Hours after residents of Gurugram staged a peaceful protest against the offering of Namaz in public spaces, an NDTV journalist resorted to demonising Hindus and legitimising the nuisance created by public Namaz.
In a tweet on Friday (October 15), NDTV journalist Mohammad Ghazali stated, “Ya wala grp subah park mein alom vilom kerte hue oxygen k sath zahar bhi khub ugalte hain (This group of people do yoga during mornings in parks. Looks like they exhale venom along with oxygen).” Through his remarks, Ghazali rebuked the Hindus for objecting to Muslims praying at a public ground. Interestingly, he did not find anything wrong with the behaviour of his co-religionists creating law and order situation in the area.
Screengrab of the tweet by Mohammad Ghazali
Mohammad Ghazali was responding to a tweet by ‘journalist’ Vijaita Singh.
Screengrab of the tweet by Vijaita Singh
Reportedly, the residents of Gurugram continued their peaceful protest against the offering of Namaz at a public ground opposite the State Vigilance Bureau office in Sector 47 for the fourth consecutive week. On Friday (October 15) afternoon around 100 people carrying placards, singing bhajan and raising slogans came to the ground. They were carrying a portable speaker and a mic.
They were also shouting slogans against Manohar Lal Khattar government for failing to stop namaz in public places. Their placards read ‘Namaz ki jagah khaali karo’ and they kept chanting and singing ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ and bhajans. There was heavy police deployment and they were stopped 100 meters away from where namaz was being offered.
Two days after the Jammu and Kashmir High Court quashed a 2018 defamation case against Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami, journalist Aditya Raj Kaul, Sakal Bhatt and others, Kaul has penned a heartfelt post in gratitude of the Republic TV chief.
In his social media post dated October 16, Aditya Raj Kaul thanked Arnab Goswami for standing by him and fighting the defamation case on his behalf, despite him not being associated with Republic TV anymore.
“I want to thank Arnab for fighting the case on my behalf as well and putting the title of the petition in High Court as Aditya Raj Kaul & Others Vs Naeem Akhter”, wrote Kaul, adding that not many editors would have sided with ex-colleagues as is the trend in today’s world.
“Not many editors would have stood with ex-colleagues as has been a trend these days”, wrote the journalist.
Kaul claimed that he knows friends and colleagues from media organisations such as NDTV and The Hindu who have had defamation cases filed against them, but that the media organisations refused to stand by them after they left the organisations.
“Arnab was furious after I quit yet didn’t drop me out in this legal battle”, wrote Aditya Raj Kaul, adding that he wants to publically and humbly appreciate Arnab’s gesture.
The full post written by journalist Aditya Raj Kaul is as follows:
Just a small post in gratitude. I quit Republic TV as Senior Associate Editor and founding member on December 31, 2018. It’s been almost three years. I haven’t spoken to Arnab since.
Sometime in 2018 I did a story on alleged corruption by PDP leader Naeem Akhter which was anchored by me along with my colleague Sakal Bhat. The same news report was covered by several other media houses and appeared in newspapers as well. Yet the PDP leader decided to file a defamation case against me, Sakal, Arnab and few of our colleagues in Kashmir. The defamation case was from a powerful former Minister who specifically decided to selectively target us. It also led to a arrest warrant being issued against me and my colleagues by a Srinagar court. It was a direct attack on media by someone who was powerful and had money to intimidate journalists and media.
Two days ago we won the petition filed in the J&K High Court against the defamation suit. It was a remarkable judgement by honourable Judge Justice Sanjay Dhar. My lawyer friends say the judgement would be a benchmark for several future such cases where public servants or people in power misuse the law against journalists, media and activists. The judge said that people in public offices should not have thin skin. He also said that reporting on allegations on people in public office was not defamation.
I want to thank Arnab for fighting the case on my behalf as well and putting the title of the petition in High Court as Aditya Raj Kaul & Others Vs Naeem Akhter.
