakhand as also its people. Sadly, you have been hobnobbing with BJP and other political parties with a view to undermine this fight and weaken the cause of the people,” Yadav alleged in his letter.

One senior Congress leader associated with the Uttarakhand election said that the letter was only a formality since they were aware of Upadhyay going to join the Congress.

Upadhyay has now been withdrawn as chairman of the Uttarakhand Congress Coordination Committee, member of the state Congress Core Committee, and the Uttarakhand Congress Pradesh Election Committee.

In the past, Upadhyay served as president of the state unit from June 2014 till May 2017. He remained state spokesperson as well as the chief whip of the Congress legislative fold from 2008 till 2012. He also served as industry minister in the ND Tiwari-led government.

While his meeting with BJP leaders created a storm in the Congress party as well as in Uttarakhand politics, Upadhyay dismissed his meeting had any political motive. He said that he meets different people related to his forest rights activities. In the past also he had met former Uttar Pradesh chief minister and Samajwadi Party head, Akhilesh Yadav.

It is evident from the past couple of months that Upadhyay has turned critical towards the Congress party. He had alleged that he was neither given due respect nor a right place despite playing a significant role in strengthening the Congress in Uttarakhand.

Upadhyay accused Rawat of backstabbing and said Rawat was active in getting him defeated from the Sahaspur assembly seat during the 2017 assembly election.

Uttar Pradesh: Muslim girl marries Hindu boy in Bareilly’s Agastya Muni Ashram, seeks police protection from her family

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: Muslim girl marries Hindu boy in Bareilly’s Agastya Muni Ashram, seeks police protection from her family

A Muslim girl named Jeenat in Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly district has appealed for police protection after she married a Hindu boy in the city’s Agastya Muni Ashram on January 12. Jeenat, who has now changed her name to Jyoti and adopted the Hindu religion, said that this interfaith marriage was not forced on her.

According to the reports, the Muslim girl named Jeenat, aged 21 years, got married to one Sachin Sharma in Bareily. A video of the girl has gone viral on social media in which she is saying that she was not forced to get married and she is of marriageable age. The girl says that she has married the person of her choice out of her own volition and appeals to the local police to not harass the friends or family members of Sachin over false complaints.

The girl has adopted the Hindu faith and has said that her new name is Jyoti.

The family of the girl has meanwhile lodged a complaint against Sachin Sharma accusing him of ‘kidnapping’ the girl. The city police are said to have considered the case as the matter is of interfaith marriage. “Jeenat has proved her legal marriage age. We are investigating the issue as her mother has lodged an official complaint”, said Inspector Rajeev Kumar Singh, as per reports.

Reports further suggest that the girl has stated to police that she is of legal marriageable age and the marriage has been performed as per her own choice. The members of Hindu organisations in the city also attended the marriage ceremony at the Agastya Muni Ashram and protected the couple during the wedding. At the Agastya Muni Ashram, Sachin and Jyoti were married as per Hindu customs and rituals.

It is pertinent to note that a High Court in Haryana, Punjab had ruled that a Muslim girl on attaining puberty is at liberty to marry anyone she likes and the guardian has no right to interfere. The Court while hearing the protection plea of a 17-year-old Muslim girl who married a Hindu boy willfully, had said that ‘marriage of a Muslim girl is governed by the Muslim Personal Law and that she can enter into a marriage of her choice’.

Congress uses 2010 image from Kashmir protests to claim youth are unemployed under Modi government

OpIndia Staff
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Congress uses 2010 image from Kashmir protests to claim youth are unemployed under Modi government

On January 12, Congress shared a video from its official handle on Twitter alleging the Central government under PM Modi did not fulfil promises made to the youth of the country. In the tweet, Congress wrote, “Dear BJP, You can fool some of the people all the time. You can fool all the people some of the time. But you cannot fool all of the people all of the time. And our nation’s youth? You can never fool.

This #NationalYouthDay, our youngsters, have resolved to #DefeatBJP.” However, one of the images used in the video used to represent the unemployed youth of the country under the Modi government drew the attention of the netizens.

Screenshot of anti-India protesters used in Congress campaign.

Twitter user BefittingFacts pointed out that the questionable image was not of ‘unemployed youth’ under the Modi government, but of some protesters raising anti-India slogans during the funeral procession of a 19-year-old boy in Jammu and Kashmir, that too from a time when Congress was in power.

The image was from 2010 when Congress was in power at the centre. The said image was available on the image website Alamy as per the reverse-image search on Google.

Screenshot of reverse image search on Google.

