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China persecuted Uyghurs not just in Xinjiang, but from 28 other countries: Report details China’s transnational repression of Uyghur Muslims

OpIndia Staff
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China persecuted Uyghurs not just in Xinjiang, but from 28 other countries: Report details China’s transnational repression of Uyghur Muslims

A significant research paper has been published by the Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP) and the Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs, revealing the scale of People Republic of China’s transnational repression of Uyghurs for over three decades and how many countries across the world have been complicit in the persecution of Uyghurs Muslims.

In a recently released report, the Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP) and the Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs have explained in detail the extent of the Communist Party of China’s persecution of Uyghur Muslims not just in Xinjiang province but also against Uyghur Muslims communities living in other parts of the world.

The research report titled “No Space Left to Run: China’s Transnational Repression of Uyghurs” has accounted for cases of international exploitation of Uyghur Muslims by Communist China and has also compiled such cases in its Transnational Repression of Uyghurs Database. The report also highlights how the Chinese government is perpetrating transnational repression on a massive scale, making Uyghurs worldwide the special targets of state control beyond China’s borders. 

Uyghurs are a Turkish-Muslim ethnic group living in Xinjiang, the largest and most western of China’s administrative regions surrounded by Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. The Xinjiang autonomous region in China has had a long history of discord between the authorities and the indigenous ethnic Uighur population.

China targeted Uyghur Muslims beyond its border to silence them, says research

This report highlights how China targets Uyghurs beyond its borders to silence dissent. In partnership with the Uyghur Human Rights Project, the Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs has investigated cases of China’s transnational repression of Uyghurs to establish a detailed analysis on the scale and scope of China’s global repression against Uyghurs.

The report states the Chinese government’s reach into 28 countries around the world. The researchers examined 1,546 cases of serious human rights violations on foreign soil from 1997 through March 2021, offering critical insight into the scope and evolution of the Chinese government’s longstanding efforts to control and repress Uyghurs across sovereign borders. 

The research data finds instances of at least 28 countries across the world complicit in China’s harassment and persecution of Uyghurs, especially in the Middle East and North Africa with 647 cases, and in South Asia with 665 cases. The dataset contains 1,151 cases of Uyghurs being detained in their host country and 395 cases of Uyghurs being deported, extradited, or rendered back to China.

In their report, the research cautioned the world about increasing China’s transnational repression against Uyghurs, highlighting that the repression against them has accelerated dramatically with the onset of its system of mass surveillance in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) from 2017. The researchers also said that there is a correlation between repression at home and abroad.

Atleast 28 countries are complicit in China’s repression of Uyghurs: Report

In the first stage, from 1997 to 2007, a total of 89 Uyghurs from 9 countries, mostly in South and Central Asia, were detained or sent to China. In the second phase that dated from 2008–2013, 130 individuals from 15 countries were repressed. In the ongoing third phase from 2014 to the end of our data collection in March 2021, the researchers have documented a total of 1,327 individuals cases of detentions of Uyghurs in at least 20 countries.

According to the report, international organisations and foreign governments, especially those countries that share close political and economic ties with the PRC are accused of being complicit in China’s use of transnational repression against Uyghurs, many of whom have sought refuge in these countries. The researchers alleged that the transnational repression of Uyghurs by China is part of a wider trend of global authoritarianism that threatens to erode democratic norms worldwide.

The Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP) and the Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs said that stopping China’s transnational repression is a moral imperative and crucial to maintaining state sovereignty and the integrity of international organisations like Interpol and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

The research group also urged the host countries to take concrete steps to combat China’s transnational persecution and protect Uyghurs and other vulnerable populations. This report also details trans-national repression and the key actors and methods used by the Chinese government to continue their repression.

The countries include Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia and Myanmar.

Researchers urge international community to address Uyghur persecution, suggest measure to combat the repression

To counteract China’s global repression, the Oxus Society and UHRP recommend the following measures to be adopted by the host countries and international organisations as a whole.

The Oxus Society and UHRP suggested that foreign governments should refuse to extradite Uyghurs, increase refugee and emigration quotas, and restrict networks of enablers, including tech companies, as well as diaspora groups and organisations acting as fronts for the Chinese government.

Further, International organisations and host countries must end their complicity in acts of transnational repression, including by restricting networks of enablers and restricting the export of surveillance technologies that are used in tracking and controlling Uyghurs and other vulnerable communities.  