Not many editors would have stood with ex-colleagues as has been a trend these days. I know friends and colleagues from NDTV & The Hindu who had defamation cases slapped against them but the media organisations refused to stand by them after they quit the respective organisations.
Arnab was furious after I quit yet didn’t drop me out in this legal battle. Many lawyer friends would have easily defended me in New Delhi and J&K. Inspite of having many differences with his approach and methods of reportage, I want to humbly and publicly appreciate his gesture.
J&K HC quashes 2018 criminal defamation case against Arnab Goswami and others by PDP’s Naeem Akhter
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Wednesday, October 13, quashed a defamation complaint filed by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Naeem Akhtar against Republic TV’s Arnab Goswami and journalist Aditya Raj Kaul, among others. Quashing the defamation proceedings pending before the court, the single-bench of Justice Sanjay Dhar observed that “reporting allegations about the official duties of a public figure cannot be considered defamatory.”
The court was hearing a 2018 defamation complaint filed by the senior leader of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Naeem Akhter, against the Editor-in-Chief of Republic TV, Arnab Goswami, journalist Aditya Raj Kaul, Sakal Bhatt and others.
The complaint against Goswami and Kaul, who was then an anchor for Republic TV, was filed in July 2018 under sections 499 (defamation) and 500 (punishment for defamation) of the Ranbir Penal Code before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Srinagar by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Naeem Akhtar.
Apple has removed a popular Quran app from its app store in China that permitted users to read or listen to the Quran. ‘Quran Majeed’ is claimed to have hosted illegal content, although it is not clear what the controversial contents precisely were. The app was removed following a request by government officials.
‘Quran Majeed’ was developed by Pakistan Data Management Services. The developer told the BBC, “According to Apple, our app Quran Majeed has been removed from the China App store because it includes content that requires additional documentation from Chinese authorities”.
“We are trying to get in touch with the Cyberspace Administration of China and relevant Chinese authorities to get this issue resolved,” PDMS added. The app has close to one million users in China.
Apple refused to comment on the matter and directed BBC to its ‘human rights policy’, which says, “We’re required to comply with local laws, and at times there are complex issues about which we may disagree with governments.”
Meanwhile, Audible (Amazon’s audiobook service) and some apps for reading the Bible have also reportedly disappeared from the Apple Store. Audible apparently removed its app in China “due to permit requirements.” AppleCensorship, a watchdog website that monitors such developments, was the first to detect the removals.
Islamic groups have accused Apple of enabling China’s persecution of its Muslim population. “If American corporations don’t grow a spine and stand up to China right now, they risk spending the next century subservient to the whims of a fascist superpower,” said Edward Ahmed Mitchell, the national deputy director of CAIR, a group whose links to Islamist outfits are well known.
On Friday (October 16), a 69-year-old British Conservative MP Sir David Amess was assassinated by a 25-year-old Islamic terrorist of Somali descent in Leigh-on-Sea in Essex. Sir Amess remained a Conservative leader for about 40 years and represented the Southend West constituency.
As per reports, the Parliamentarian was holding a ‘constituency surgery’ at the Belfairs Methodist Church, which is located at Eastwood Road North. It was a common practice for Sir Amess to meet his voters on Friday and address their concerns. The 25-year-old radical Islamist blended into the crowd and waited patiently for his turn. Although he hailed from Somalia, he had acquired British citizenship. At around 12:05 pm, the accused leapt onto Sir David Amess and stabbed him with a knife. The Conservative Party MP was attacked 12 times, following which he collapsed on the ground. The police were called in and reportedly they arrived within minutes.
While he lay in a pool of blood, paramedics tried their best to save him. Sir Amess succumbed to his injuries at around 3 pm, before being taken to the hospital. While speaking about the incident, a Conservative Councillor John Lamb stated, “He was doing a surgery in the Methodist church here to speak to local people and pick up on their problems. I’m told that when he went in for his surgery there were people waiting to see him, and one of them literally got a knife out and just began stabbing him.”