Congress’s multiple bloopers in 2022

It has been just 13 days into 2022, and Congress has already made multiple bloopers while selecting images for their campaigns. On January 9, multiple such posts were reported where Congress chose images of BJP governments’ projects at the centre or in states. The first case was of an image that Congress shared claiming Congress would come to power. In the image, women were shown standing in front of pink buses.

Many Twitter users alerted that Congress had blurred the title of the bus in the picture. They pointed out that the original picture in the tweet was from Assam, where in January Last year, the Sarbanand Sonowal-led state govt had commenced a dedicated Pink Bus service for women and senior citizens in Guwahati. Congress later deleted the post.

On the same day, Twitter user BefittingFacts pointed out that Congress had posted a tweet about fighting rising prices but had ended up using an image that actually showcased PM Modi’s Ujjwala scheme, which provides LPG cylinders to women, so they don’t have to cook food using coal or wood.

SBSP’s OP Rajbhar calls BJP ‘enemy of OBCs’ but fails to list even one thing that his alliance partner Akhilesh did for non-Yadavs

OpIndia Staff
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SBSP’s OP Rajbhar calls BJP ‘enemy of OBCs’ but fails to list even one thing that his alliance partner Akhilesh did for non-Yadavs

Ahead of the assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party leader OP Rajbhar had called BJP an ‘enemy of the OBCs’. The SBSP leader, who was with the BJP in the 2017 elections, had later joined forces with Akhilesh Yadav.

After the exit of Swami Prasad Maurya and Dara Singh Chauhan, OP Rajbhar had told the media that the BJP will see many more exits in the coming days because the party is ‘an enemy of the OBCs and Dalits’. Rajbhar, who was earlier a minister in the Yogi cabinet, had left the BJP 3 years ago.

Later yesterday, Sushant Sinha of Times Now Navbharat asked Rajbhar to list 10 things that the Samajwadi Party, his new alliance partner, has done for the OBCs and especially non-Yadavs in their years in power, Rajbhar was seen fumbling and making obscure allegations.

When Sinha asked Rajbhar to list 10 things that Akhilesh had done for the OBCs, Rajbhar first tried counter-allegations and false claims, saying that the BJP wants to finish reservations for the OBCs. At this point, Sushant Sinha asked even if one assumes that the BJP is anti-OBC, can he (Rajbhar) who had won elections as a BJP leader, can list 10 things that his new partner Akhilesh Yadav has done for the OBCs in Uttar Pradesh. Rajbhar again tried to deflect the question.

Rajbhar said that when he was with Mayawati, he used to ask such questions to her. He claimed that Mayawati called him problematic. Sushant Sinha further told Rajbhar that he was losing elections when he was with Mayawati and the only time he had won an election is when he was with the BJP. Rajbhar claimed that he had said it is upon the leaders of the OBCs and Dalits to fight for their rights.

When Sinha persisted in his question, asking Rajbhar to list ten things Akhilesh has done for OBCs, Rajbhar again fumbled, evading the question. He said that he has not been in a government with Akhilesh yet and when that happens he will give the list.

Sushant Sinha further asked, “when you will go before your community members, they will ask you that you had lost elections with other parties, but we gave you votes and made you a winner when you were with the BJP. But why did you leave the BJP?”

Rajbhar then referred to some papers and claimed Akhilesh Yadav had made the Agra expressway, DG office and brought the dial 100 facility.

Sinha then interjected, saying he is listing facilities that are for everyone, not just the OBCs and when listing infrastructure facilities, he should remember that the Yogi government far outranks any other government. But Rajbhar again evaded the question, failing to list even one thing that Akhilesh had done for the OBCs, based on which he is blaming the BJP for being anti-OBC and praising Akhilesh.

OP Rajbhar had become a first time MLA in 2017 from the Zahoorabad seat. He was made the minister for OBCs welfare and differently-abled people’s development, but was sacked from the Yogi cabinet in 2019 over ‘anti-alliance activities’.

Bihar Congress shares manipulated media of UP Deputy CM Maurya

OpIndia Staff
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Bihar Congress shares manipulated media of UP Deputy CM Maurya

On January 12, Bihar Congress’s official handle shared a manipulated video of Uttar Pradesh’s Deputy Chief Minister, Keshav Prasad Maurya. The video was edited in such a way that it appeared Maurya said, “Does the country knows while PM Modi is in power, farmers, country or the people of the country cannot be benefitted.”