The report said that the global community should strengthen refugee resettlement programs by increasing quotas and streamlining procedures to allow Uyghurs to leave third countries collaborating with China. Increase accountability by raising the costs of embarking on campaigns of transnational repression, the report advised the host countries.

The Oxus Society database just represents the tip of the iceberg as it relies exclusively on publicly reported and validated instances of repression. The unreported cases of violations and instances of less acute human rights violations would undoubtedly raise these figures substantially.

China’s persecution of Uyghur Muslims

China has long been at the receiving end of criticism over its alleged treatment of Uyghur Muslims and sending them to mass detention centres. China has also been accused of oppressing and interfering with Uyghur Muslims in their religious activities.

Chinese oppression of Uyghur Muslims has been known for a long time. Earlier the Chinese police had imposed a dress code for Uyghur women, under which the Muslim women are not allowed to wear long dresses. Last year photos had appeared on social media showing police cutting dresses of Uyghur women for being “too long”. It was also reported that Han Males are sleeping on the same bed as Uyghur Muslim women in China whose male family members, often husbands, are locked up in ‘re-education camps’ in conformity with a diktat by the Chinese regime.

Despite such atrocities, China has not faced any repercussions for its ongoing totalitarian policies, which are most heinously affecting the Uyghurs. They have been abandoned by the Muslim world as well. The Islamic world, which has surrendered itself to the Chinese whims, has maintained a tight lip against China. With no courage to speak against China, the Islamic countries are now throwing the Uyghurs under the bus in exchange for Chinese money. 

Germany: Somali immigrant goes on a stabbing spree while shouting ‘Allah hu Akbar’, kills 3. Here is what we know so far

OpIndia Staff
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Germany: Somali immigrant goes on a stabbing spree while shouting ‘Allah hu Akbar’, kills 3. Here is what we know so far

On Friday (June 25), a Somali immigrant went on a stabbing spree, killing 3 people and injuring 5 others, in the Wurzburg city of Germany. The deadly attack took place at around 5 pm in Barbarossa Square, which lies at the centre of the city.

As per reports, the unnamed accused has been identified as a 24-year-old immigrant from Somalia. He had been staying in Wurzburg city since 2015. According to eye witnesses, the accused had a big knife, which he used it to stab the passersby. During the attack, three people including a child and one of his parents was killed. An eyewitness informed that the accused shouted ‘Allah hu Akbar’ prior to attacking the victims.

Julia Runze, who witnessed the incident, informed, “He had a really big knife with him and was attacking people. Then many people tried to throw chairs or umbrellas or cellphones at him and stop him. The police then approached him and I think a shot was fired, you could hear that clearly.” As per the Lower Franconia police, the accused was arrested after the police fired a gunshot to his leg.

In a video that has now gone viral on social media, a man was seen trying to overpower the accused using a bag. The Somali immigrant was seen walking barefoot and wielding a huge knife.

In another video, locals at the Barbarossa Square were seen chasing and intimidating the attacker with sticks and chairs. The police had clarified that there was no ‘second suspect’ and that the people were out of danger. The cops informed that the accused did not know the victims and are now investigating the motive behind the knife attack.

While speaking about the matter, Bavaria’s security official Joachim Herrmann informed that the police were aware of the accused. “His condition had been noticed in recent months, including violent tendencies, and a few days ago he was put into compulsory psychiatric treatment,” Herrman added. He further informed that the ‘Islamic extremist motive’ behind the attack could not be ruled out as eye witnesses heard him yelling ‘Allah hu Akbar.’

“That suggests a possible Islamist motive, and that is also part of the investigation,” he pointed out. Herrman confirmed that three were had died while other 5 injured remained in critical condition. He added that it was unclear when they would survive after the attack. While condemning the incident, Bavaria’s governor Markus Soeder said, “We grieve with the victims and their families.”

Wurzburg is a city of 130,000 people and is located between Munich and Frankfurt. Germany had opened its borders for refugees from poverty-stricken and war-torn countries in the year 2015. Coincidentally, the accused began living in the Wurzburg city from the same year itself. Hundreds of people came forward to pay tribute to those killed in the deadly knife attack. They left flower bouquets, and candles outside a makeshift memorial for the deceased.

How Germany exacerbated the refugee crisis?

At the height of the migrant crisis in Europe, German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced that the country had the ‘economic strength’ to take in refugees. She also claimed that there was no upper limit to the number of refugees that the country could take in. Angela Merkel had come under fierce criticism for not consulting the federal States. Seehofer, the leader of the Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU), had criticised the Chancellor and estimated that 30% of all refugees were from Syria. He had called upon the EU to cut funding to member States that reject mandatory refugee quotas.

