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‘Hijab is the most visible symbol of oppression, we need to bring down this wall’: Watch what Iranian anti-hijab crusader Masih Alinejad had said

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‘Hijab is the most visible symbol of oppression, we need to bring down this wall’: Watch what Iranian anti-hijab crusader Masih Alinejad had said

The latest Hijab controversy has opened a can of worms regarding the rationale behind the need for women to wear such repressive Islamic attires. The controversy surrounding Hijab is not a new one. The fundamental Islamic societies have imposed the Sharia law in their respective states and have subjugated Muslim women, thus making the latter the silent observers of the Islamic laws. There is no choice for women in these societies.

In multi-cultural societies, the debate is much broader. The arguments, both for and against the rationale behind wearing such attire, appear to give a more nuanced approach to it. However, with modernity, societies are evolving, and the repressive Islamic rules are facing scrutiny. The same patterns have appeared in India recently, with citizens of the country questioning the arrogance of the Muslim community to discard the secular ethos of the country to insist on wearing hijab or burqa.

In these relevant times, an old speech of Iranian-American journalist and anti-crusader Masih Alinejad gains relevance. Being one of the most vocal critics of Islamic attires, Masih has taken a strong position against Islamic societies forcing Muslim women to wear the oppressive burqa.

In a panel in European Parliament, Masih Alinejad challenged the female politicians who legitimised the Islamic Republic of Iran’s barbaric laws by wearing hijab.

Speaking at the European Parliament, Alinejad said, “I cannot see any women wearing a hijab here, but we are talking on behalf of them and supporting them, which is fantastic. But you never have this conversation in my own country. So supporting those women who do not wear hijab is important; I have to say I am not a western woman. I grew up in a traditional family in a village all the females in my family wear hijab.

In her speech, the Iranian-American journalist Masih Alinejad noted that all the females she knew at the age of seven, the age when she was forced to wear hijab, wore the Islamic attire. My dream is to be with my mother in France, Belgium, walking shoulder-to-shoulder without any bad judgement those who have Islamophobia and to walk with her in my own country without getting arrested,” she noted in her presentation.

The anti-Hijab crusader also pointed out that she needs to clarify that one should not identify her as a westerner as she talked about the compulsory hijab.

Masih Alinejad, who was forced to go on an exile for speaking against the Islamic fundamentalists in the Islamic Republic of Iran, said her presentation is to expose the hypocrisy of European female politicians who look at two similar issues – Burqini ban in France and the issue of compulsory hijab Iran as different issues.

“Why the burqini ban has been suspended less than a month, but the hijabs remained compulsory for 38 years? It is because our struggles and protests against the compulsory hijab are just our own; women of Iran are alone in fighting against compulsory hijab have met many female politicians around the world. I sent a lot of letters to female politicians around the world who visit Iran,” she noted.

Narrating the personal experience about the lack of interest shown by the western politicians in addressing the hijab issue, Alinejad said she found that the European female politicians come up with four arguments to avoid taking a position against Iran’s diktat to wear compulsory hijab also noted how European female politicians have appropriated the Islamic culture to appease Iran.

“Recently, I saw an image of Segolene Royal, the French Environment Minister, who went to Iran with a smile, wearing the compulsory hijab challenging it, without protesting against compulsory hijab the world was screaming, challenging burqini ban. But, she was there without any challenge, she obeyed the compulsory law”.

The first argument, according to Masih Alinejad, “They say the compulsory hijab required by law inside Iran, the Burqini ban was a law in France. But all of us protested against it, and they say it is a law we have to respect the law. Slavery used to be legal, if no one objected against slavery, Africans and Americans would be slaves. And they say the law should be respected. Women protested against bad laws, to make them respectable laws, to get the right to vote.”

She continued, “Secondly, they say the hijab is a cultural issue, and we wear it because we want to respect the culture of Iranian people. No, here we are talking about compulsion. How could compulsion be a part of our culture? You are forcing a seven-year girl to wear Hijhijabnd you call it a cultural issue. You respected the culture that violated women’s rights.”

