After withdrawing from global bodies like WHO and the UN Human Rights Council, the Trump administration may withdraw the United States from the United Nations itself. Republican lawmakers have already introduced legislation advocating for the withdrawal citing the UN’s failure to promote American interests and aligning with Trump’s “America First” agenda.
Spearheaded by Senator Mike Lee of Utah, the “Disengaging Entirely from the United Nations Debacle (DEFUND) Act” aims to terminate U.S. membership and funding to the UN and its affiliated bodies.
Introducing the bill on February 20, Senator Lee expressed concerns that the UN operates contrary to American interests and sovereignty. Rep. Chip Roy will introduce the bill in the House on Friday. He said that the U.N. and its bodies don’t advance the interests of Americans. Several other Republican lawmakers co-sponsored the legislation.
“The United Nations has devolved into a platform for tyrants and a venue to attack America and her allies. We should stop paying for it. As President Trump revolutionizes our foreign policy by putting America first, we should withdraw from this sham organization and prioritize real alliances that keep our country safe and prosperous,” Lee said in a statement.
“No more blank checks for the United Nations. Americans’ hard-earned dollars have been funnelled into initiatives that fly in the face of our values, enabling tyrants, betraying allies, and spreading bigotry,” Lee added. He further said, “The DEFUND Act would stop all forms of U.S. financial support to the UN and hold this wayward organization accountable for placating Hamas terrorists and the Chinese Communist Party.”
This legislative move reflects a growing sentiment among certain political factions that question the efficacy and alignment of international organizations with U.S. policies. Notably, US is the biggest donor of the UN, which gave over $18 billion in the year 2022. US donation is around one-third of the UN budget.
Chip Roy said, “The United Nations has enjoyed American tax money while often undermining our interests, attacking our allies and bolstering our adversaries.” Calling the UN a corrupt globalist organization, he said that it has failed to prevent wars, genocides, human rights violations and even pandemics for decades.
“No sane country would stand for this,” Roy said in his statement.
This initiative aligns with a series of recent actions by the Trump administration to distance the U.S. from various international agreements and organizations. Notably, on January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14162, titled “Putting America First In International Environmental Agreements,” which directed the immediate withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement. This marked the second time the U.S. had exited the accord, with the administration citing concerns over economic impacts and perceived unfair burdens on American industries.
The administration also reinstated the U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) shortly after the inauguration. The Trump administration’s stance is rooted in criticisms of the WHO’s handling of incidents of health crisis including the pandemic and a desire to prioritize national interests in public health policy.
Additionally, on February 3, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order withdrawing the U.S. from the UN Human Rights Council and halting funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). These actions were justified by allegations of bias against Israel and concerns over the council’s effectiveness in addressing human rights abuses.
Notably, UNRWA has come under fire from even Democrats for being partial to Palestinians in the war. Notably, several UNRWA officials have been found to be involved in terror activities of the Hamas, and several such officials have been killed by Isarel in action.
Ironically, while Republican lawmakers push to sever ties with the UN, the organization’s headquarters remains located in New York City.
Historically, proposals for the U.S. to withdraw from the UN have surfaced periodically. Legislation such as the “American Sovereignty Restoration Act” has been introduced multiple times since 1997, though it has consistently faced minimal support and failed to advance. The current DEFUND Act represents the latest effort in this ongoing debate over the U.S.’s role in international organizations.
Actor Swara Bhasker on Friday (February 21) was forced to express regret after she found herself in the eye of a raging storm over her comments belittling the sacrifices made by Hindus, including Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his intrepid son, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj.
Perhaps realising the challenges that entail electoral politics, Bhasker, who was recently seen canvassing for her husband, Fahad Ahmad, expressed regret over her post on Chhava, a Bollywood movie depicting the heroic life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
“My tweet has sparked significant discussion and, unfortunately, some misunderstandings. I have the utmost respect for the courageous legacy and contributions of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, particularly his principles of social justice and respect for women,” Bhasker tweeted in a long-winded post on X.
My tweet has generated much debate & avoidable misunderstanding. Without any doubt I respect the brave legacy and contribution of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.. especially his ideas of social justice & respect for women. My limited point is that glorifying our history is great… https://t.co/YKk1QgiQRG
Prevaricating about her post that sparked social media outrage, Bhasker said, “My limited point is that glorifying our history is great but please don’t misuse the glory of the past to hide the mistakes & failures of present times. Historical understanding should always be used to unite people & not to divide and divert attention from current issues.”
“If my earlier tweet has hurt any sentiments that is regretted.. Like any other proud Indian, I am also proud of our history. Our history should unite us and give us strength to fight for a better and more inclusive future,” Bhasker concluded, tapping into leftwing tropes of “inclusion” and “unity” to discredit online criticism directed at them.
Bhasker was cut to size by social media users for her atrocious remarks denying documented atrocities meted out on Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj by Mughal tyrant Aurangzeb and his forces with her comments on Vicky Kaushal starter Chhaava, a movie that portrays the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s son, Sambhaji Maharaj.
A society that is more enraged at the heavily embellished partly fictionalised filmy torture of Hindus from 500 years ago than they are at the horrendous death by stampede & mismanagement + then alleged JCB bulldozer handling of corpses – is a brain & soul-dead society. #IYKYK
“A society that is more enraged at the heavily embellished partly fictionalised filmy torture of Hindus from 500 years ago than they are at the horrendous death by stampede & mismanagement + then alleged JCB bulldozer handling of corpses – is a brain & soul-dead society. #IYKYK” Bhasker had tweeted, drawing fierce criticism online, with several social media users asking the former actor to read history and acquaint herself with the bloody legacy of the Muslim invaders who held Hindus captive, took their women as slaves, tortured them over refusal to convert to Islam, usurped their places of temples and raised mosques over them to humiliate them and break their moral resolve to fight against the Islamist forces.