Screenshot of manipulated media shared by Bihar Congress. Source: Twitter

The 19-second edited video had made rounds on social media platforms in February 2021 as well. Fact-checking website Fact Hunt had published a detailed analysis of the video when it went viral in February last year. The video was then shared by many verified users on Twitter and Facebook. According to Jantantra TV, in the original video, BJP leader Maurya was saying in Hindi “Kya desh jaanta hai PM Modi ke rehte hue na kisano ka ahit ho sakta hai, na desh ka ahit ho sakta hai aur na desh wasiyon ka ahit ho sakta hai. (Does the country know that till PM Modi is there, there cannot be disadvantage to farmers? Neither the country or the countrymen will be at a disadvantage)”

In the edited video, the person or group who manipulated the video cleverly “ahit” to “hit”, making it sound like Maurya was speaking against PM Modi. An FIR was registered in this case by Advocate Gaurav Dwivedi under IT Act.

Netizens demand action against Bihar Congress handle

Netizens have demanded action Bihar Congress’s handle. BJP Mumbai spokesperson Suresh Nakhua tagged UP Police and said, “Official Congress handle is spreading edited video of UP Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya Ji.” He also tagged Twitter alerting them about the manipulated media.

Twitter user Ankur Singh also tagged UP Police and alerted them about the edited video being circulated.

Verdict

The video of UP deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya shared by Bihar Congress is manipulated.

Arjun Kapoor and Malaika Arora overturn the rumors of break-up

OpIndia Staff
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Arjun Kapoor and Malaika Arora overturn the rumors of break-up

Bollywood couple Arjun Kapoor and Malaika Arora have recently overturned the rumors of their so-called break-up. Both of them were recently seen together in a photo posted from Arjun Kapoor’s Instagram handle. Earlier on Wednesday, there were so many reports-cum-rumours talking about their break-up. The couple has now put a full stop to any such news through this recent social media post.

Kapoor, 36, is 12 years younger to Arora, 48, who is ex wife of Arbaz Khan, brother of superstar Salman Khan.

Arjun Kapoor has recently posted a photo on his Instagram handle. In this photograph, he is seen with Malaika Arora. It is noted that both of them are in a relationship. They are dating each other for the last four years. The photo is a mirror selfie. Adding a caption to his photo, Arjun Kapoor has said that “Ain’t no place for shady rumors. Stay safe. Stay blessed. Wish well for people. Love y’all.” Malaika reacted to the post with a red heart emoji.

Earlier on Wednesday, there were rumours that after dating for more than four years, both of them have now separated from each other. The reports also underlined that Malaika Arora hasn’t stepped out of her house for long. She had not even joined Arjun Kapoor in a dinner party at Rhea Kapoor’s house. Therefore speculations were being made about their relationship status. It was later clear that Malaika Arora has limited the outings. She is supposed to have isolated herself as a precaution as the COVID-19 cases are on a surge. Her isolation is in no way connected to Arjun Kapoor and both of them are still in a relationship.

Malaika Arora appeared her last on the reality show India’s Best Dancer as a judge along with Geeta Kapur and Terence Lewis, while Arjun Kapoor’s recent performance was seen in Bhoot Police, directed by Pavan Kirpalani. His upcoming film is The Lady Killer. In this film, Bhumi Pednekar is his coactor.

Chhattisgarh: Hindu man files complaint against Muslim wife and in-laws for converting minor son to Islam by forcibly circumcising him, case registered

OpIndia Staff
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Chhattisgarh: Hindu man files complaint against Muslim wife and in-laws for converting minor son to Islam by forcibly circumcising him, case registered

Chhattisgarh police have booked a Muslim woman and her family members for forcefully circumcising her minor son against the wishes of her Hindu husband. On 12th January 2022, the police registered an FIR against 3 accused including the woman under non-bailable sections in connection with the case in Sanna in Jashpur district of Chhattisgarh. All the supporters of Ghasi Ghasiya Samaj and former minister Ganesh Ram Bhagat, National President of Tribal Security Forum, had pursued the matter continuously. Jashpur ASP Pratibha Pandey informed the media about the development in the case.

It is noteworthy that for two days, Jashpur Police was involved in the investigation of this case. After recording the statement of the child’s parents and other people, the statement of the victim child was recorded before the childline and CWC.

The case

According to the reports, the father of the victim child, Chittaranjan Sonwani, is a resident of village Nagartoli which comes under police station Sanna of Jashpur in Chhattisgarh. Ten years ago he was married to Reshma – daughter of Mehandi Ansari – a girl from Muslim society, with full Hindu customs. The couple has an eight-year-old son and a six-year-old daughter. The whole family was living according to Hindu customs. On November 21, the 8-year-old son went to his maternal grandmother’s house with his mother. Chittaranjan has alleged that his in-laws took the child from Harradipa to Asta and then took him to Ambikapur and circumcised him. Apart from that, the boy was also given a Muslim name.