A German study in 2018 found that the country’s fourth-most-populous state, Lower Saxony, witnessed an increase in violent crimes due to incoming migrants. Between 2007 and 2014, the region saw a 21.9% decline in such crimes. However, there was a 10.4% hike by 2016 end. It was found that Lower Saxony had about 7.5 lac residents without German citizenship. By 2016 end, only 1.5 lac migrants had applied for asylum. 92.1% of the total increase in crimes in Lower Saxony was attributed to the incoming migrants.

Bloomberg reported, “Between 2014 and 2016, the share of solved violent crimes attributed to asylum seekers increased to 13.3 percent from 4.3 percent — a disproportionately high share compared with the state’s foreign population… The breakdown of specific crimes committed by the asylum seekers is equally thought-provoking. In some 91 percent of murders and three-quarters of cases involving grave bodily damage, the victims are other migrants.”

The liberal, open-border policies of German Chancellor Angela Merkel had turned the country into the most sought after destination for refugees. Between January and December 2015, a whopping 1.091 million asylum-seekers registered with the German government for their distribution among federal States. However, in February 2016, the government conceded that it lost track of 13% of the asylum seekers. Reportedly, the migrants did not move to their accommodation and instead migrated to other European countries or kept living in the country illegally.

The result of left-liberal indoctrination was such that a German politician by the name of Selin Gören lied about the racial identity of the 3 perpetrators who raped her in 2016. The woman was caught off guard by the men at night in a playground and forced to perform sexual acts. She had concealed the fact that the accused spoke in Arabic /Farsi. She claimed that she did not want to stoke hatred against migrants in Germany. The policies of the German government to wholeheartedly welcome the refugees proved costly.

Hindus object to play at Edinburg International Festival that shows deities using ‘F-word’, partying with booze: Read details

OpIndia Staff
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Hindus object to play at Edinburg International Festival that shows deities using ‘F-word’, partying with booze: Read details

Hindus in the United States and the United Kingdom have objected to the hosting of a contentious play titled ‘Hindu Times’ at the Edinburg International Festival (EIF) in Scotland.

As per reports, the play ‘Hindu Times’ is written by Scottish Indian playwright Jaimini Jethwa and directed by Caitlin Skinner. EIF has decided to host it at the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh between August 20-21. The play mocks the religious beliefs and shows revered Hindu deities such as Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, and Goddess Lakshmi in a bad light. Reportedly, the play begins with a warning that goes as, “Contains strong language and adult themes.”

While condemning EIF’s decision, Hindu Statesman Rajan Zed pointed out that Hindu Gods and Goddesses are meant to be worshipped in temples and home shrines. He emphasised that they should not be portrayed as looking for alcohol in Dundee and breaking into closed shops for liquor. Zed lambasted EIF for sacrilege, ridiculing the Hindu community and belittling other traditions. He has called upon EIF to apologise for its inappropriate selection of a play.

Hindus object to the hosting of derogatory play by EIF

Rajan Zed, the President of the Universal Society of Hinduism, has written to EIF’s Board Chair Keith Skeoch, Chief Executive Fergus Linehan, Executive Director Francesca Hegyi and Royal Patron HRH The Earl of Wessex. He has urged them to train its executives for ‘cultural sensitivity’ and re-evaluate the systems and procedures in place to avoid selection of plays such as ‘Hindu Times.’ He has urged the partners and funders of EIF such as British Council, Scottish Government, UK government to rethink their association with EIF.

The Hindu Statesman added that the community supported artistic freedom but sacrilege hurt the followers of the religion. He stated that that Brahma-Vishnu-Lakshmi are divine to the Faith and innapropriate depiction not only hurt the sentiments of Hindus but create false impression in the minds of non-Hindus about the religion. “Attempts at distorting of Hindu gods and goddesses would be slighting of ancient Hindu traditions. He or other Hindu scholars would gladly help if industry needed any assistance in exploring Hinduism,” he said.

The play has now drawn the ire of the 1.2 billion Hindus for deliberate mishandling and depiction of the Hindu Faith. Reportedly, one of the scenes also showed Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Brahma using the ‘F-word’. “We request EIF to listen to the Hindus and to not show this play,” remarked Nandini Singh of REACH INDIA (UK). Kuldeep Shekhawat, Overseas Friends of BJP UK, added, “We request EIF to withdraw this play if it is making derogatory remarks.”

