Months after halting power supply to unrest-hit Bangladesh over non-payment of dues, Adani Power resumed electricity supply to the neighbouring country. Both the units of Adani Power’s plants in Godda increased supply earlier this month after Bangladesh began clearing dues.
On 27th March, Rezaul Karim, chairman of Bangladesh Power Development Board, informed about the power supply resumption and said, “We’re making regular payments to Adani and receiving power as per our requirements.”
Reports say that Adani Power is receiving $80- 90 million regularly from Bangladesh. This amount also covers payment for current consumption. The dues are estimated at around $820-830 million, which is expected to be paid in the coming months. As per a Times of India report, Bangladesh Power Development Board had provided guarantees to assure Adani’s lenders and help reduce the cash crunch of the company.
In February this year, the interim government in Bangladesh, led by Muhammad Yunus, requested that Adani Power resume ‘full supply’ from its plant in Jharkhand.
The Indian conglomerate runs a 1600-megawatt plant (2 units of 800-megawatt capacity) in Jharkhand and supplies power exclusively to Bangladesh as per a contract signed with former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2017.
Adani Power shut down one unit of its $2 billion plant on 1st November last year. Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) requested the Indian conglomerate to restore a ‘full supply’ of power, adding that it is paying $85 million a month to clear pending dues.
BPDB Chairman Mohammed Rezaul Karim said that Adani Power couldn’t synchronise the 2nd unit of its plant on 10th February .”We are trying to pay more, and our intention is to reduce the overdue. Now there is no big issue with Adani,” he added.
In December last year, a payment dispute arose when an Adani Power official said that BPDB owed it $900 million while the latter’s Chairman alleged that it only owed $650 million to the Indian conglomerate. The dispute is over the calculation of power tariffs.
The Islamic festival of Eid-ul-Fitr is going to fall on 31st March-1st April. However, Auckland House School, which is a well-known private English-medium institution located in Shimla of Himachal Pradesh, sparked outrage over Eid celebrations. The objection arose after the school circulated a notice asking primary students to wear kurta-pyjama and a small cap, and to bring sevaiyan, paneer and dry fruits on 28th March in preparation for a pre-Eid event.
Notably, Auckland House School is a Christian institution that “aims at providing a sound education based on Christian principles and inculcating values through the life and teachings of Jesus,” according to their official website.
Image via himbumail.com
AP Singh, the leader of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), lambasted the school administration and described the move as a “blatant example of shallow secularism.” He wondered why, in the name of secularism, a Christian missionary school was making its students wear religious outfits and engage in religious rites. “Celebrating festivals is fine, but dictating dress codes for religious events is not acceptable. Auckland House School must realize it is not a madrasa. If this is secularism, then let them also issue similar orders for Hindu festivals like Ram Navami or Krishna Janmashtami,” he challenged.
As the dispute intensified, the Dev Bhoomi Sangarsh Samiti, a Hindu organization, expressed its dissent and threatened to stage a protest outside the educational institution and take legal action against it. On 24th March, the school ultimately rescinded its decision in light of the mounting opposition. On the other hand, Rohit Thakur, the minister of education denied these allegations, stating that the matter is being unduly intensified to disrupt societal harmony.
“This issue is being exaggerated only to provoke communal sentiments. The matter will be investigated. However, the message from the school administration was issued solely with the intent of maintaining communal harmony,” he conveyed while talking to ANI. “Today itself, I became aware of this matter through media reports. We will confirm the details, as the school being named is a well-established, reputed convent institution here. Himachal Pradesh is known for its communal harmony and goodwill, and we will ensure that this remains intact,” he further claimed.
The minister held social media responsible for exacerbating these issues. “There are certain individuals in society who unnecessarily attempt to create rifts. These matters must be put to rest. I have gathered information about the entire case because, in today’s era of social media, it does not take long for such issues to escalate. We stand in favor of strengthening communal harmony. Our social fabric must remain intact, with respect for all religions. That is what we will strive to uphold,” he added.
Auckland House School cries foul, releases statement
Meanwhile, the school at the heart of the row stated that the decision was allegedly revoked because “safety and well-being of our children is our highest priority.” It claimed, “The planned Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations for classes nursery to 2 was a part of their efforts to help young students appreciate India’s cultural diversity, just as we celebrate Holi, Diwali and Christmas. It was intended purely as a cultural learning experience, with no religious rituals and enforcement and participation was entirely voluntary,” in a fresh communique to the parents.
It further added that the school has chosen to cancel the event to maintain harmony and protect the environment in the wake of the recent misinformation and concerns about possible disruption and students are expected to attend class in their regular uniforms.
It also issued a detailed statement rejecting the claims and urging for responsible conduct online. The school also highlighted its enduring practice of celebrating cultural and religious festivals. It asserted that participation is always optional and that there is no religious ceremony or instruction involved, while claiming to promote empathy, understanding and respect among kids from all backgrounds.
“We strongly condemn attempts to misrepresent these celebrations as religious propaganda. Such actions only serve to harm social harmony and misguide the public. We are particularly concerned that these posts have disclosed information meant strictly for internal circulation, thereby violating privacy, endangering individuals, and breaching the norms of responsible digital conduct. This constitutes misuse of restricted information,” it mentioned in an official statement on social media.