The third argument, Masih adds that the European politicians say the compulsory hijab is a domestic issue and internal matter. Alinejad says it was wrong because it is not about Iranian women as the government of Iran forces all the female tourists, female politicians, all the Iranian women who live outside Iran if they want to any embassy outside Iran to wear compulsory hijhijabHow can it be a domestic matter?” she questioned the western politicians.

“The burqini issue was a domestic issue in France. The world was protesting and interfering in the domestic affairs of France and not in Iran. So as far as the government of Iran, force all the women around the world who go to my country and force Iran to wear Hijab. This is a hijab when we have to stand together, all women around the world and have one voice against compulsory hijab,” she noted in her presentation.

According to Masih, the female politicians suggest that the Middle East has got bigger problems than the hijab issue. Exposing the dubiousness of the western-liberal political class, Alinejad said, “I left Iran just because I was fighting against bigger problems and hijab expelled from the Iranian parliament. I was the one to say I could wear compulsory hijab and expose corruption in politics. I was thinking of bigger problems; I was the one who exposed the news of 57 people who got killed after demonstrations in Iran. I was talking to those mothers who lost their beloved ones. They executed their sons, wives, husbands, daughters; I know that we do not have freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom of choice, freedom of religion. I never called the west, the land of freedom, never at all.”

Continuing, “I know we can not find freedom everywhere, and we have to fight for it. I don’t know about bigger problems, but who said hijab is a small issue. We are fighting just for a piece of cloth. No, we are fighting about human dignity. We are fighting about our identity because when you want to go out in public, you have to be someone else. Be honest with me, each of you, every morning when you go out, you think about bigger problems in the world. No, you think about your appearance and your think about the dress. You think about what you can wear. This is your identity. Who said this is a small issue in Iran and female politicians has many bigger problems to solve.”

Questioning the silence of the west, Masih Alinejad said, “The government of Iran deports you from the airport of Iran, hijab say you will not wear the compulsory hijab, you want to be allowed to fix bigger problems in Iran just because of a small issue. Whose said that hijab is a small issue? The govt of Iran arrested 3.6 million women within a year because of not having proper hijab, 18,000 women were sent to court, and 40,000 cars were impounded in public just because female drivers were not wearing the correct Islamic Hijab.

“If Hijab is a small issue, why do they spend millions of dollars to keep this wall? To me, Hijab is a wall, and it is not an internal matter. We have to stand altogether and bring the wall down. The rest will get easier, and the first step towards equality,” the award-winning journalist and anti-hijab crusader noted.

“That is why I call all female politicians. I never call them to come and liberate Iranian women or save and rescue me because Iranian women occupy more than 60 per cent places of the universities is strong enough for their own rights. I ask female politicians, all of you around the world, to stand for your own dignity because of our government to visit Europe, and you ask the female politician to remove Hijab, they will protest. They will not say that this is a law, we have to respect the law or this is a culture and respect the culture.”

Concluding her presentation, the Iranian-American journalist attacked the European female politicians by referring to them are hypocrites as they stood up with the French Muslim women and condemned the burqini ban stating compulsion is bad, however, when it happens to Iran, they just cared about money.

Masih Alinejad said Hijab is the most visible symbol of oppression, and we have to stand altogether and bring this wall down.

Hijab row: Karnataka High Court orders students not to wear any religious clothing in colleges till the matter is disposed

OpIndia Staff
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Hijab row: Karnataka High Court orders students not to wear any religious clothing in colleges till the matter is disposed

On Thursday, the Karnataka High Court passed an interim order in the Hijab ban matter asking the students not to wear anything religious in nature till the disposal of the case.

The Bench of Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Justices Krishna S Dixit and JM Khazi said that they would pass an order on Monday. However, until the matter is pending, the students and stakeholders will not wear any religious garment or headdress, the Court noted.

“We will pass an order that let the institutions start, but till the matter is pending, these students and stakeholders will not insist on wearing any religious garment or headdress. We will restrain everyone. We want peace and tranquillity…Till the disposal of the matter, you people should not insist on wearing all these religious things. We will restrain everyone (in the interim) from adopting all these practices,” the Court noted.

The Karnataka Court is hearing a batch of petitions filed by Muslim girl students in the state claiming that the colleges have restricted their entry as they wear hijab. The matter was originally being heard by Justice Dixit, but the judge referred it to a larger Bench on Wednesday, stating that the case involves important issues.