Review of ‘Hindu Times’ by the Guardian reveals the objectionable portrayal of Hindu deities

The denigration of Hindu deities was such that The Guardian review claimed, “Gods Vishnu, Lakshmi, and Brahma become street-smart hedonists…Jethwa’s divine beings find themselves at an accidental lock-in at a Spar shop on a night made for partying.”

It further added, “Vishnu and Brahma, meanwhile, have shown up in their trainers as Vince and Barry, determined to remind Lakshmi of her true nature in between the banter and the drug talk…You wouldn’t call it pious, but somehow, as it juxtaposes big thoughts about timeless love with the realpolitik of everyday survival, it makes it seem that Dundee’s No 1 rule about casual sex – “Nae ridin’ and bidin’” – has something to do with Sanskrit philosophy.”

Sikhs abused for highlighting abduction and religious conversion to Islam in Kashmir, fractures appear in ‘Sikh-Muslim unity’ project

K Bhattacharjee
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Sikhs abused for highlighting abduction and religious conversion to Islam in Kashmir, fractures appear in ‘Sikh-Muslim unity’ project

Tensions are rife in Kashmir after two Sikh girls were allegedly kidnapped and converted to Islam recently. According to the claims of the Sikh community, at least one of them has been located and is mentally unstable. The girl was produced before the Court and her statement was allegedly recorded in absence of her family. The Court gave the verdict in favour of the man and she was allowed to go with his family.

The news was shared on Twitter by Amaan who is now being trolled on social media for highlighting the issue. One person said that Sikhs were behaving worse than ‘Sanghis’ after one incident.

The same individual highlighted a crass comment by an apparently Sikh man to assert that no one is an ally for the Muslim community.

Another user accused Amaan of “spreading hate” against the Kashmiri Muslim community while using abusive words for the Kashmiri Pandit community.

The sentiment appears to be widespread among the Kashmiri Muslim community.

Meanwhile, Amaan is urging Sikh youths to not ‘cross over to the saffron side’. He appears equally concerned about the ‘Sanghi ecosystem’ taking advantage of the incident as he is for the fate of the girls themselves.

In recent times, there has been a concerted effort to stitch together a fictitious ‘Sikh-Muslim’ political unity. Towards that end, langars were organised for the Shaheen Bagh protesters in Delhi and subsequently, the farmer protests, with its distinct Khalistani undertones, have received significant support from Islamists as well.

However, that initiative appears to be going down the same route as ‘Dalit-Muslim’ unity. For the sake of such a unity, Dalit leaders often maintain a strategic silence committed by Islamists against people from the Dalit community. It has happened on several occasions that prominent Dalit leaders remained silent while Dalits continued to suffer the brunt of the Islamist attacks.

The ‘Sikh-Muslim unity’ project at least has not reached such disastrous proportions yet, or so it seems. Manjinder Singh Sirsa, who had called Hinduism ‘weak’ after Yogi Adityanath in Uttar Pradesh passed an anti-conversion law, now wants the same in Jammu & Kashmir.

Sirsa also lamented the fact that the Sikh community had supported the Muslim community during the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act but no Muslim leader has come forward to support his community now.

Such developments once again proves that the ‘Sikh-Muslim unity’ project is based on a mountain of lies being crafted solely for the benefit of political leaders for their personal ambitions. Before long, if it suits their purpose, they will definitely be more than willing to throw Sikhs under the bus for personal political gains.

There is, of course, a history of persecution of the Sikh community by Islamic regimes. In Pakistan and Afghanistan, Sikhs are persecuted by the majority Muslim community, leading many of them to come over to India for a better future. However, it appears that certain Sikh political leaders, are ignoring centuries of history for short term political gains.

Akali leader who mocked Hinduism as ‘weak religion’ for anti-conversion laws now wants same laws to save Sikh women from forced religious conversions

OpIndia Staff
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Akali leader who mocked Hinduism as ‘weak religion’ for anti-conversion laws now wants same laws to save Sikh women from forced religious conversions

Shiromani Akali Dal leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa in a series of Tweet has requested local political leaders of Kashmir including Mufti to come out in support of the Sikh community. He also made a demand for an anti-forced religious conversion law be passed in Jammu & Kashmir citing the example of Uttar Pradesh. 