“We respectfully urge all individuals and platforms to immediately remove such posts and stop compromising institutional and individual safety. Auckland House School remains firmly committed to the values enshrined in the Constitution and the ideals of unity in diversity. We call upon all right-thinking members of society to stand against such divisive and unethical actions, and to support an education grounded in mutual respect, dignity, and truth,” it stated.
Islamists, Communists play victim card over the issue
Predictably, the liberal-Islamist ecosystem seized the opportunity to launch an attack on “Hindutva.” The Wire’s senior propagandist Arfa Khanum Sherwan whined over the issue and wrote, “This is how we say ‘Eid Mubarak’ in India,” insinuating religious intolerance in the country.
Saba Khan reiterated similar sentiments, attributing the cancellation of the school’s earlier circular on Eid to Hindutva groups.
#Shimla, Himachal Pradesh: Private School in Shimla had to cancel ‘Eid celebrations’ after receiving threats from Hindutva organisations on Monday.
Students of Nursery to class 2 of Auckland House School were asked to wear Kurta pajama with a small cap and bring roti rolls with… pic.twitter.com/UqglIu99L8
Imposing Islamic practices, festivals on non-Muslim students
Just as individuals cannot be prevented from celebrating any festival, they also cannot be compelled to observe the same, including children. While the school circular might appear ordinary, it essentially mandated that students dress in a specific manner and take part in Eid celebrations. Certainly, even a fraction of this directive would have incited significant outcry among both Islamists and liberals, who are quick to decry oppression and saffronization at the slightest discomfort, yet remain silent when the same religious liberities are not afforded to members of the Hindu community.
It is noteworthy, this is not an isolated incident as students have been forced to follow Islamic practices including namaz and Muslim headscarfs by certain schools which resulted in severe backlash. A prominent incident was reported in 2023 from Madhya Pradesh’s Damoh, where Jain and Hindu schoolgirls were forced by the school administration to wear hijabs while Hindu symbols such as tilak and kalava were banned.
During 2023 Bakri Eid celebrations, Jnanasagara International School in Channarayapatna of Karnataka, came under fire for making Christian and Hindu pupils to recite passages from the Quran. Hindu activists protested when videos of the event went viral. The administration then claimed that although some Muslim students participated in namaz, others were not required to read Quranic versus.
In the same year, Bajrang Dal members demonstrated outside a private school in Dehradun, charging that non-Muslim students were pressured into celebrating Eid. After the demonstration, the school removed videos of the festivities from its social media accounts. This incident occurred after a similar protest at another Doon school, where Hindu groups complained that the administration was preventing students from playing Holi while pushing them to celebrate Eid.
An agitation by Hindu organizations in 2023 led to the suspension of the principal and two teachers of BLS International School in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh for asking students to perform namaz during Eid celebrations inside the premises. The management claimed that kids sang as part of the celebration of Eid ul Fitr and World Heritage Day. However, action was taken and an investigation was launched into the matter.
Saint Pius Missionary School in Khandwa of Madhya Pradesh faced backlash for planning a Kalma and Quran reading program during the assembly prior to Eid al-Adha, in 2023. The district education department opened an investigation after the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) lodged a complaint. The Hindu group also received complaints from parents of the students regarding the same matter.
Last year, the discovery that students were being taught namaz caused a huge uproar in Jamnagar and Vadodara of Gujarat. A staff worker was heard urging the youngsters to raise the “Ya Hussain, Ya Hussain” slogan in a video of the Sonalnagar Anganwadi in Jamnagar that went viral on social media. They were also told bout Eid and instructed on how to perform namaz. The children at Karnali Anganwadi, which is situated in Dabhoi of Vadodara reportedly offered namaz. One of the staff members there told them to do the Islmaic prayer and wrapped a handkerchief around their heads to celebrate Eid.
During an Eid event at Gyansthali Public School in Sirmaur in 2024, the institution’s administration told the nursery kids to wear hijabs and Islamic headgear. The Bajrang Dal and Vishva Hindu Parishad expressed their disapproval of the school’s conduct after which he management acknowledged their error and promised to avoid it in the future.
An FIR (First Information Report) was filed against the principal of Nyaya Nagar Public School in Prayagraj in 2022 for offending religious sentiments because students were asked to post 20-second videos of themselves dressed in “Eid attire” and wishing one another a “Happy Eid” as part of the celebrations. Girls were to wear a salwar-kurta and dupatta whereas boys had to put on a kurta and cap. “Children are innocent and talking about giving more marks for wearing Eid outfits and making videos is an attempt to get them attracted towards a particular religion. This can be regarded as a step in the direction of religious conversion,” Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Lal Mani Tiwari had voiced.
Conclusion
The aforementioend instances are just a glimpse of a much broader issue. It is rather astonishing that these diktats placed on non-Muslim, particularly Hindu students, are consistently presented as mechanisms for promoting national unity, peace, and brotherhood. However, one must question why similar outcomes cannot be realized during Hindu festivals. Additionally, how can the act of pushing something on individuals foster a sense of acceptance or tolerance towards that very imposition? More importantly, how the celebration of Hindu events and the country’s roots and culture, which are significantly more unifying than any festival is viewed as anti-minority or anti-Muslim.