Senior Advocate Sanjay Hegde, who appeared for one of the petitioners, said that they would argue on the Constitutional questions raised in the petition and statutory questions and questions on the rules involved in this case.

He claimed that the petitioners were facing discrimination, marked absent and made to stand outside the class since September 2021. He claimed that there is no specific provision in Karnataka Education Act that deals with uniforms. He contended that there is no prescribed penalty for violating the rules framed under the act.

Advocate General Prabhuling Navadgi said that the stand of the government is that the students should adhere to the dress code prescribed by the concerned college. “We want all students to come to college, and classes have to start. So my submission is the issues will be considered by Court but in meanwhile education should commence,” he noted.

Devadatt Kamat, another lawyer from the students, urged the Court to allow the students to attend classes while wearing hijab in the interim until the Court decides the matter. “This is not a harmful practice. These are innocuous practices. It is not like somebody else is being harmed,” Kamat said. However, the court didn’t agree to this plea.

The bench adjourned the hearing in the case till February 14 and said that in the interim, petitioners would not be allowed to wear hijab or any other religious garment to colleges. The Court also urged the student community and the public at large to maintain peace and tranquillity.

‘This is just trailer, movie is still left’, prosecutor reveals what Sharjeel Imam said during Shaheen Bagh protests, opposes bail plea

OpIndia Staff
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‘This is just trailer, movie is still left’, prosecutor reveals what Sharjeel Imam said during Shaheen Bagh protests, opposes bail plea

Special Public Prosecutor Amit Prasad, while opposing the 2020 anti-Hindu Delhi riots accused Sharjeel Imam’s bail plea, told the Delhi court on Thursday that Imam has specifically said: “Ye toh trailer hai, picture abhi baaqi hai” (this is just the trailer, the picture is still left) when Shaheen Bagh protests took place. “I have to give names of witnesses who gave statements under Section 164,” he said. The Delhi court Thursday, continued to hear the bail plea of riots accused Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and five other accused in the 2020 anti-Hindu Delhi riots case.

SPP Prasad presented specific chats between Sharjeel Imam and his brother Muzammil. He explained how in the chats Sharjeel Imam had discussed: “hum dono hi mastermind hain” (we two are the masterminds), of Shaheen Bagh and what is to follow.

When Imam’s counsel stated before a bench of Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat that the arrest of Imam is not for conspiracy in the case but for seditious speech that happened prior to arrest, Prasad said: “Arrest of Sharjeel Imam not for conspiracy. It is for seditious speech. To say he was arrested for conspiracy, is a misdirected argument. Conspiracy in itself can be investigated independently even if Sharjeel was arrested pursuant to seditious speeches.”

Borrowing an example from the game of cricket to argue why Imam was roped in for the conspiracy case, SPP stated: “When a cricket team plays, every player has its own importance. In the sequence of openers, assuming one wicket is lost, that doesn’t mean the intend to win the game is lost.”

“Merely because Imam is removed from the team by the event of his arrest (for giving inflammatory speeches), doesn’t mean the entire conspiracy is abandoned,” the SPP submitted.

The Government counsel read from the chargesheet that Sharjeel Imam’s position is that the conspirators wanted to overthrow a lawfully elected government and inflict sectarian violence. The plan was to overthrow the government and throw the country into complete anarchy.

“I have already shown what instructions were given by Umar Khalid to Sharjeel Imam to Gulfisha. Conspiracy is evident in the instructions given at the meeting”, said SPP, adding that WhatsApp groups like ‘Khidmat’, “Save constitution” were created and the chats, which were later deleted, shows involvement at the local level.

“The Chat groups ‘Khidmat’ and ‘Save Constitution’ were created for mobilisation at Chand Bagh”, said SPP Prasad.

Further opposing the bail application of the Delhi riots accused, SPP Prasad, claimed that Sharjeel Imam sent a message about a gathering at the basement of the Jangpura extension and also encouraged ‘MSJ’ members to attend. MSG’s core members were asked to attend. Sharjeel Imam met with the MSJ core committee at a dhaba in JNU on the morning of December 15, 2019, to discuss their future plans. They enlisted the help of PFI, Jamaat e Islami Hind, and other groups.