This comes after two Sikh girls were reportedly abducted and converted to Islam in Kashmir. Of these, one girl who was married off to a Muslim boy is still missing.

Joining the ongoing protests in the valley, Sirsa said, “I am at Srinagar joining the protest with local Sikh community against forced Nikah and conversions of Sikh daughters who are forced to marry elderly of different religion. I urge Govt of India to take stern action against such kind of Nikah happening in the valley.”

Manjinder Sirsa in his Tweet demanded the return of favour from Kashmiri leaders for extending support during the anti-CAA protests. “I request local leaders of Srinagar and Mullanas & Muftis to come in support of Sikh daughters. Sikhs were at the forefront ensuring Muslim daughters reach home safely during CAA protests but no Muslim leader has come to raise voice against forced conversions of Sikh girls,” he wrote. 

The then BJP ally Shiromani Akali Dal had opposed the CAA which fast-tracked Indian citizenship for persecuted religious minorities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

Sharing videos of protestors demanding anti-conversion law, Sirsa Tweeted, “The local Sikh community of Jammu and Kashmir urges @AmitShah Ji to get a strong law implemented in Jammu & Kashmir (Just like Uttar Pradesh & Madhya Pradesh) mandating Permission of parents in inter-religion marriages to stop these forced Nikahs of Sikh minority girls.”

Sirsa during a media interaction also expressed that the Sikh community had no idea that this is how their brotherhood would be paid back where their daughters are being abducted and forcefully married to elderly men of other religions.

“We will not tolerate forced Nikah and conversions of Sikh daughters living in Kashmir who are forced to marry elderly of different religion Sikhs living in J&K urge @AmitShah for a law that mandates permission of Parents in inter-religion marriages,” he said.

Sirsa allegedly had mocked the same anti-conversion law when it was introduced by the Yogi Adityanath government while talking to the media during the ongoing farmer’s protest.

Manjinder Singh Sirsa’s comment on anti-conversion law and Hindus

In January this year, Sirsa, while attending the ‘farmer’ protests against the central government farm laws, Sirsra while responding to a misleading and factually incorrect question regarding forced religious conversion, said, “How is your religion (Hinduism) so weak that they need help of law to save their religion?” Sirsa was speaking about the same anti-forced religious conversion law he now wants implemented.

At around 15 minutes into the video one can hear Sirsa say, “Having this kind of religion is a sin in itself. That means there are flaws in your religion. You must remove these flaws in your religion. The ones who are religious leaders have flaws, remove them.”

Forced conversion in J&K

On June 26, a case of forced conversion came to light from Jammu & Kashmir. As per reports, an 18-year-old Sikh Girl from Badgam district was lured and forcefully converted to Islam.

Another case is of a girl from Mehjoor Nagar in Srinagar who attended a function of her Muslim friend. As per Bali, she was married off to a boy who attended the function. While the girl was not a minor, she is still missing.

Sikh community launch protest

The Sikh community along with the support of Sikh leaders have launched a protest demanding strict action and new laws. We earlier reported how the custody of one girl was handed over to the man instead of her family who were given a written assurance by the police. The girl’s family was also stopped from entering the court. 

Sardar Santpal Singh, President Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee-Budgam said, said, “The Police asked the family members of the girl to sit outside to avoid the crowd in the Court. However, all the relatives of the Muslim man were allowed in the Court. The judge recorded the statement of the girl in the absence of her family members and took note of the statements of the relatives of the Muslim man. No one from the family of the girl was called in the Court during the proceedings.”

Another Sikh man who was present at the scene said, “What kind of system is functioning in the Court that passes the judgement without hearing the girl’s family? Why was the judgement passed in a day? Why girl’s family was not allowed in the Court?” 

Tejinder Singh Sodhi, Reporter CNN News 18, said, “Sikh community in Kashmir is treated as second class citizens, nothing has changed for the community in the past 70 years. Why not a single person from the majority community is standing with Sikhs right now when the same Sikhs have always stood to protect their daughters.”

The voices demanding anti-conversion laws are getting stronger. 

Krishna Janmabhoomi trust offers bigger land to Muslims for mosque if they are willing to demolish Mughal-era Shahi Idgah Masjid

OpIndia Staff
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Krishna Janmabhoomi trust offers bigger land to Muslims for mosque if they are willing to demolish Mughal-era Shahi Idgah Masjid

An application has been filed before a Mathura Court by Sri Krishna Janmabhumi Mukti Aandolan Samiti, offering the Muslim parties that manage the mosque a larger piece of land if they are willing to demolish the controversial Shahi Idgah Masjid near the Krishna Janmabhoomi in Mathura.