Moreover, Hindu processions and festivals, including the recent Holi, regularly suffer assault from Muslim mobs. Hindus are not allowed to mark any religious event in peace while their children are expected to engage in Eid festivities at their educational institutions and it is portrayed as a grand act of promoting communal harmony and peace. Islamists and their lackeys who oppose the protests against Eid celebrations in schools often choose to either remain silent in implicit support, engage in whitewashing, or create misleading narratives when Hindu festivals are under attack.
It is quite reasonable to assert that individual choices, including those of young students, should be honored, as it is ultimately the decision of the parents regarding their child’s participation in any religious celebrations. It is not justifiable to require them to partake in festivals that do not correspond with their cultural or religious heritage under the pretense of secularism only to play victim card after the protests.
A few days ago, the official Congress Kerala handle shared an article on X titled The Tyranny of Merit. This piece sought to reinforce Rahul Gandhi’s argument that “merit is flawed.” Notably, last Thursday, Rahul Gandhi attacked merit in India as ‘unfair’ to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Castes. He also promoted ‘caste census’, meant to divide the Hindu community.
In a podcast with ‘economist’ Sukhadeo Thorat, Rahul Gandhi claimed, “I have had discussions with people about the caste census, where I am saying, look, all we are doing is exposing the truth. Nothing else. And they will say to me directly that no, one must not expose this truth.”
The Tyranny of Merit
When @RahulGandhi spoke about the concept of merit is flawed, he means a lot of things. We are often forced to believe that success is purely based on talent and hard work, which is the foundation of meritocracy argument. Well it is not. In his book The… pic.twitter.com/TwuiZPpnYd
On 22 March, the Kerala Congress posted a long message titled ‘The Tyranny of Merit’ on X in support of Rahul Gandhi’s attack on merit, drawing upon the work of American philosopher Michael Sandel, who authored a book by the same name.
Michael Sandel and His Book “The Tyranny of Merit”
In an attempt to adapt this leftist-socialist American perspective to the Indian context, the Congress party referenced historical “facts” from a 2011 FirstPostarticle. The article alleged that when the British introduced the English education system in 1854, only a handful of students could pass and progress to the college level. Supposedly, a group of Tamil Brahmins petitioned the Governor-General to create a “Third Class” for their children, resulting in the lowering of the passing percentage from 45% to 33%. Furthermore, it claimed that India’s indigenous education system was inherently discriminatory, barring students from the so-called “depressed classes”.
However, a thorough analysis reveals that much of the information presented in this FirstPost article is either unverified or completely fabricated. It is startling that such claims—many of which have been debunked by scholars—were published by a reputed news portal and subsequently amplified by a national party.
Below is an examination of the misleading claims and the factual evidence that refutes them.
Claim 1: The Indigenous Education System Excluded Lower Caste Students
The article suggests that British surveys from the early 19th century (such as the Thomas Munro Survey of the Madras Presidency and Bombay Presidency survey) indicated that no students from the so-called “depressed classes” were included in indigenous education systems.
Fact: Contrary to this claim, British surveys reveal that a significant percentage of lower-caste students were enrolled in indigenous schools, including those from “depressed classes”.
1. Thomas Munro Survey (Madras Presidency, 1822-26):
Ordered by Governor Thomas Munro, this survey was conducted across the districts of the Madras presidency to understand the indigenous education system and also to gather the caste-wise distribution of students in the schools.
Sir Thomas Munro (Governor of Madras Presidency), and Madras Presidency Map from British Empire
The students were categorized into four groups: Brahmins, Vaishyas, Shudras, and Other Castes (which also included the present-day Scheduled Castes). The data showed that nearly 64% of students belonged to the Shudra and Other Caste categories.
Caste-wise distribution of students in Madras Presidency (Munro Survey)
2. A.D. Campbell’s Report (Bellary, 1822-23):
Another official report, prepared by A.D. Campbell, the Collector of Bellary, showed that the so-called lower castes made up 66% of the indigenous student population. As per his report, in the district of Bellary, there were 533 schools with a student population of 6,338. The caste-wise distribution of the students (males) was as follows:
Other castes: 1,205 (18.8%)
Brahmin: 1,187 (18.6%)
Vaishya: 982 (15.3%)
Shudra: 3,024 (47.3%)
3. William Adam Reports (Bengal Presidency, 1836-38):
This survey, commissioned by then Governor-General of India, Lord William Bentinck, revealed that Brahmins and Kayasthas made up less than 40% of students in Bengal and only 15-16% in Bihar. The majority of students in both regions belonged to lower castes.
Bengal Presidency Map from The British Empire
Caste-wise distribution of school students in Bengal Presidency [Adam’s report, 1838] *Other castes included castes considered lower than Shudras (current-day scheduled castes or Dalits)
Data from the Burdwan district highlighted a notable trend, there were 61 Dom and 61 Chandal school students (so-called depressed castes). Additionally, lower caste students were enrolled in significantly higher numbers in indigenous gurukuls compared to missionary schools. In Burdwan’s 13 missionary schools, only 86 Dalit students were recorded (including just 4 scholars from the Dom and Chandal castes), whereas 663 scholars from these same castes were studying in native (indigenous) schools.