Minutes of the meeting of this committee meeting have been recovered from Sharjeel imam’s phone. (the chargesheet contains the minutes of the meeting in writing which contains the agenda including marshal Jaloos etc., said Prasad.

In response to Sharjeel Imam’s counsel advocate Tanveer Ahmed Mir argument that Imam cannot be targeted for the same speeches several times, the SPP used the example of a robber who steals a pistol and a car and shoots at a guard while feeling nervous, only to be involved in an accident later. “Would that indicate that only because he committed robbery, the robbery FIR should be continued alone?” “It can’t be stated that just because he was prosecuted (for making inflammatory remarks), he can’t be charged in FIR 59 (UAPA case),” the SPP said.

After hearing the arguments of both sides, the Court reserved its order in the issue of bail to 2020 Delhi riots accused Sharjeel Imam.

It may be recalled that earlier, SPP Prasad had provided WhatsApp chats as evidence to also oppose the bail plea of former JNU student Umar Khalid in the 2020 anti-Hindu Delhi riots case.

‘Our women won’t remove hijab, you (Hindus) go and stop women who enter temples wearing Chaddis: Congress leader Ahmed Patel in Kalburgi

OpIndia Staff
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‘Our women won’t remove hijab, you (Hindus) go and stop women who enter temples wearing Chaddis: Congress leader Ahmed Patel in Kalburgi

Congress leader from Kalburgi Dr Ahmed Patel has made crass misogynist comments against Hindu women. The objectification came from the Municipal Council member who was seen speaking at a protest by people who want hijabs to be worn inside the college and school classrooms in violation of dress codes.

While addressing a group of people gathered, Patel commented, “Khidmat-e-Millat had protested against the ban on students who wear Hijab. No dogs from the BJP have given their lives for the sake of the nation. We belong to this country, we did not come from anywhere.” Speaking about the Hijab controversy that has erupted, he said, “Our women won’t remove Hijab, this is decided in our religion. We will die, but we will not remove Hijab.”

Ahmed Patel while targeting Hindus over women entering temples said, “You people go and stop your ladies who are entering Mandirs wearing Chaddis and shorts. Do not provoke us,” The Hinduphobic and misogynistic remarks came the leader was addressing a group of Burqa-clad women gathered in a protest.

Crass sexually derogatory comments against women added with open Hindu hatred is not new to the Indian political discourse.

Journalist Tunku Varadarajan roots for the secession of southern states from India, spews hate on ‘cowbelt’

OpIndia Staff
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Journalist Tunku Varadarajan roots for the secession of southern states from India, spews hate on ‘cowbelt’

While Karnataka grapples with the hijab issue, which has recently devolved into violence, British author and journalist Tunku Varadarajan has gone on to inflame the situation by lobbying for the secession of Southern states. However, he added that now he has decided that Karnataka is no longer eligible to join the independent ‘Dravidian’ nation. He continued to spew hatred on India, referring to it as the “benighted cowbelt” and advocating for the country’s secession.

In his anti-national Tweet posted on Wednesday (February 9), the ex-author of WSJ, the foreign media outlet famous for its anti-BJP bias reportage, claimed: “I have decided that Karnataka is no longer eligible to be a part of my Republic of Dravidistan, which I hope to see one day break away from the benighted cowbelt and form an enlightened republic of its own. TN, Kerala, AP & Telangana will go it alone.

The Tweet by the British author, who had recently tried to tarnish the image of India’s iconic freedom fighter Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose by comparing him to Hitler, is problematic for more than one reason. To begin, Tunku stated that Karnataka is no longer qualified to be a part of ‘his’ Republic of Dravidian (Dravidian separatists have long sought for the construction of an independent nation made up of five South Indian states), which he intends to see separated from the country one day and “form an enlightened republic of its own”.

So, in essence, he pushes for India’s secession by campaigning for the separation of all of South India from the rest of the country, and although excluding Karnataka from his Dravidian Republic, he still wants the state to split from the ‘cow belt’, which he refers to India as.

Islamists and their apologists often mock Indians, particularly Hindus, with these cow jibes, especially after PM Narendra Modi became the elected head of government in India in 2014. Moreover, Cow belts are usually referred to Hindu belts like Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh where cows are revered and considered sacred due to both economic value and religious beliefs. The author, however, attempts to mock the Modi regime for transforming the entire country into a Hindu Rashtra by referring to India as a cow belt.