Islamic terrorist did not flee the crime scene
According to eyewitnesses, the Islamic terrorist made no attempt to flee the crime scene and waited ‘calmly’ for the police to arrive. Scotland Yard has stated that they will treat the assassination as a ‘terror attack linked to Islamic extremism.’ In this regard, the police raided two houses in London and took the Somali terrorist in custody. The cops are of the belief that the perpetrator acted on his own accord and was possibly radicalised during the Coronavirus lockdown. The police have appealed to the public to provide evidence (CCTV footage, dash cam videos) pertaining to the case.
Act of Islamic terrorism, says police
The Metropolitan Police has said that the killing of the Conservative MP was an act of terrorism linked to Islamic extremism.
“The fatal stabbing in Leigh-on-Sea has tonight been declared as a terrorist incident, with the investigation being led by Counter Terrorism Policing,” the police said. The statement issued by the Metropolitan Police added, “The early investigation has revealed a potential motivation linked to Islamist extremism.”
Boris Johnson paid homage to Sir David Amess
In a video message, Boris Johnson shared condolences with the family of Sir David Amess. Remembering him as ‘one of the kindest’ politicians, the British Prime Minister remarked, “David was a man who believed passionately in this country and in its future. We’ve lost today a fine public servant and a much-loved friend and colleague. (He had an) outstanding record of passing laws to help the most vulnerable”
All our hearts are full of shock and sadness at the death of Sir David Amess MP.
In light of the attack, Home Secretary Pritish Patel has directed the police to review security arrangements of all Parliamentarians.
Mosques in UK preach Taliban, ISIS-like lifestyle of the ultra-orthodox community
Noted professor and political advisor Ed Husain, a former radicalised Muslim, had earlier come up with a fascinating study about how mosques in the United Kingdom were trying to control Muslim-dominated areas in the country. He had explained the community’s efforts to enforce Taliban-like lifestyle in major cities of the United Kingdom, reported Daily Mail.
In his latest book – ‘Among The Mosques: A Journey Across Muslim Britain‘, author and political advisor Ed Husain had documented in detail how Islamic societies in the UKwere slowly occupying households in the country and were enforcing strict Taliban-like rules.
The author had documented how areas like Bolton, Dewsbury and Blackburn were described as ‘a different universe’ and had observed how a Muslim could spend months with no contact whatsoever with mainstream ‘white’ Britain’ in certain parts of the British cities. Among the areas Ed visited was Blackburn, the global hub for the Deobandis and the Tablighi Jamaat.
“The horrific image of Lakhbir’s dead body should haunt each of us. It should haunt each and every ‘peaceful protestor’ who didn’t do anything to stop it. It should haunt each and every soul who betrayed the gurus by being a tool and witness of oppression. It should haunt every human who boasts of humanity and equality in society. It should haunt every ideology that failed to save him. It will haunt me, as I assumed that he was in a safe space. No space is safe for us. No system is safe for us. We can’t risk our lives on any brahminical structure or system anymore. I failed Lakhbir Singh. We failed Lakhbir and his family and the families of thousands of our people. And we’ve been continuously failing them, us and ourselves”, read an Instagram post by one Ambedkarite after the brutal killing of Lakhbir Singh by Nihang Sikhs at the Kundli border, where ‘farmers’ are protesting.
The operative word in the post was, of course, the “Brahminical structure or system” and the post opened with how it should haunt every “peaceful protestor” who did not do anything to stop the lynching and every soul who “betrayed the gurus by being a tool and witness to oppression”.
Lakhbir Singh who was brutally murdered by Nihang Sikhs had reached the farmer protest site at the Kundli border a week ago. The locals have been reported as saying that he was there to do sewa and was often seen in the Gurudwara set up at the protest site.
Essentially, Lakhbir Singh was a Punjabi himself who was at the protest site to do ‘sewa’. He was murdered by Nihang Sikhs who are considered to be the warrior class established by Guru Gobind Singh himself. The protestors at the site are also Sikhs, the staunchest kinds. In fact, the protest site even has Khalistanis who want an ‘independent Punjab’ and worship Khalistani terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, who murdered thousands of Hindus. When a video of Lakhbir Singh went viral, hung from the police barricade, one could see the poster of Bhindranwale in the background.