Adams Report 1838: Burdwan district had teachers from Depressed Classes; Dalit caste students in schools in Missionary vs Indigenous schools
A report from the Bombay Education Society in 1819 observed that “Schools are frequent among natives and abound everywhere.” Supporting this observation, Mr. Prendergast, a member of the Executive Council of the Government of Bombay, noted:
“I need hardly mention that there is hardly a village in which there is not at least one school, and in larger villages, there are several. Many exist in every town, and in large cities, they can be found in every division, where young natives are taught reading, writing, and arithmetic. There is hardly a cultivator or petty dealer who is not competent to keep his own accounts with a degree of accuracy.”
These British reports confirm that indigenous education was widespread and accessible, particularly among lower castes. In fact, Adam’s report also highlighted that a few teachers came from the so-called depressed classes.
This data thoroughly debunks the author’s claim that indigenous schools were inaccessible to the lower strata of society.
Claim 2: Tamil Brahmins Petitioned for a “Third Class” to Lower Passing Standards
The article claims that when the British education system was introduced, it initially had only two divisions—First Class and Second Class—without a “Third Class” category. It further alleges that in the late 19th century, a group of Tamil Brahmins petitioned the British to create a “Third Class” for students who were unable to meet the 45% passing requirement.
Evidence from historical records suggests that the “Third Class” designation was likely present from the early days of these institutions, aligning with British academic traditions, where classifications like First, Second, and Third Class were standard in universities. For example, the University of London—established before Indian universities in 1857—followed a similar grading structure, which later served as a model for institutions in Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras.
Moreover, the reduction of passing percentages under the Third Class category was likely an administrative adjustment rather than a formal commission recommendation, potentially implemented at the institutional level to accommodate educational disparities observed among Indian students in early university examinations.
Claim 3: The British Aimed to Educate All Classes, but Upper Castes Opposed It
The article argues that the British government sought to provide education to all social classes but faced resistance from upper-caste Hindus.
Fact: The British initially adopted a restrictive “downward filtration policy,” a concept advocated by Lord Macaulay. Under this policy, education was deliberately limited to upper-class Indians, with the expectation that they would disseminate knowledge to lower strata of society. Macaulay explicitly stated that he sought to create a class of Indians who were “Indian in blood and color, but English in taste, opinions, morals, and intellect.”
Early British educational institutions, such as the Sanskrit colleges in Calcutta, Banaras, and Poona (1790-1820), catered almost exclusively to Brahmins. British officials like M. Elphinstone, the Lieutenant-Governor of Bombay, insisted on recruiting only Brahmins as teachers and restricting college admissions to students from “respectable backgrounds.” Furthermore, members of Bengal’s General Committee of Public Instruction (1823) argued that that its aim should be to educate “respectable individuals, of whom its members will consist of men, who by their Brahmanical birth, as well as by their learning, exercise a powerful influence on the minds of every order of the community.” H. T. Prinsep, a member of this committee adamantly refused to allow the Calcutta Madrassa to teach English to “a very inferior class of scholars, particularly sons of domestic servants.”
A closer examination of the author Chandra Bhan Prasad and his posts on X reveals a consistent pattern of anti-Hindu and anti-Brahmin rhetoric. In his FirstPost article, he explicitly refers to the Hindu upper class as “immoral and shameless.”
His exact words from the article state:
“What is the point of discussing Aarakshan with the upper class which has morally fallen and has no sense of shame or guilt?”
Additionally, in various social media posts, he has used derogatory terms such as “mouth-born” and “Sulabh Shauchalaya” to mock Brahmins. This pattern of discourse raises concerns about the objectivity and credibility of his arguments.
Conclusion
Historical records clearly indicate that India’s indigenous education system was far more inclusive than the article suggests. The British, rather than Hindu upper castes, were responsible for restricting educational opportunities through the systematic dismantling of native institutions and the imposition of elitist education policies.
Furthermore, the author of the FirstPost article demonstrates a clear ideological bias, using inflammatory language against Hindu upper castes in both his writings and social media posts. This raises serious questions about his credibility and the motivations behind his claims.
The FirstPost article appears to be a deliberate propaganda piece designed to propagate an anti-upper caste, Hinduphobic narrative using misinformation and unverifiable claims. It is unfortunate that a reputed news portal published this article without verifying its sources, and even more concerning that a national party like Congress is using it as the basis for its anti-merit rhetoric.
Videos of alleged communal violence in the Malda district of West Bengal are going viral on social media. The videos show a mob marching on the roads and vandalising public property. It has been claimed on social media that a Muslim mob is selectively targeting business establishments owned by Hindus in Mothabari in Malda.
The videos were shared by several oliticians, including BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari and BJP MP Dr Sukanta Majumdar. Sharing the video on X, BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari alleged that the shops of Hindus were being selectively targeted by certain miscreants at Mothabari. He urged the senior police officials to take strong action to prevent the attacks.
Attacks on Hindus in Malda
A group of miscreants are targeting Shops owned by Hindus at Mothabari; Malda District. The shops are being attacked and vandalised without any sort of provocation from the shop owners. Only those shops which are owned by the Hindus are being… pic.twitter.com/rXaD0mEeWt
Speaking to the media, Adhikari said that targeted attacks are being carried out on the properties and shops belonging to Hindus in Mathabari since around 1 pm today (27th March).