As expected, Tunku’s drew flak for his anti-national Tweet, calling for the secession of India. Tagging Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, the current Minister of External Affairs of the Government of India, social media users demanded that the British author be charged with sedition for conspiring to break India.

One opined that the government should get Twitter to close such anti-national accounts or else close Twitter operations in India for providing a platform to such people to spew hate against India.

Another miffed user opined that such an anti-Indian should be “expedited to India and taught a lesson which he should never forget for life.”

It may be recalled that in January this year, a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that a grand statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose will be installed at India Gate on the occasion of his 125th birth anniversary, British author and journalist Tunku Varadarajan tried to tarnish the image of India’s iconic freedom fighter.

He had claimed, “The statue of a man who was pals with Hitler is going to sully India Gate in New Delhi.” Tunku Varadarajan insinuated that Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was somehow ‘friends’ with Hitler and supposedly embodied his vicious ideology of Nazism. He suggested that the statue of such a man at India Gate would undermine the sanctity of the historical site.

‘They called him Sadak ka Gunda, now seeking votes in his name’: PM Modi slams Congress for using CDS Bipin Rawat’s name in Uttarakhand polls

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‘They called him Sadak ka Gunda, now seeking votes in his name’: PM Modi slams Congress for using CDS Bipin Rawat’s name in Uttarakhand polls

On Thursday, PM Narendra Modi slammed the Congress Party for seeking votes by displaying posters and cutouts of late CDS Gen Bipin Rawat ahead of the Uttarakhand State Assembly elections. “Congress is using late CDS Gen Bipin Rawat’s name to gather votes today. It had played politics over his name during his appointment as the first CDS, and is now using his name for votes”, said PM Modi while addressing a public meeting at Srinagar, Uttarakhand.

He recalled that one of the Congress leaders had labelled the then Army Chief Bipin Rawat as ‘Sadak Ka Goonda’ and said that Congress has never had trust in the Indian Army. “When the Indian Army gave a befitting reply to the terrorist attacks, Congress blatantly had questioned the courage and valour of our soldiers. They had asked for evidence of the attack, showing complete mistrust on the Indian Army”, he stated.

This is a week after Uttarakhand’s former Chief Minister Harish Rawat had informed that Congress will have photos of first CDS General Bipin Rawat, General Bipin Chandra Joshi, and other regional freedom fighters in their poll office. The Congress leader had stated that the late CDS General Bipin Rawat and General Bipin Chandra Joshi were the pride of Uttarakhand and therefore their photos would be displayed on the walls of the Congress office.

Remembering late CDS Rawat, PM Modi said that the people of Uttarakhand have always protected the country like a vigilant watchdog. “Today, memories of our brave son of Pauri Garhwal, General Bipin Rawat ji are making me emotional. He showed the country that the people of Uttarakhand do not only have courage like mountains but also have high thinking like the Himalayas,” PM Modi said in Srinagar, Uttarakhand.

It is important to note that Congress’ Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was seen dancing and enjoying tribal dance in Goa, when the emotionally chocked nation was crying and paying heartfelt condolence to CDS Gen Bipin Rawat. Showing severe disrespect towards the martyrs, Vadra had been to Goa to kick off the campaign for Goa Assembly Election.

Also, Ashlin Mathew, editor of the Congress mouthpiece National Herald had termed the incident of helicopter crash in which CDS Rawat breathed last as ‘divine intervention’. She had then deleted the tweet saying that it had nothing to do with the news of the chopper crash and CDS Rawat’s death.

Earlier in year 2017, the Congress’ former MP Sandeep Dixit had made controversial remarks against Late CDS Gen Bipin Rawat. Referring to one of his statements, he had said that the (then) army chief shouldn’t make statements like a ‘sadak ka gunda’. However, Dikshit had to withdraw his comments apologize as the Congress dissociated itself from his remark.

Legislative Assembly elections will be held in Uttarakhand on February 14 to elect 70 members of the State Legislative Assembly. The votes will be counted and the results will be declared on March 10 this year.