Screengrab of the video where poster of Bhindranwale is visible
The Khalistan movement and Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale itself was extremely anti-Hindu and anti-Brahmin. In his book, Khushwant Singh wrote about how the Khalistan movement was anti-Hindu.
Khushwant Singh’s book
Bhindranwale would, in derision, call Indira Gandhi a ‘panditain’ or ‘Bahmani’. In his speeches, he had asked to kill 32 Hindus so the entire Hindu population would be “taken care of”. He used to call Hindus as Dhotian and Topian wale.
It is recorded history that Khalistanis had thrown a cow head inside the Durgiana temple.
In 1982, in what was a completely unprovoked attack, the Dal Khalsa “activists” threw a severed cow head inside Durgiana temple. pic.twitter.com/IAGQqpkX7Z
n 1982, Khalistani radicals hung tail of a cow inside the Mahakali temple of Patiala. Devotees were shocked to see the tail of a cow hung inside the Garba Griha of the temple.
In 1982, Khalistani radicals hung tail of a cow inside the Mahakali temple of Patiala. Devotees were shocked to see the tail of a cow hung inside the Garba Griha of the temple. pic.twitter.com/K6ldeIkVZW
With the Khalistani movement being anti-Hindu and anti-Brahmin specifically, it is a wonder how the murder of a Sikh man by Sikh radicals became a burden that Hindus and/or Brahmins have to bear.
Hindus or even Brahmins or even Dalit Hindus had nothing to do with the brutal incident at the Kundli border.
But that Instagram post was not the only one blaming the ‘caste politics’ of Hindus for the incident. Several other Ambedkarites started playing their caste politics to bring Hindus down.
Dilip Mandal, who sees caste everywhere and has been accused of discriminating against Brahmin students took to Twitter to say that Dalits are oppressed everywhere, sometimes for touching food, sometimes for ‘idols’ and sometimes for books.
कोई खाना छू देने पर मार देता है, कोई मूर्ति छूने पर पीट देता है, कोई धार्मिक किताब छूने पर मार देता है। साबित करो कि तुम लोग आदमी ही हो।
Quoting a video of one of the Nihangs talking about how Sikhs murder people who insult the Guru Granth Sahib, Ambedkarites said that the truth is that he was murdered because he made the book impure by touching it, since he was a Dalit Sikh. While that maybe what the Nihangs had thought, the incident had nothing to do with Hindus.
The fact is Lakhbir Singh was killed for touching a religious book. It get polluted by the touch of a SC labourer. So they killed him to maintain the purity. Shame! #JusticeForLakhbirSinghpic.twitter.com/9ShP1Y0xDh
Lakhbir was killed bcoz he was a SC labourer and touched a religious book. The argue of ‘बेअदब’ (insult) reflects their caste supremacy as they thinks that a SC polluted the book by touch. #JusticeForLakhbirSinghpic.twitter.com/fO99BIKUUw
While caste discrimination is a reality among Sikhs, the insinuation of the posts were extremely clear. They repeatedly equated the Nihangs considered Dalit Sikhs as impure while drawing a false equivalence to Hindus in an attempt to tarnish Hinduism.
The bane of Dalit Activists of our times is that they hardly stand for the rights of the marginalised and speak up for Scheduled Caste individuals who might be getting persecuted. What they do is, instead, stand against Hinduism and every incident is turned into a caste battle just to pull Hindus down. The insinuation that Lakhbir Singh was killed because of the “Brahminical structure” was evident from the first Instagram post and most other posts that tried to distract from the main issue – Pious Sikhs who were a part of the farmers protest brutally murdered a man at the protest site of Samyukt Kisan Morcha.
The blame for the shocking incident lies with the Sikh community, the Nihangs and the “farmers” who have indulged in rampant violence ever since the protests against the three farm laws began.