#WATCH | West Bengal LoP Suvendu Adhikari says, "…Lotus will bloom here in 2026 and Ayushmaan Bharat will be implemented here too…"
He further says, "In Mathabari of Malda, Hindu shops are being identified, find out what is then being done. Hindus are being attacked…The… pic.twitter.com/rrlzp7x0Nx
Sharing the videos of the alleged communal attack on Hindus, the Union Minister of State for Education and Development of North Eastern Region, Dr Sukanta Majumdar, wrote, “Horrific scenes from Dakshin Malda’s Mothabari—Hindu homes & shops vandalized by a violent mob. And what do @MamataOfficial and her mute spectator @WBPolice do? SILENCE. This is the cost of her shameless appeasement politics—lawlessness, fear & injustice for Hindus!”
Horrific scenes from Dakshin Malda’s Mothabari—Hindu homes & shops vandalized by a violent mob. And what does @MamataOfficial and her mute spectetor @WBPolice do? SILENCE. This is the cost of her shameless appeasement politics—lawlessness, fear & injustice for Hindus!… pic.twitter.com/LX812bZu3K
One of the videos shared by Majumdar shows a violent mob vandalising shops without any provocation and carrying Islamic flags. Another video shows vandalised property and houses.
Communal violence erupts in Mothabari, Dakshin Malda—murderous Muslim mobs rampage through streets, attacking Hindu homes, shops, and cars without provocation. Meanwhile, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee prances around in London, indifferent to the ripping chaos back home. pic.twitter.com/ZUR2EL5f7T
BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya also shared a video claiming to be related to the communal violence in Mothabari. Posting the video on X, Malviya wrote, “Communal violence erupts in Mothabari, Dakshin Malda—murderous Muslim mobs rampage through streets, attacking Hindu homes, shops, and cars without provocation. Meanwhile, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee prances around in London, indifferent to the ripping chaos back home”.
The authenticity of the videos could not be verified. Besides, no statement has been made by the West Bengal government or the state police officials regarding the incident.
The Karnataka government on Thursday announced an increase in the selling price of Nandini milk and curd by Rs 4 per litre, effective from April 1. The decision was made during a Cabinet meeting held by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
The move aims to encourage dairy farming in the state, considering the cost of milk production and processing.
Following the meeting, Karnataka Minister for Animal Husbandry K Venkatesh made the announcement while speaking to reporters: “In a Karnataka Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, it was agreed to increase the selling price of Nandini milk and curd by Rs 4 per litre/kg in order to encourage dairy farming in the state, considering the cost of milk production and processing. Steps will be taken to ensure that the price revision amount reaches the milk producers of the state directly.”
“In addition, it has been informed to withdraw the price increase of Rs 2 for each 1 litre of Nandini milk with effect from 26th June 2024, and take steps for sale by adopting the current price revision of Rs 4 in 500 ml and one litre package as before,” he said.
On state Cabinet discussion on the rise in price of milk, Karnataka Minister HK Patil told reporters, “The decision will be made by KMF (Karnataka Cooperative Milk Producers’ Federation Limited) in consultation with the concerned ministers. The decision may be taken in a day or two. We have left it to KMF to decide, they will make a decision perhaps today.”
BJP Karnataka denounced the move in a social media post on X and termed the Congress government “anti-poor”
“Milk prices hiked by Rs4/-, and the cost of daily essentials is skyrocketing. Meanwhile, Karnataka Congress leaders are busy with honey-trap scandals. Farmers have been waiting for milk subsidies for years, but the government prioritises Waqf compound renovations instead. Congress isn’t just anti-farmer; they’re anti-poor!”
Vijayendra Yediyurappa, the BJP Karnataka president alleged on X that “The Congress government continues to impose price hikes on the common people of the state.”
He accused the government of increasing the price of milk for the second time after coming to power.
“The Congress government, which is struggling to manage the five blessings, has been continuously imposing the misfortune of price hike on the common man ever since it came to power. At a time when people are suffering from the heat of price hikes in drinking water, electricity bills, transportation, essential items, etc., this government seems to have entered the race to increase the price of milk for the second time after coming to power. The current decision to increase the price of milk by Rs 4 and cut into the pockets of the common man is nothing but daylight robbery.”
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
After nearly 78 years of independence, the Kashmir valley is set to receive its first train service, which will link it to Jammu. The much-awaited rail link is likely to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi on 19th April, after which he will visit the Chenab Railway Bridge, the world’s highest railway bridge. The train, expected to be a special Vande Bharat Express, will be flagged off from Katra railway station. Along with the Prime Minister, the event will also be attended by the Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
The train, initially, is likely to operate between Katra and Srinagar/Baramulla. Later on, from August onwards, after the completion of the construction work at Jammu Railway Station, the train is expected to run from Jammu to Srinagar/Baramulla. The train completed its trial run between Katra and Srinagar station in January this year.
This will mark the completion of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL). Currently, a Vande Bharat Express runs between Sangaldan and Baramulla, but after the completion of the USBRL project, a rail link will connect Katra to the Kashmir valley, significantly reducing the travel time and improving connectivity.