‘When BJP started receiving support from Muslim women, the Thekedars of their votes got scared’: PM Modi in Saharanpur, UP

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‘When BJP started receiving support from Muslim women, the Thekedars of their votes got scared’: PM Modi in Saharanpur, UP

Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing a rally in Saharanpur, UP has asserted that Muslim women are appreciating the BJP government’s intention of acknowledging female participation in the development process. PM Modi on Thursday emphasised the move by his government to ban the practice of triple talaq in 2019.

PM Modi in his speech said, “Our Principle of Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas is the key to UP’s development. Ensuring the participation of women in the process of development is of primary concern to the BJP. While every sector is being opened for them, Muslim Women are appreciating our efforts in this,”

While talking about the Triple talaq issue, he said, “We have liberated Muslim women from the vices of Triple Talaq. The law that was passed protected them from the regressive practice. The women understand that it is our party which stands for their rights and equality.”

He later added, “However, when Muslim women started openly supporting the BJP, when they started being appreciative of the move, the self-appointed authorities of their votes (Thekedars) got restless.”

“After watching the videos of Muslim Women (supporting the Tripple Talaq Bill), the thekedars thought of controlling their lives. The leaders thought, if the girls started supporting Modi, they would start ruling the house. And hence new ways to stifle the voices of these women and to discourage their progress are being invented. These people are influencing Muslim women to ensure that they remain disempowered and away from their rights.”

While finishing his comments, PM Modi assured that his government stands with every Muslim woman who has been a victim of oppression. In 2019, The PM-Modi led NDA government passed the ‘Triple Talaq Law’ that has outlawed the practice of ‘instant divorce’ by Muslim men, ensuring criminal punishment for such cases.

Saharanpur, a district in western Uttar Pradesh holds a considerable Muslim voter base with a population of over 42%. The district goes on assembly polls in the second phase on February 14, 2021.

Nobody can stand against Hindus, those who tried to destroy Hindus are fighting amongst themselves: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat

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Nobody can stand against Hindus, those who tried to destroy Hindus are fighting amongst themselves: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat

On February 9, 2022, RSS president Mohan Bhagwat asserted that Hindus are so strong that no one can stand against them, emphasising how the Hindu society is not hateful towards anyone. The RSS chief was addressing a gathering after attending the 11th-century saint Sri Ramanujacharya’s millennium birth anniversary celebrations in Hyderabad.

It’s them who have been finished, our 5000-year-old Sanatan Dharma is intact: RSS chief

“Samarthya hamare paas aisa hai ki hamare saamane khade rahne ki takat kisi ki nahi hain (Hindus are so competent that nobody has the strength to stand against us),” Bhagwat said, adding that the Hindu society is not antagonistic towards anyone.

“They tried a lot to destroy us but to no avail…If we had to be finished it would have happened in the last 1000 years. It’s them who have… Our 5000-year-old Sanatan Dharma is intact”, opined the RSS chief.

Those who spent 1,000 years trying to exterminate Hindus are now battling amongst themselves all over the world. “We have sustained and thrived for centuries,” he said, furthering that the only reason some individuals are afraid is because they have forgotten who they are.

“They tried to eliminate us but it did not happen… Even today ‘Sanatan’ Dharmik life of Bharat can be seen here as it is. Despite so many atrocities, we have ‘Matra Bhoomi’ with us. We have plenty of resources, then why we are afraid? Because we forget ourselves. The reason for apparent weakness is that we have forgotten our holistic view towards life,” Bhagwat added.

Hindu interest aka National interest should be the first priority: Mohan Bhagwat

Bhagwat further said, “In our country, despite after facing attacks and withstanding brute tyranny, we (Hindus) are still 80 per cent today. Those who are ruling the country and running political parties, most of them are Hindus. It is our country and even today our temples are there and temples are being built. What our traditions taught us is permanent.”

He maintained that the Hindu interest that is akin to national interest should take precedence above the interests of one’s self, family, creed, caste, language, and other identities.

“‘Hindu hit yane rashtra hit’ (Hindu interest aka National interest) should be the first priority and that is the way we will be a strong and competent nation and then will shun any idea of weakness,” Bhagwat said, adding that, “We will not engage in anything that instigates to fight within…We will live with dignity”.