Initially, Chittaranjan was not aware of this. This circumcision was done secretly, after which several days had passed. It was only a few days ago that he came to know about the development. When the family and people from the community came to meet him and learnt more about the matter, all of them together reached the police station on Monday night demanding action. As the matter was sensitive, the CWC and the officers were informed. After the statement of the child, the police registered an FIR against 3 people.

Jashpur Additional SP Pratibha Pandey has informed that a Hindu youth has complained that his Muslim wife forcibly circumcised their minor son and changed his name to a Muslim name.

Enraged villagers protest outside the police station

As the news spread, the convener of All India Tribal Security Forum and former minister Ganesh Ram Bhagat, Hit Raksha chief Ram Prakash Pandey approached the police station late in the night. People also started gathering in big numbers outside the police station. People were angry about this incident. On Monday, till late night, they sat in a dharna by blocking the road in front of the police station, and then on Tuesday, a large crowd gathered and started shouting slogans against the police. On the one hand, the police were seen acting promptly on this very sensitive matter, while the father of the victim child and the people of the community together put pressure on the police.

The FIR

After the case was presented before the Women’s Cell, Child Welfare Committee, and ChildLine due to the matter being related to a minor child, finally the Sanna police registered the offence under Section 295A, 324,34 of IPC and Section 3,4 of Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act against the child’s mother, maternal grandmother and maternal aunt Reshma Sonwani, Rashida Khatoon, Hasina Khatoon. The police have arrested the accused mother and the maternal grandmother of the child, the search is on for the aunt.

Chittaranjan – the father of the victim child – has stated in the complaint that he was asked several times by his Muslim in-laws to convert to Islam but he never agreed to acccept Islam. Due to which his wife Reshma Begum and his maternal side’s brother etc. together got his minor son Saurabh Sonwani converted to Islam by circumcising him and giving him a Muslim name.

Chittaranjan has also said in his application that he has been pressured by his in-laws to convert to Islam and he has been given various temptations to convert to Islam. There was talk of giving him a car by the in-laws’ side to convert to Islam.

Politicians take cognizance of the matter

BJP leader Prabal Pratap Singh Judev has recently made a statement about this incident. He has said that it is unbearable to circumcise and convert a son without the approval of the Hindu father. The administration should immediately arrest all the workers involved and stop conversions. Prabal Pratap Singh Judev has been constantly spreading awareness against the return of converts and conversions.

Liberals selectively quote Swami Vivekananda to “secularise” the Hindu icon, but here’s how he continues to inspire a billion youth

OpIndia Staff
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Liberals selectively quote Swami Vivekananda to “secularise” the Hindu icon, but here’s how he continues to inspire a billion youth

As the country celebrates national youth day on the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, ignorant liberals and agenda-driven leftists are seen appropriating Swami Vivekananda to push their anti-Hindu agendas ahead. Swami Vivekananda had said that ‘before you read Geeta, make sure you are strong and to become strong you must play football.’ This message to the youth by Swami Vivekananda is being peddled as a tool to establish ‘how Swami Vivekananda himself has asked the youth to leave Geeta aside and play football.’

Alongside this silly logic, even a few facts or incidents from the life of Swami Vivekananda himself are being used to strengthen this argument. Here is a brief account of what exactly Swami Vivekananda had said and how it is being distorted to push anti-Hindu propaganda.

It has been the old habit of liberals to use Hindu icons and their quotes selectively against Hinduism itself and the current appropriation of Swami Vivekanand is no different either. It is now becoming an annual ritual to appropriate Hindutva icons on their birth or death anniversary using their very quotes and statements with prompt knavery to establish how they were against the popular idea, belief, and founding principles of Hinduism.

When it comes to appropriate Swami Vivekananda, there are very few quotes by him that are taken by the liberals for such a heinously dauby experiment with truth, because the youth icon was very clear in his expression and articulation. But if you are an Indian leftist liberal secularist, you will easily find a quote or two to prove your point. One such quote by the monk who inspired generations of Indians is ‘better you play football than reading Gita.’ To put it more exactly, the sentence is – “You will be nearer to heaven playing football than studying the Bhagavad Gita.”

Quoting Swami Vivekananda either as fashion or to prove one’s own point

On his birth anniversary, when the whole nation celebrates national youth day, some Twitter users have used this quote to appropriate Swami Vivekananda and imply that he was against reading Bhagavad Gita. Author and the president of Football Delhi, Shaji Prabhakaran has tweeted – “My tributes to Swami Vivekananda on his Jayanti. His famous quote, You will be nearer to heaven playing football than studying the Bhagavad-Gita.”