According to the reports, the Hindu parties, represented by Sri Krishna temple trust and Sri Krishna Janmbhoomi Mukti Andolan Samiti, have put forward a peace proposal to offer a much larger piece of land to the Shahi Idgah Masjid management in Mathura if they accept the offer of shifting the mosque to another place.

The application was filed through advocate Mahendra Pratap Singh before the Civil Judge, Senior Division, Mathura. The plea informed the court that the Idgah masjid was built by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb with the stones of the temple after demolishing the temple.

“There are many stones in which Hindu scriptures are visible and the Mosque was built after destroying the temple on the orders of Aurangzeb.”

Petitioners cite Ram Mandir judgement to settle Krishna Janmabhoomi dispute

The petitioners cited the Supreme Court judgment in the Ayodhya Sri Ram Janmbhoomi case, in which the apex court had granted the land rights to Ram Lalla and had offered a large piece of land to Muslims construct a mosque. The petitioners prayed that the court to the court to consider their application and make it a part of the original suit that was earlier filed last year for the removal of the mosque.

Last year, on September 25, 2020, a suit was filed before the Civil Judge, Senior Division at Mathura, on behalf of child deity Bhagwan Shri Krishna Virajman. The suit that was filed through the next friend of the deity advocate Ranjana Agnihotri and six other plaintiffs prayed to remove the Shahi Idgah Masjid adjacent to the Shri Krishna Temple Complex at Mathura.

The plea had alleged that the Committee of Management of Trust Masjid Idgah, without any authority of law and in utter violation of decree of a court decree, with the help of some Muslims, put up a superstructure and had taken over the land of Katra Keshav Dev belonging to Shree Krishna Janmasthan Trust and the deity.

Krishna Janmabhoomi Nirman Nyas wants to reclaim mosque to build community hall

The Krishna Janmabhoomi Nirman Nyas has been trying to reclaim the four-and-a-half-acre land next to the mosque to use it as a ‘Ranga Manch’ for religious and cultural functions organised by it and the temple authorities.

Ever since the Babri mosque was demolished in 1992, the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has been calling for the “liberation” of Krishna Janmabhoomi in Mathura and the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi.

Following the Supreme Court verdict on the Ram Janmabhoomi case, there has been a growing demand among Hindus to reclaim Kashi and Mathura, along with Ayodhya. Taking back the disputed sites of Kashi Vishwanath temple and Krishna Janmabhoomi temple at Mathura has now become a priority for various Hindu groups in the country.

The Gyanvapi Mosque was built by the Islamic invader Aurangzeb after destroying the original Kashi Vishwanath temple. However, the remnants of the ancient Hindu temple can still be seen on the walls of the Gyanvapi Mosque. The temple was an earlier restoration of the original Kashi Vishwanath temple, which was destroyed and rebuilt several times in history. The current Kashi Vishwanath was built on a site near the Mosque in 1777 by Rani Ahilyabai Holkar.

Sharad Pawar, other MVA leaders park cars on race track for athletes, ruining sports infrastructure worth crores

OpIndia Staff
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Sharad Pawar, other MVA leaders park cars on race track for athletes, ruining sports infrastructure worth crores

Former Indian Olympic Association president Sharad Pawar, Sports Minister Sunil Kedar, Cabinet Minister Aditi Tatkare and other ministers and dignitaries parked their vehicles on an race track for athletes in Pune’s Shivachhatrapati Sports Complex sparking controversy. 

As per reports, the ministers did not want to use the elevators to reach the second floor of the sports complex which houses a meeting room. To avoid the inconvenience, the ministers decided to take the cars up to the second floor of the complex and parked the cars on the athletic track. 

Reportedly, the cars were parked till the meeting came to an end, plausibly causing damage to the tracks. The loss due to damage of tracks could run into crores. This, while the parking lot of the sports complex was lying vacant.

The new synthetic track for athletes has been set up at the cost of Rs 2 crores in sports city at Mahalunge-Balewadi. The stadium is designed such that the runway is parallel to the second floor, where the meeting was to take place. Hence, the cars were brought and parked on the running track so that the VVIP politicians are not inconvenienced.

BJP leaders hit out at MVA leaders

Several BJP leaders have lashed out at the MVA government for displaying a brazen VVIP attitude.