The disingenuity of their argument is apparent when they wish to compare the “upper caste Jatt Sikhs” to Brahmins, insinuating that the “upper caste Sikhs” follow the Brahminical structure.
One recalls how Mukesh, a Brahmin man was burnt alive only a few months ago by these very Farmers and Jatt Sikhs.
Mukesh, 42, was the eldest of Jagdish Chandra’s three children. On June 16, 2021, Mukesh succumbed to burn injuries after fellow farmer protestors allegedly set him ablaze at the Tikri border protest site. Villagers had then alleged that Mukesh’s murder was a conspiracy to make him appear as a ‘martyr’ against the farm laws.
OpIndia talked to the bereaved mother, who is still finding it hard to come to grips with the reality that her son was allegedly killed by agitators pretending to be fighting for the rights of farmers. Shakuntala, Mukesh’ mother remembers her son left the house on Wednesday evening for a walk to the nearby field. When we asked her who killed her beloved son, Shakuntala says the protesters killed him. Mukesh had that evening gone for a walk to the nearby field, where farmers protesting against the three farm laws had put up their tents.
Even when Mukesh had been killed, the ‘farmers’ had tried to divert any responsibility from themselves and tweeted an unclear video, claiming that the farmers had not set Mukesh on fire. However, OpIndia had accessed his dying declaration where he clearly said that it was the “farmers” who had set him on fire.
It would appear that every time brutality is unleashed by these farmers, there foot soldiers attempt to shield the movement by floating a grand narrative that diverts attention from the real issue. When Mukesh was murdered by the farmers, the grand narrative was that a conspiracy was being hatched to “defame” the farmers movement. Even now, when Lakhbir Singh was murdered, several individuals claimed that he was sent by the “agencies”.
It would now seem like the Ambedkarites have resorted to shielding the farmers by talking about “caste construct” and blaming Hindus for an incident that was perpetrated by the Nihang Sikh at the site of the farmers’ protest. While caste exists among Sikhs, the murder of Lakhbir Singh certainly has nothing to do with Hindus or Brahmins. It is a product of Khalistani elements and Nihang Sikhs being a violent lot and the farmers protest harbouring terrorists who first killed Mukesh, a Brahmin man and have now murdered Lakhbir Singh. Any attempt to divert the conversation from the culpability of Khalistani elements and the farmers themselves is one that whitewashes the crime and denies justice to Lakhbir.
Residents of Gurugram for the fourth consecutive week continued their peaceful protest against namaz being offered at a public ground opposite the State Vigilance Bureau office in Sector 47.
On Friday (October 15) afternoon around 100 people carrying placards, singing bhajan and raising slogans came to the ground. They were carrying a portable speaker and a mic. They were also shouting slogans against Manohar Lal Khattar government for failing to stop namaz in public places. Their placards read ‘Namaz ki jagah khaali karo’ and they kept chanting and singing ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ and bhajans.
There was heavy police deployment and they were stopped 100 meters away from where namaz was being offered. As local police had stopped the protest from Hindu community, the police officials also asked members of the Muslim community to renter the ground from the Subhash Chowk side.
ACP Aman Yadav confirmed the demonstration stating “efforts are ongoing for a solution, including finding an alternate place for namaz.” He further stated that prayers were offered peacefully and informed that in the last week the administration had held meetings with representatives of both communities to resolve the issue.
Haryana | Locals staged a protest against offering Friday Namaz at a ground in Sector-47, Gurugram for the fourth consecutive week by performing puja. Efforts are ongoing for a solution, including finding an alternate place for Namaz: ACP Aman Yadav (15.10) pic.twitter.com/QsrIRiPO0V
Sunil Yadav, president of the residents’ welfare association of Sector 47 who is at the forefront of stopping namaz in public places has repeatedly told the media that it created lots of disturbances including traffic jams. The protesting residents said that Muslims should offer Friday prayers at the mosques or on Waqf Board land, and not in public places.