The rail line will provide year-round connectivity, boosting tourism, industry and education in the region. The train is designed with advanced anti-frosting technology, which makes is fit for operating in extreme cold weather conditions. The train coaches, designed by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, can withstand temperatures up to -20 degrees Celsius.
The multi-crore USBRL rail project completed
The USBRL is a multi-crore project worth ₹41,000 crore. The project spans around 272 km, out of which a 209 km stretch is already operational. It began in 2005-06 and is being completed in a phased manner. In October 2009, a 118-km Qazigund-Baramulla stretch of the project in Kashmir was inaugurated. This was followed by the completion of an 18-km stretch in Banihal-Qazigund and a 25-km stretch between Udhampur-Katra in 2013-14. The last phase of the project, covering 48.1 km between the Banihal-Sangaldan section, became operational in February 2023. Another 46 km section between Sangaldan and Reasi was completed in June 2023. The remaining 17 km stretch between Reasi and Katra was completed recently.
The Chenab Railway Bridge
Last year, the Indian Railways carried out successful trial runs on the Chenab Railway Bridge. The railway bridge surpasses the famous Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, in terms of height. The railway bridge stands at a height of 359 m above the Chenab valley, while the Eiffel Tower has an altitude of 330 m. The 1315 metre long bridge has been constructed by incurring a cost of ₹1486 crore. Before starting the construction of the bridge, the Railways first built a 26-km-long road and a 400-metre tunnel. Afte being flagged off in 2003, the project was halted in 2008 due to safety reasons. It was resumed in 2010. The construction of the bridge started in 2017 and was completed in 2023.
Modi government is working on rail connectivity
The Modi government has been working to establish rail connectivity in the far-flung areas of the country including the northeastern states, Ladakh and Kashmir valley. In the northeast, the central government is working on a railway connectivity project wth the aim of connecting the capital cities of all the northeastern states, including Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura to the main railway lines.
For improving connectivity in the Ladakh region, the Modi government has announced the Bilaspur-Manali-Leh rail project. The 498-km rail project is estimated to cost around ₹1,31,000 crore. Once completed, the rail line will provide all-weather connectivity in the region facilitating civilian as well as military movement.
The Haryana government on Thursday announced that March 31 will be observed as a restricted holiday for Eid-ul-Fitr instead of a gazetted holiday.
“Haryana Govt has declared a restricted holiday (Schedule-II) instead of a gazetted holiday for Eid-ul-Fitr on March 31, considering the financial year closing. An official notification has been issued in this regard,” said a statement from the state government on X.
A restricted holiday allows government employees to take a day off at their discretion, unlike a gazetted holiday, which mandates a full-day closure of government offices and institutions.
Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated across India on March 31, Friday, which is also the closing day of the financial year 2024-25.
Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party MP Awadhesh Prasad has criticised BJP MLA Karnail Singh’s request to the Delhi Police Commissioner to prevent Namaz from being offered in public places.
He argued that imposing restrictions on this practice would violate the fundamental rights of citizens.
BJP MLA Karnail Singh from Shakur Basti wrote to the Delhi Police Commissioner on Wednesday, requesting action to “prevent the inconvenience caused by the offering of Namaz in public places.” In his letter, Singh pointed out that prayers on roads were causing traffic congestion and disturbing residents.
“I would like to draw your attention to an important issue. The practice of offering prayers on roads and public places in our city is obstructing traffic and causing inconvenience to the general public. On several occasions, this has also affected ambulances, school buses, and other essential services,” Singh wrote.
Speaking to ANI, Samajwadi Party MP Awadhesh Prasad said, “Namaz, especially the farewell prayer before Eid, is an expression of peace, tranquility, and brotherhood. People offer namaz to pray for peace and seek blessings from God. This tradition is not something new; it has been practiced for centuries.”
“The Constitution of India guarantees religious freedom, which includes the right to worship. Restricting such practices goes against the spirit of our Constitution. If restrictions are imposed on the pre-Eid prayers, it is a violation of religious rights. This tradition of offering namaz before Eid is important and should not be hindered. Any attempt to ban it is not appropriate and goes against the fundamental rights of citizens. The government should not create unnecessary hurdles for religious practices, as this is an issue of harassment and an infringement on the rights of the people,” Prasad further said.
Prasad argued that the Constitution provides freedom to practice one’s religion and that imposing restrictions on offering namaz in public spaces goes against these rights. He stated that religious practices should be respected and that the act of offering namaz is a peaceful prayer for harmony, brotherhood, and tranquility.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
In a significant development in Jammu and Kashmir, two more groups affiliated with Hurriyat Conference– J&K Tahreeqi Isteqlal and J&K Tahreek-I-Istiqamat– have renounced separatism and expressed their faith in the vision of “new Bharat” being built under leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah welcomed the decision, calling it a reflection of the diminishing influence of separatism in the region.
“Another great news from Kashmir Valley. Two more groups affiliated with the Hurriyat, namely J&K Tahreeqi Isteqlal and J&K Tahreek-I-Istiqamat, have discarded separatism and reposed their trust in the new Bharat built by PM Shri @narendramodi Ji. Under the Modi government, separatism is breathing its last, and the triumph of unity is echoing across Kashmir,” Shah said in a post on X.