According to Bhagwat, the world began to discourse about equality after the French revolution, but equality has been preached in India for thousands of years.

PM Narendra Modi unveiled a 216-foot statue of Sri Ramanujacharya at the Chinna Jeeyar Swamy Ashram in Muchintal just days before Bhagwat spoke at the birth anniversary festivities of the 11th-century saint. The ‘statue of equality,’ as it is known, is said to promote equality and oneness throughout the country.

Nobody questions when girls attend colleges ‘topless’, why question the dress code of Islam: Maulana Sajid Rashidi on Karnataka hijab row

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Nobody questions when girls attend colleges ‘topless’, why question the dress code of Islam: Maulana Sajid Rashidi on Karnataka hijab row

Adding to the ongoing burqa and hijab controversy in Karnataka colleges, Maulana Sajid Rashidi, the President of All India Imam Association, on February 10 affirmed that the hijab is the dress code of Islam and that the women should stay in purdah to keep themselves safe and protected in society. He appealed to all the Muslim women to continue to wear burqa and also asked the Muslim men to adopt the traditional Muslim attire including the kurta and the skull cap.

Maulana Sajid Rashidi accused the educational institutions in Karnataka of not following the Indian Constitution. He said that following religion (Islam) is the fundamental right of Muslims and wearing hijab is an ‘integral practice of Islam’.

In an exclusive conversation with activist Amber Jaidi, Rashidi said, ‘women go topless to colleges, schools and nobody questions them, why girls wearing hijab, burqa are being targeted’. “Wearing jeans, going topless to schools is not considered decent in Islam. Women must maintain purdah and keep safe distance from men. She should not wear tight clothes and expose her body parts to men in the society”, the controversial Islamic cleric added.

When Amber Jaidi asked who goes to schools and colleges topless, Rashidi replied that lots of girls do so. He asked her to visit colleges to see girls roaming around topless and indecent clothes, jeans. He said that if students have the fundamental right to wear jeans in colleges, they also have the fundamental right to wear the burqa.

Maulana based all his opinions on the Quran. He clearly pointed out that Islam draws its principles from the Quran, Hadith in its entirety and women who do not wear hijab or burqa are assumed to not be following Islam as their religion.

‘RSS is attacking Islam by not allowing hijab’, Maulana-

In a sharp blatant criticism to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), he said that the ‘RSS goons’ are trying to attack on Islam by first banning triple talaq and now not allowing hijab. “These people (RSS) want to make India a Hindu rashtra. They want to practice hooliganism in the entire country. They don’t even respect the tricolor. They consider only saffron flag”, he blatantly accused. (video pause 17:13).

He also dragged the Karnataka institutions into the debate and said that the colleges had just begun walking on the paths of the RSS. “The boys who protested against the Muslim women wearing hijab were styled in saffron scarfs. Who are these people? What kind of example are they setting up? They (RSS) want to divide this nation on the basis of religion”, he alleged, conveniently forgetting that the Karnataka hijab row was first initiated by eight Muslim girls who denied to follow the college rules regarding the same uniform dress code.

Muslims shall practice their ‘majhab’ where ever they go-

He went on to argue with interviewer, activist Amber Jaidi, who is also a Muslim, on the context of constitutional rights. He accused her of not following Islam and said that ‘freedom does not mean Muslim women forget their culture, tradition and the way of life mentioned in Quran’. He charged her for adopting free thoughts and called it ‘haram’.

Adamant on his opinion that ‘Muslim women should maintain veils (pardah) and should wear hijab’, he said that Muslims shall practice their ‘majhab’ where ever they go. “The community which I belong to believes in following Islam in colleges, markets and the entire society. Nobody can stop us from doing so”, he reaffirmed. (video pause 16:40)

Maulana Rashidi’s warning Hindus in past-

Maulana Sajid Rashidi is known for his ‘scholarly’ opinions that mostly are anti-hindu and difficult for the civic society to acknowledge. On January 8, he had passed several warnings that Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir might be demolished by some Mohammad Bin Qasim in future. He tried to articulate mythical fantasy that leftists in India continue to peddle in order to whitewash the crimes of tyrannical Muslim rulers who invaded India.