However, it is also stated that this ground of Sector 47 is among 37 designated sites where prayers could be offered in the open. This was decided after a dispute took place in 2018. But local residents alleged that the facts are being fabricated as the permission was granted only for a day.
Residents question whether the state government and local administration will allow Hindus to occupy public places for prayers and bhajan. Local residents alleged that most of the Muslims joining prayer here come from far-away places like sectors 7 and 8. They have options and spaces in their own area to offer namaz but they only come here with the intention to create trouble and encroach land.
Resentment of local residents is not unfounded since the problem is not limited to Sector 47. In May 2018, BJP’s Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had stated that namaz should be read in mosques rather than in public places. The remark was in the context of public places being occupied for namaz that cause inconvenience. Within Gurugram district in 2018 namaz was offered at public places at as many as 76 locations and arrangements were made for the same by the local administration.
A team of three doctors performed a post-mortem on the body of labourer Lakhbir Singh, who was brutally murdered on the Kundli border on Friday morning. The autopsy was recorded on video. The report is a testimony of the barbarity inflicted on the helpless labourer by the frenzied Nihang Sikhs before he succumbed to his injuries.
According to a report by Hindi daily Amar Ujala, the medical staff confirmed that 22 wounds were found on the deceased’s body of which ten were very large and deep.
10 out of 22 wounds excessively deep, marks of being tied with a rope and dragged found on Lakhbir Singh’s body
The police waited until the afternoon for the relatives, but when they did not arrive, a post-mortem was performed. The autopsy report revealed that Lakhbir Singh passed away anytime between 4:30 AM to 5:30 AM on Friday morning. He died due to deep wounds and excessive bleeding, read the report. Marks of being tied with a rope and dragged along the ground were also found on his body.
Lakhbir Singh’s arm was completely severed while his leg was partially severed revealed the post mortem.
Kundli border cordoned off after the brutal murder of Lakhbir Singh
Meanwhile, owing to the sensitivity of the case, the Haryana police have converted the entire Kundli border area into a police cantonment. The area has been cordoned off by the police, who have set up checkpoints at several locations. Strict vigil is being kept on people entering and leaving the area. The Nihang Sikhs are not allowed to leave the area.
Moreover, the police have issued an alert in Haryana and NCR, including Sonipat. A checkpoint has been created under the KMP flyover. Every visitor is being monitored. Vehicles are being prevented from heading towards Kundli.
The farmers’ pandals and tents which have been erected in Sonepat from the KMP flyover to the Kundli border area are being thoroughly scrutinised.
Also, the cops have cleaned up the crime scene. The blood strewn was washed away by the police and the protesting leaders. This was done to prevent further spread of tension and panic.
Individuals have been advised by the police to follow the law and not be mislead by anyone. They are also being urged not to share videos of the Kundli incident on social media.
Haryana police makes one arrest in the case
Haryana police had arrested Nihang Sarabjit after he surrendered claiming responsibility for killing Lakhbir Singh.
A video shared by news agency ANI showed the police taking away the accused in a police van amidst “Bole so Nihal” slogans.
Before surrendering to the police, Nihang Sarabjit had appeared before the media and taken full responsibility for the barbaric act. He said that when he had found someone desecrating a Sikh sacred book he did what he deemed fit. When the reporters asked him whether he had any remorse over his action, Sarabjit had answered in the negative.
Sarabjit had also told the media that he was not prompted by anyone to do what he did and that it was his own decision.
A horrible murder was reported from the Singhu-Kundli border protest location on Friday, October 15, where farmers have been camping for months in protest of the three agricultural laws. Lakhbir Singh’s brutally mutilated body, with his hands and legs severed, was reportedly found suspended from a police barricade by Nihang Sikhs for allegedly committing blasphemy.
On Friday (October 15), a frenzied mob of radical Islamists attacked the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) temple in the Noakhali district in the Chittagong Division of Bangladesh. The dastardly attack comes days after radical Islamists vandalised Durga Puja pandals under the pretext of blasphemy.