The move is being seen as a major success for the government’s efforts to tackle separatism and restore lasting peace in Jammu and Kashmir which has faced cross-border terrorism sponsored by Pakistan.
Two organisations affiliated to Hurriyat Conference had earlier announced that they are severing ties with the outfit.
J&K People’s Movement and the Democratic Political Movement– had announced severing ties with the separatist outfit on March 25.
Amit Shah had termed the development a big victory for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of building India into a developed, peaceful and unified country.
“Separatism has become history in Kashmir. The unifying policies of the Modi government have tossed separatism out of J&K. Two organizations associated with the Hurriyat have announced the severing of all ties with separatism. I welcome this step towards strengthening Bharat’s unity and urge all such groups to come forward and shed separatism once and for all. It is a big victory for PM Shri @narendramodi Ji’s vision of building a developed, peaceful and unified Bharat,” he had said.
The Home Ministry decided on March 11 to ban two organisations–the Awami Action Committee, led by prominent Kashmiri cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and the Jammu and Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen, headed by Shia leader Masroor Abbas Ansari–for five years over alleged anti-national activities.
Amit Shah told Parliament earlier this week that from 2019 to 2024 , 14 major Hurriyat-linked organisations were banned.
He made the remarks during a discussion on the MHA’s functioning in the Rajya Sabha on March 21.
Shah criticized previous governments for their “lenient” approach towards terrorism, alleging they avoided strong actions due to fear of losing vote bank.
In contrast, he emphasized that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism has been firmly implemented.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
Ahead of Ram Navami and Eid festivals, peace committee meetings are being organized in many communally ‘sensitive’ areas to ensure peace and harmony. While Circle Officer of Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh, Anuj Chaudhary, made a clear statement that if Muslims want to feed Sevaiyan on Eid, they will have to eat Gujiya on Holi, however, not all peace meetings have been about equal respect and rights for Hindus. Some peace meetings hinged on placating perennially offended and petulant Islamists at the cost of restricting the freedom of Hindus to celebrate their festival in a grand fashion.
Hindus not allowed to play DJ in Ram Navami processions in Jharkhand’s Tisri Block
In the Tisri block of Jharkhand’s Giridih district, a peace committee meeting was held on the Tisri police station premises on Wednesday (26th March) under the joint leadership of Police Inspector Pascal Topo and Police Station Incharge Ranjay Kumar.
In the meeting, it was mainly asked to renew the license of the procession to be taken out on Ram Navami Puja, and the route of the procession was sought from all the Ram Navami Puja Committee members of the area. In the meeting, the members of the Puja Committee from various villages of the Tisri block detailed the route of the procession one by one and submitted the license to the police station for renewal.
During the meeting, Police Station Incharge Ranjay Kumar said that DJ should not be played at any cost by Hindus in the Ram Navami procession. If DJ is played, not only the DJ systems will be confiscated, but action will also be taken against the members of the committee. He said that the procession of the village will be taken through the same route which it used to take earlier.
Notably, the Giridih SDPO attended a peace meeting at Gandey Police Station and said that there would be a complete ban on DJ during the Ram Navami procession.
In Jharkhand’s Chatra, a peace meeting was held wherein the police issued strict instructions to the Ram Navami Puja Committee against playing ‘offensive’ songs during the Ram Navami procession.
In Saraikela, police have instructed Hindus not to play ‘provocative’ and ‘obscene’ songs during the Ram Navami procession.
In Birni as well, the police organised a peace committee meeting with representatives from Hindu and Muslim communities ahead of Eid, Chaitra Navratri and Ram Navami. The police said that ‘provocative’ songs will not be allowed on the DJ during the Ram Navami procession. The authorities added that if provocative songs are found to be played to incite others (Muslims), action will be taken against them.
Violence in Jharkhand’s Hazaribagh
On Tuesday, a Muslim mob pelted stones at Hindus taking out the Mangla procession in Hazaribagh near Jama Masjid Chowk. In retaliation, Hindus are also reported to have pelted stones. Informing about the matter, Nancy Sahay, Deputy Commissioner of Hazaribagh, said, “One group (Hindus) was playing some songs during the procession, which was objected to by the second group (Muslims), resulting in a scuffle and stone pelting. However, it did not escalate as the forces deployed there took control of the situation.”
No DJ, no swords allowed during Ram Navami procession in Bihar’s Balua
A peace committee meeting was held on Wednesday (26th March) in the Balua police station premises regarding Eid and Ram Navami. During the meeting, SHO Sunil Kumar instructed Hindus not to display swords during the Ram Navami procession. The authorities also directed Hindus not to play ‘offensive’ songs on the DJ. On being found playing DJ, the sound system and other equipment will be confiscated by the police.
Ban on DJ music during Ram Navami in Bihar’s Guraru and Jhumri Tilaiya
In Bihar’s Guraru Police Station area, a peace committee meeting was held on Wednesday in view of Ram Navami, Chaiti Chhath and Eid. During the meeting, BDO Sambhav Kumar Singh, CO Mrs. Nupur and SHO Chahat Kumar appealed to people to celebrate their festivals peacefully. However, the authorities imposed restrictions on playing DJ music during the Ram Navami procession in the area. In addition, the supposed ‘objectionable’ songs have also been prohibited.