Rashidi had said that Muslim kings who ruled India in the past were benevolent and secular rulers, who not only built mosques for their Muslim subjects but also built temples and generously donated for the upkeep of existing Hindu religious places. He had made similar controversial remarks during the Bhumi pujan of the Ram Temple in August 2020. He had then said that a mosque will be rebuilt after demolishing the Ram Mandir. He also had claimed that Prime Minister Modi had ‘violated the constitution’ by visiting the Ayodhya temple event.

A complaint was later filed against the Islamic cleric for making provocative statements against Hindus and for issuing threats to demolish the under-construction Ram Mandir at Ayodhya.

Hijab controversy supported by Islamic fundamentalists-

While the High Court is yet to rule it’s judgement over the hijab row, the ‘left-liberals’ and the Islamic fundamentalists from various countries are seen supporting and openly instigating the Muslim girls to violate the established rules on uniform dress code.

Earlier today, Taliban extended its support to the Muslim women and them for defending the Islamic values. “The struggle of Indian Muslim girls for hijab shows that hijab is not an Arab, Iranian, Egyptian or Pakistani culture, but an Islamic value for which Muslim girls around the world”, tweeted Inamullah Samangani, Deputy Central Spokesman of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

The Pakistan ministers also commented on the issue espousing free choice and condemning the bar on burqa-clad students inside the classroom. Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said it is a grave violation of fundamental human rights. “The world must realize this is part of Indian state plan of ghettoisation of Muslims,” the minister stated.

The hijab controversy in Karnataka gained momentum since the first week of January after eight Muslim girls were denied entry to classes in a Udupi college because they were wearing hijab. The college authorities had informed that the hijab was not a part of the uniform dress code suggested to the students. The Muslim women, adamant on wearing hijab, then filed a petition in High Court seeking permission to attend classes with hijab. They stated that wearing hijab was their ‘fundamental right’ granted under Article 14 and 25 of the Indian Constitution and ‘integral practice of Islam’.

The controversy spiraled as Hindu students in Karnataka styled with saffron scarves around their necks, protested against Muslim girls continuing to wear Hijab to the college. Tensions also prevailed at some educational institutions in Udupi, Shivamogga, Bagalkote and other parts as incidents of stone-pelting and violence were reported from various parts of the state.

RTI reveals Congress has not paid rent for Lutyens Delhi bungalows for almost a decade, rent worth crores pending

OpIndia Staff
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RTI reveals Congress has not paid rent for Lutyens Delhi bungalows for almost a decade, rent worth crores pending

Sonia Gandhi and the Congress party have not paid rent dues for the properties held by them in Lutyens’ Delhi since 2013, a reply to an RTI application has revealed.

According to the response to the RTI application by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), The Congress party has failed to pay the dues for three bungalows including Bungalow no. 26, Akbar Road (office of the Congress frontal wing Seva Dal), Bungalow no. C-II/109, Chanakyapuri and the 10, Janpath bungalow which is the residence of Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi.

The RTI response says that while the dues for 10, Janpath were last paid in September 2020 the monthly rent accounted for the same is Rs. 4610/- only. For the 26, Akbar Road bungalow which is a type VIII property next to Congress’ headquarters at 24, Akbar Road, the monthly rent for which is more than Rs. 12 lakh has not been cleared since December 2012. The Bungalow in Chanakyapuri which is used as a residence has been in possession of the Congress Party with a monthly rent of Rs. 5,07,911/-. Dues for the same has not been deposited since August 2013.

The RTI application was filed by Surjit Patel from Mithapur, Gujarat while a response to the same was given by the concerned MoHUA, Govt. of India on February 07, 2021.

Earlier in 2015, The Urban Development Ministry had asked the All India Congress Committee to vacate the possession of 26, Akbar Road, C-II/109, Chanakyapuri and two other properties. Letter to the General Secretary, AICC said that the allotments for the above properties were already cancelled in June 2013 after allowing a concessional period of three years.

Spread across 5,181 square meters in New Delhi, 10 Janpath has remained the private residence of Sonia Gandhi since the time of Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination in 1991. Reportedly, the property is bigger than 7, Lok Kalyan Marg which is the official residence of the Prime Minister of India. The current Congress headquarters of the Congress party – 24, Akbar Road lies right behind this property possessed by Sonia Gandhi.

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