In a tweet, the official handle of ISKCON wrote, “ISKCON temple & devotees were violently attacked today by a mob in Noakhali, Bangladesh. Temple suffered significant damage & the condition of a devotee remains critical. We call on the Govt of Bangladesh to ensure the safety of all Hindus & bring the perpetrators to justice.”
ISKCON temple & devotees were violently attacked today by a mob in Noakhali, Bangladesh. Temple suffered significant damage & the condition of a devotee remains critical.
We call on the Govt of Bangladesh to ensure the safety of all Hindus & bring the perpetrators to justice. pic.twitter.com/ZpHtB48lZi
The Bangladesh unit of ISKCON lamented that the sculpture of its founder, AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, was burnt down during the arson attack on the temple.
A Twitter account (@HinduVoice_in) had shared disturbing visuals of arson by radical Islamists. In the video clip, flames and smoke were seen rising from the burnt ISKCON temple.
ISKCON spokesperson Radharamn Das shared a video wherein radical Islamists were seen desecrating the ISKCON temple. “Just few hours back today, around 500 Muslim mob gathered outside ISKCON temple in Noakhali and they broke deities inside ISKCON temple and set temple on fire,” he informed. Furthermore, he stated that a makeshift Durga pandal, located in front of the temple, was also vandalised. “Our devotees fought; many are critical,” he added.
Just few hours back today, around 500 Muslim mob gathered outside @iskcon Temple in Naokhali and they broke Deities inside ISKCON temple and set temple on fire. They also destroyed Durga Devi in front of ISKCON Temple. Our devotees fought: many r critical pic.twitter.com/R8Rfs8H6kX
Radharamn Das had shared visuals of a Hindu monk, who was critically injured after sustaining a dagger attack to his head. He remarked, “Please pray for these two devotees who lost their life today at our ISKCON temple in Bangladesh: (1) Nitai Das Prabhu and (2) Jatan Saha Prabhu. They fought bravely with Muslims while trying to protect the Deities but were outnumbered. Another Hindu was killed in Police firing.”
Just see how they have attacked our ISKCON monks. This devotee was attacked with dagger on his head. He fought bravely before attacked from behind. These devotees don’t fear for their life but worried about women & children’s of neighborhood. Will world wake up tonight? @PMOIndiapic.twitter.com/s2He9nKJct
He also added, “Today morning the dead body of another ISKCON devotee Partha Das was found floating in the pond near the temple. He was missing since yesterday. He was brutally tortured, body parts removed. He was just 25 year’s old.”
In a video that has now surfaced on social media, a Hindu monk at ISKCON narrated, “Hare Krishna! Today, Jamaat attacked the ISKCON temple and other temples in Choumani in Noakhali. They have executed it as part of a vicious plan. ISKCON Mandir has been desecrated. They have killed one devotee outright and stabbed another, leading to his critical state. Several motorcycles were set on fire. There was a mob of 400-500 people. They have looted 1 lakh taka from our temple The Noakhali administration has yet not taken any action against the miscreants.”
150 Hindu families attacked over ‘Quran insult’ rumours, vandalism of Durga Pandals
Brutal attacks, vandalism, looting, and arson had returned to haunt Hindus in Bangladesh’s Noakhali district, as close to 150 households were reportedly attacked and at least three killed in a violent clash on Wednesday (October 13).
The incident took place after a Facebook rumour claiming ‘insult to Quran’ at a Durga Puja pandal went viral. Videos emerged on social media where a mob of enraged Muslims were seen pelting stones and vandalising makeshift Durga Puja pandals and attacking Hindu families in Bangladesh’s Chandpur area. A social media user from Bangladesh stated that the Islamic mob was calling for the burning of a local ISKCON temple. Bangladeshi handles had stated that under the guise of attacks, rampant loot and molestation of women have also taken place. 2 persons have been found dead in the Chandpur area.
Following the incident, Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ordered the criminals, behind spreading communal attacks and propaganda, to be identified and punished as an example. Meanwhile, back in New Delhi, the external affairs ministry said that it was in touch with the high commission officials and noted the strict action be taken by the Bangladesh government. Since the incident, the Bangladesh police have made over 100 arrests and the probe is still underway.