Similarly, in Bihar’s Jhumri Tilaiya, the police have made it mandatory to take permission for a flag procession on Ram Navami. In addition, the police have also imposed a complete ban on playing DJ during the celebration of the Hindu festival.
In the BJP ruled Uttar Pradesh, however, there is a ban on playing DJ during Ram Navami processions, nor any other one-sided ‘peace preserving’ diktats issued against Hindus.
Communal harmony at the cost of curbing the freedom of Hindus to celebrate their festivals freely?
The ban on playing DJ and supposedly ‘provocative’ songs played by Hindus during Ram Navami processions indicates the attempt of the administration to placate a perpetually offended Islamist lot, who need no reason but a mere sight of Hindus celebrating their festival in a Muslim-dominated area to pelt stones and assault them.
What is a celebration without music unless one follows a religion where music is essentially ‘Haram’ (forbidden)? Music and grand celebrations are a part of Hindu culture and yet the authorities hinge on curbing the religious freedom of Hindus. Why is it that Hindus must always make sacrifices, and play the role of “Bada bhai” (elder brother) so that the “Chhota bhai” (younger brother) can do whatever he wants?
The recent violence in Hazaribagh wherein Hindu procession was attacked when it reached the Muslim-dominated Jama Masjid Chowk, similar other incidents during Holi indicate that mere sight of Hindus unapologetically celebrating their festivals, playing music and wearing their religious identity on their sleeves is enough to offend Islamists who in ‘kudrati’ manner find stones and sticks to attack Hindus.
The authorities must understand that the problem is not in DJ, music or Hindu processions; rather, the problem lies in the Islamist mindset intolerant of Hindus. There have been numerous instances when Islamo-leftists justified violence by Muslim mobs against Hindus just because the latter were taking a procession near a mosque playing bhajans, or raising Jai Shri Ram slogans. The authorities imposing restrictions on Hindu festivals, however, is lopsided even though it may on the face appear to be an attempt at maintaining communal harmony.
However, far from fostering peace and upholding communal harmony, such moves only embolden Islamist Jihadis who interpret this as weakness, and assume that somehow they have the right to get offended and resort to violence if a Hindu procession passes by a mosque or simply Hindus are seen celebrating their festivals in a Muslim area. Not to forget, in Jharkhand’s Hazaribagh, wherein Muslims pelted stones from Madarsa on Hindus for installing Mahashivratri flags and loudspeakers. If mere installation of Hindu religious flags and loudspeakers could offend Islamists enough to unleash violence against Hindus, if celebrating victory of India in a cricket championship can trigger Islamists enough (as seen in Mhow violence) to pelt stones on Hindus, what is the guarantee that even if DJ is banned, the supposedly ‘offensive’ are restricted, ‘Bhadkau naara’ (provocative slogans) and whatnot are banned, the Islamists will not find an excuse and unleash violence against Hindus?
This approach of disproportionately burdening one community to self-censor its traditions, under the garb of neutral peacekeeping, is futile, as it fails to address the root cause of intolerance of those Islamists who exploit such measures to assert their religious dominance over the Hindus. The authorities and ‘secular’ governments need to understand that their approach is just a band-aid on a deeper wound of Islamist hatred for Hindus and is hardly effective in deterring those primed for jihadist violence.
Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar reached Bangaon, Bihar, late on Tuesday night as part of his ‘Stop migration, give jobs’ padyatra. He addressed a meeting in the courtyard of the Bhagwati temple in Bangaon. On Wednesday, some youths of the village purified the venue of the event with Gangajal following Kanhaiya’s meeting. The youths purified the stage of the temple premises under the leadership of Nagar Panchayat Bangaon Ward Councilor Representative Amit Chaudhary.
Bihar: In Saharsa district, youths washed a Durga temple premises with Ganga Jal after Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar addressed a gathering there pic.twitter.com/piluPpcYs6
The youths who cleaned the temple with Gangajal said that Kanhaiya Kumar had given a controversial statement against the country, everyone will remember that. They mentioned that he has also been accused of treason. People said that the place where Kanhaiya gave a speech at night in Bhagwati Sthan in Bangaon was washed and purified with Gangajal. Late on Tuesday night, Congress workers had welcomed the controversial Congress leaders by honouring him with a traditional turban, sheet, and garland.
Kanhaiya Kumar sedition case
The case had hit the national headlines in February 2016, when it was reported that some students of JNU had organized an event to mark the anniversary of terrorist Afzal Guru who had attacked the Indian Parliament. Many slogans had also challenged Indian State’s sovereignty and called for its balkanization. At the event, slogans like ‘Bharat Tere Tukde Honge’ and Áfzal hum sharminda hain, tere qatil jinda hain’ were heard. The videos capturing the slogans were alleged to be doctored. However, the raw footage of the event with Delhi Police was found to be undoctored by Central Forensic Science Laboratory.
After the videos emerged, JNUSU leader Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya were nabbed by Delhi police and produced before the court. The three were then released on bail.
The charge sheet, in addition to these three names, also mentioned 7 Kashmiri students. Police, during the investigation, found that the event was organized without proper formalities, and when President Kanhaiya Kumar was informed about it, he started an argument with security personnel. He also led a mob that shouted the slogans, according to the charge-sheet.