Football ambassador Ananya Kamboj has tweeted – “You will be nearer to heaven through football than through the study of Bhagavad Gita.” – Swami Vivekananda, 1897 One of the most intriguing quotes whether you’re a football fan or not.

Even last year, on the same occasion, Joy Bhattacharjya had tweeted something very similar. He went on to use this statement by Swamiji to couple it with a liberal testimony that named Mohammad Shami – an Indian cricket player who happens to be Muslim. His tweet said – “You will be nearer to Heaven through football than through the study of the Gita.” Swami Vivekananda, born on this day in 1863. He also once took 7 wickets representing Town Club in the 1880s. Incidentally, the most recent Town Club player to make it big is Mohammed Shami.

Of course, Joy Bhattacharjya’s purpose here was not to glorify the Geeta or to remember Swami Vivekananda. His gesture was to slyly prove Swami Vivekananda’s statement that reading the Geeta is a useless task and football is a better option. If he had indicated anything other than this, he would have mentioned some football player rather than mentioning Indian cricket player Shami – who is a Muslim. No doubt Shami is a great player, but such expression also unmasks someone like Joy Bhattacharjya.

Original context of Swamiji’s saying

This advice to the youth of India by Swami Vivekanand has often been in discussion. Even his followers are sometimes confused as to what exactly Swami Vivekananda wanted to say through this. Does Swami Vivekananda’s statement of ‘Football instead of Geeta’ mean the same thing as some try to prove through their deviousness? For this, it is very important to understand the story from where Swami Vivekananda’s statement about the Geeta started.

It was Acharya Satyendra Banerjee, the poetic adaptation of the lyrical verses of the Geeta in Bengali, who expressed his desire to read the Geeta from Swami Vivekananda as a child. On this Swamiji told him that he would have to play football for the first 6 months, help the poor and helpless, only then he would be able to talk to him about the Geeta.

On this, when the child asked Swami Vivekananda that the Geeta is a dharmik book, then why is it necessary to play football for its knowledge? To this Swamiji said in his reply, “Geeta is the great book of brave people and renounced persons. Therefore one who is full of valour and service, only he will be able to understand the secret of the esoteric verses of the Geeta.”

After following the methods of Swamiji for six months, when the child returned to Swami Vivekananda, Swamiji gave him the knowledge of Geeta. The real meaning of Vivekananda’s playing of football must have been that the sluggish and slothful body cannot be home to intense thoughts. Look at our daily routine. Seldom do we go to the playground and play until we sweat. Then how can a youth lacking basic awareness and attention towards his physical existence be able to look to a knowledge that takes him beyond physical realms?

Explanation of the quote in Swamiji’s own words

Let’s see what Swamiji has exactly said. He says that “First of all, our young men must be strong. Religion will come afterwards. Be strong, my young friends; that is my advice to you. You will be nearer to Heaven through football than through the study of the Gita. These are bold words; but I have to say them, for I love you. I know where the shoe pinches. I have gained a little experience. You will understand the Gita better with your biceps, your muscles, a little stronger. You will understand the mighty genius and the mighty strength of Krishna better with a little strong blood in you. You will understand the Upanishads better and the glory of the Atman when your body stands firm upon your feet, and you feel like men. Thus we have to apply these to our needs.”

Swamiji is not asking anyone to throw Geeta and just play football. He is saying that a healthy body is necessary for the fulfilment of the same ‘Karma Yoga’ as described by Lord Krishna in the Geeta. There are hundreds of people like Joy Bhattacharya, who seem to object to all the ideals of Swami Vivekananda. Also, there are a few others like Ananya Kamboj and Shaji Prabhakaran who conveniently use Swamiji’s quote without mentioning the original context or implying his original directions. No wonder, leftists, and liberals support the mentality of tampering with the statue of Swami Vivekananda in JNU and they do not see any element of violence and hatred in it.

Let’s know Swami Vivekananda as he was

Before misusing or appropriating Swamiji against Hindutva or Hinduism (both terms put in whatever sense anyone wishes to understand them), any liberal leftist must remember that Swamiji is one of the makers of modern India who proudly carried a saffron turban on his head. It is true that in many of his addresses in Europe and America, Swamiji has quoted sayings by seers from various countries, religions, and civilizations. He has also comprehended their teachings and incidents from their life to clarify his point to his audiences in the most relevant way possible. But this does not necessarily shake the foundation on which he had built an invincible fortress of philosophy. He essentially was and remains an Indian youth icon who inspired millions through his call that embeds the nectar of Hindu scriptures and philosophy in itself.

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