Taking cognizance of the matter, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju Tweeted, “As it is we are lacking in sufficient sports facilities in our country. All the sports centers need proper care.”

BJP MLA Siddharth Shirole Tweeted, “#VIP Culture & Arrogance of the #MVA…Athletic track at Shivchhatrapati Sports Complex (#PUNE ) being used as a parking lot for Cars belonging Ex. IOA President @PawarSpeaks ji, Sports Cabinet Minister @SunilKedar1111 ji and MoS Sports @iAditiTatkare ji Courtesy : @mataonline.”

National in-charge of BJP’s IT department Amit Malviya also registered his protest. “At a time when Indian athletes are preparing for Olympics, Sharad Pawar, former IOA president and other MVA ministers, in a brazen display of arrogance, run their cars on the tracks of Shivchhatrapati Sports Complex (Pune), because they didn’t want to climb two flights of stairs!” Tweeted Malviya.

Sharad Pawar claims need to use CSR funds for developing sports infrastructure

Ironically, in the same review meeting held for the under-construction International Sports University at Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Balewadi, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar urged private firms to invest in the development of sports infrastructure by making use of corporate social responsibility funds along with government funding.

“The International Sports University, Maharashtra will be instrumental in creating technical manpower for sports management, job creation in the sports sector and sports training. Athletes should take full advantage of these upcoming advanced facilities,” added Pawar.

Sports Minister says “won’t happen again”

Sunil Kedar reacting to the incident claimed, “Such incident will not happen in future. Once the international sports university starts, the grounds in the sports complex will be only used for the sports activities.”

However, an athlete on the request of anonymity who trains at the main athletic stadium revealed, “Officials always take such things lightly. Driving or parking a car damages the synthetic track. Already track has developed bubbles in between and such activities will make it worse for running.”

NHRC Committee invites stakeholders to interact on complaints related to post-poll violence in West Bengal

OpIndia Staff
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NHRC Committee invites stakeholders to interact on complaints related to post-poll violence in West Bengal

On June 27, National Human Rights Commission invited different stakeholders to interact with the committee members and discuss the complaints related to post-poll violence in West Bengal. The committee members would meet the stakeholders on June 27, 4 PM onwards and June 28, 10 AM onwards.

The Committee was formed by NHRC as per the direction of Calcutta High Court. The Committee constituted by Justice AK Mishra would look into various cases, complaints, allegations of violations of human rights, particularly in the post-poll period in the State of West Bengal.

The notification issued by NHRC reads, “As per the direction of Hon’ble High Court of West Bengal vide WP No.142-149/2021 & 167/2021 dated 18/06/2021, a Committee has been constituted by Mr Justice A K Mishra, Chairperson, NHRC, to look into the various cases, complaints, allegations of violations of human rights, particularly in the post-poll period in the State of West Bengal. The Committee, headed by Mr Rajiv Jain, Member, NHRC, has been touring various places of West Bengal and inquiring into the veracity of these complaints/allegations.

Notification by NHRC. Source: ANI

It further added, “In continuation of the same, few members of the Committee and the NHRC teams will be available tomorrow from 10 AMt 04 PM today (27/06/2021) and once again at 10 AM tomorrow (28/06/2021) for at least three hours at Staff Officer Mess, 3rd Signal Bn, CRPF, BN Block, Sector-V Saltlake, Kolkata to Interact with complainants/victims/petitioners/other stakeholders.”

The Committee said that the victims/complainants could meet the members irrespective of their caste, creed, religion, gender, ethnicity, or political affiliation. It further said, “Those who are unable to come can send their complaints/petitions/supporting evidences and documents at the following Email ID: [email protected] and or talk to the NHRC team member on the following Mobile No.: 8826705906 and 8799712259.”

Post poll violence in West Bengal

During post-poll violence, over two dozen BJP karyakartas were reportedly killed. In a report submitted by the Group of Intellectuals and Academicians (GIA), it was mentioned that those who suffered the wrath of TMC workers after winning the elections were from marginal sections of Hindu society who had voted for BJP. According to the reports, women were raped, houses were ransacked, shops were looted, and several Hindu families migrated to neighbouring states to save themselves from the goons of TMC.

Multiple women, in their testimonies to the Supreme Court, have revealed the brutal rapes, gang rapes and sexual assault as well as other atrocities unleashed upon them because of their support to the BJP.