The Congress’ Punjab unit’s longstanding deadlock may have come to an end, as Navjot Singh Sidhu has decided to retract his resignation and remain as the party’s Punjab unit chief. The decision was taken after Sidhu’s met the Congress senior leader Rahul Gandhi at his residence in Delhi on Friday.
After the meeting, Navjot Singh Sidhu told the media: “I shared all my concerns with Rahul Gandhi, was assured that they would be sorted out.”
Harish Rawat, the All India Congress Committee’s in-charge for Punjab, who was present during the meeting between Sidhu and Rahul Gandhi, told reporters that Sidhu would continue as the state unit chief and all issues had been resolved.
A day before meeting Rahul Gandhi at his residence, Sidhu had said he has full faith in the party leadership and will accept any decision taken by them on his resignation.
He said that he had voiced his concerns regarding the state and the Congress state unit before Congress’ top brass and he had full faith in the Congress President, Priyanka and Rahul Gandhi. “I have always considered them to be supreme and will accept any decision taken by them”.
Congress top brass refuses to accept resignation of Navjot Singh Sidhu
On September 28, Sidhu had resigned from the post of PPCC chief. In a letter addressed to party chief Sonia Gandhi, he had stated that he is stepping down as the state president.
“The collapse of a man’s character stems from the compromise corner, I can never compromise on Punjab’s future and the agenda for the welfare of Punjab. Therefore, I hereby resign as the President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee. Will continue to serve the Congress”, wrote Sidhu.
Many Sidhu loyalists have also resigned in solidarity with the Punjab Congress President after his surprise resignation.
The party’s top brass had, however, refused to accept his resignation and had asked state leaders to resolve the matter at their own level first.
Only in the month of July did the Congress supremo Sonia Gandhi overthrow Sunil Jakhar to make Navjot Singh Sidhu the new Punjab Congress Chief. The decision had then garnered a wide range of responses with some snubbing Captain Amarinder Singh while others attacking Sidhu for his vendetta politics.
Nihang Sarabjit Singh, the arrested accused in the brutal murder of Dalit labourer Lakhbir Singh at the Kundli border had appeared before the media before he surrendered claiming responsibility for the brutal attack. In a video shared by a media platform, The New Indian, the accused is heard claiming full responsibility for the barbaric act.
FLASH: Nihang Sikh, Sarabjit Singh, ahead of surrender before Haryana Police @SonipatP appears before media to ‘confess’ his role in barbaric killing of a man, who was tied to barricades over alleged desecration, near Samyukt Kisan Morcha farmer protest site.
Nihang Sarabjit Singh, who is the second person appearing in the video, said that when he had found someone desecrating a Sikh sacred book he did what he deemed fit. When the reporters asked him whether he had any remorse over his action, Sarabjit is heard answering in the negative.
Though the audio is not very clear, Sarabjit is heard telling the media that he was not prompted by anyone to do what he did and that it was his own decision.
Meanwhile, Jathedar Raja Raj Singh, the Nihang Tarna Dal’s chief, who is the first person to speak to the media in the 1.47-second video, issued a threat to those who seek to discredit their efforts. He is heard suggesting that in the future, they will impose tougher punishments on individuals who oppose them.
Haryana police arrests Nihang Sarabjit Singh
Notably, Nihang Sarabjit was arrested by the Haryana Police after he surrendered claiming responsibility for killing Lakhbir Singh.
A video shared by news agency ANI showed the police taking away the accused in a police van amidst “Bole so Nihal” slogans.
On Friday, October 15, a gruesome murder was reported from the Singhu-Kundli border protest site where farmers have been camping for more months now against the three farm laws. A badly mutilated corpse of a man, whose hands were chopped and legs cut, was suspended over a police barricade, reportedly by Nihang Sikhs for allegedly committing blasphemy. The victim has been identified as 35-year-old Lakhbir Singh.