Manipur: Cash reward announced for communities with highest inoculations in Sagolband constituency

OpIndia Staff
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Manipur: Cash reward announced for communities with highest inoculations in Sagolband constituency

MLA Rajkumar Imo of Sagolband Assembly Constituency, Manipur has announced cash rewards for localities within his constituency to strengthen the inoculation drive.

MLA Imo while on his review visit to Bijoy Govindo Centre announced the mobile vaccination strategy and rewards for inoculation.

“2nd phase of Mass vaccination started at Bijoy Govinda today. Urge everyone to register themselves and get vaccinated. Initiated double strategy of Mobile Vaccination across Sagolband starting from Amudon, where a team will be sent to each locality, enabling everyone to vaccinate am announcing vaccination reward/prize of Rs 50000/, Rs 30000/ and Rs 20000/ for the top three polling/localities which has the best vaccination ratio by the end of August,” Imo said in a Tweet. 

Talking about the need to ‘break the chain’, Imo as per a Imphal Free Press report said, “We have been able to vaccinate more than 50 percent of people in the assembly constituency till now, and we will never be safe till all of us are vaccinated.”

“However, there are some localities which have less vaccination ratio and there will be a push to increase vaccination in those areas, thus a double strategy of mobile vaccination and opening of normal vaccination centres is being taken up,” he added. 

The numbers for reward will be counted till the end of August this year. Imphal West district is currently leading in the vaccination drive with over 1 lakh 55 thousand doses of the Covid-19 vaccine administered to date.

Manipur vaccination drive 

Manipur which has a population of around 27 lakhs and 20 lakhs eligible for the vaccination, the state has administered 6,05,221 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine to date. 

As per reports, the Manipur Health authority aims to vaccinate at least 70% of the total eligible population by the end of this year. 

Manipur State Health Society, Dr. N Shyamjai during a media sensitisation program said, “As high as 12,000 doses were administered in a single day in May. So we’re targeting to vaccinate at least 70 percent of the eligible population.”

Manipur CM says ready to tackle third-wave

Inspecting the oxygen plant construction at Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS), Imphal, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh assured that the state is completely prepared to fight the potential third wave of COVID-19.

He also informed that another oxygen plant with a capacity to provide 200 cylinders of medical oxygen is in its completion stage.

Biren Singh added, “The only effective means of avoiding COVID-19 is vaccination. All sections of people should get vaccinated. Some scheming people have been spreading a wild rumour about the efficacy of vaccines, which have been approved by experts. It’s disheartening that many people seem to believe this and are avoiding vaccination. If non-cooperation continues, the government will have to use force and people should not blame the police and the government.”

Bengaluru arrests eight Bangladeshi women, two Indian nationals for running human trafficking racket in the city

OpIndia Staff
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Bengaluru arrests eight Bangladeshi women, two Indian nationals for running human trafficking racket in the city

The Bengaluru police busted an illegal Bangladeshi human trafficking network in the city on Friday (June 26) and arrested eight Bangladeshi women and two Indian nationals from a ladies PG in Banaswadi, Bengaluru.

According to reports, the Bengaluru police raided the ladies PG located in the Banaswadi area in the city after receiving information about the presence of illegal Bangladeshi nationals. The police apprehended two Indian nationals, namely Anand and Anil.

The police said that Anil is married to a Bangladeshi national named Pooja aka Pinky, who returned to Bangladesh in April 2021 along with another Bangladeshi national named Kamal Hassan.

During the questioning, both the accused Anand and Anil identified the photographs of a person named Manjunath, aka Vishwanath, who is alleged to be the kingpin of the prostitution and human trafficking racket in Bengaluru. Both Anand and Anil admitted to having been part of the racket under Manjunath in the city.

Upon receiving the information, the Bengaluru police raided another PG near HSR Layout, where they arrested seven other suspected Bangladeshi nationals. During the questioning, the police found out that most of those apprehended women had Bangladeshi contact numbers saved on their mobile handsets. These illegal Bangladeshi nationals had claimed to be natives of Kolkata but possessed Aadhaar Cards issued from Mumbai and Gujarat.

According to Banaswadi Police officials, the arrested individuals from the PG have admitted to being natives of Bangladesh and provided their addresses in Bangladesh. The police officials said that they would be conducting a detailed enquiry to nab the remaining traffickers operating in the city.

The Bengaluru police are also ascertaining more details about the possible angle of narcotics, weapons or communal angle in the case.

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