However, Bhasker’s latest post following online criticism reveals she hasn’t had the realisation she is pretending to have acquired from the opprobrium on social media. If anything, her convoluted post only betrays the political compulsions a budding politician’s wife undertakes to ensure her loud-mouthing on social media doesn’t hurt the electoral fortunes of her partner.
Vicky Khaushal’s recent film, “Chhaava,” which is based on the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the second Maratha emperor, had the largest opening of 2025 and his career to date. The story recounts the Maratha warrior’s bravery as he persisted in following his father, the great Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj and eventually made the ultimate sacrifice for Dharma during his fight against the Mughal tyrant Aurangzeb. The film has a remarkable net collection of Rs. 219.75 crore in India after a successful seven-day run. It also stars Rashmika Mandanna and Akshaye Khanna in pivotal roles.
As anticipated, the project evoked strong feelings in viewers, who were observed crying after seeing Sambhaji’s painful, valiant journey on the silver screen. Some people found it difficult to contain their tears as they left the theaters, while others were in awe of Kaushal’s acting prowess. The film did, however, portrayed a significant chapter of Indian history on the big screen which profoundly affected the people.
Look how people cry after watching cinema on sambhaji maharaj(chaava), how brutally he was tortured by Aurangzeb for not converting to islam?? pic.twitter.com/0xzed5gLzc
— பாஜக சந்திரசேகர்(மோடியின் குடும்பம் ) (@ChandrasekarVi1) February 18, 2025
It should come as no surprise that the film’s popularity and the emotional bond it created with the public rattled Islamists and their supporters, who believe in some imagined greatness of the Mughals, whom many of them regard as their ancestors and take pleasure in the violence Sambhaji endured.
One such tweet was shared by “journalist” Kavish Aziz who wrote, “They are content with their victory in the movie because they were unable to win in real life” and uploaded a scene from the movie that showed a wounded Shambhaji and the sadist Aurangzeb as she referred to the former as the art and the latter as the artist, relishing in the violence.
Small time actress and full time propagandist Swara Bhasker infamous for her anti-Hindu and anti-India antics was also unable to conceal her hatred and lashed out at the Hindus for for taking pride in their heritage. She termed Hindus “a brain and soul-dead society” and defined “Chhaava” as “a heavily embellished partly fictionalized filmy torture of Hindus from 500 years ago,” alleging that people are reacting to a movie rather than being outraged about stampedes and poor management.
The actress was soon schooled by a member of her own pseudo-Liberal cabal, Swati Chaturvedi, who highlighted that she had been a history student from Delhi University and asserted that there was “nothing remotely fictional about the torture inflicted by Aurangzeb on Sambhaji Maharaj” and Bhasker should not “play games with our history.”
Another extremist Muslim praised the brutal Mughal emperor and termed “Chhaava” as “fake Bollywood movie.”
While Islamists and their apologists were being slammed for their highly divisive views and lies, a tweet by Dilip Mandal shed light on the reality of the Mughal-Maratha struggle and the current condition of the descendants of the ‘glorious, victorious Mughals’ in the country. He remarked, “Aurangzeb could not even go back to Delhi because all his might was invested in facing the challenges posed by Maraths. He spent 23 years imprisoned in the Deccan, where he eventually perished. The Mughal Sultanate was reduced to the Red Fort of Delhi in less than 40 years. The Mughal descendants now operate tea stalls and a tailoring cart in Kolkata. Justice of history and time.”
मराठा शौर्य से टकराने में औरंगज़ेब इतना थक गया कि दिल्ली भी न लौट सका। 23 साल दक्कन में फँसा रहा और वहीं मर गया। 40 साल के अंदर मुग़ल सल्तनत दिल्ली के लाल क़िले तक सिमट गया।
मुग़लों का ख़ानदान इन दिनों कोलकाता में चाय की ठेली लगाता है और कपड़े सिलता है।
Destitute heirs of Mughal empire live a life of misery
Sultana Begum is the widow of Mirza Bedar Bukht, Bahadur Shah Zafar II’s great-grandson, who was born in 1920 in Rangoon, Burma (now Myanmar) and died in 1980 in Kolkata. She married her husband in 1965 when she was just 14 years old and he was older by 32 years. He was a soothsayer and made little money but he was unable to support his family. She had already lived a hard life before becoming a widow and was compelled to relocate to the ghetto where she then resided. “Poverty, fear and lack of resources pushed him to the brink,” she conveyed, according to a 2021 report in Al Jazeera. Her belongings included documents attesting to her marriage to Mirza Mohammad Bedar Bakht.
Begum lived in a small shack with one of her grandchildren and shared a kitchen with her neighbors and used a community tap down the street to wash clothes. She used to run a little tea store close to her house but it was destroyed to expand a road. She then began to receive a pension of Rs 6,000 a month from the Indian government as a legitimate heir of Bahadur Shah Zafar II, as per reports.
Sultana Begun walks by an alley in the locality she lives in Kolkata. (Source: Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP)
She informed, “We were living in Taltala and subsisted on the pension he received as the legal heir of Bahadur Shah Zafar II, which was a few hundreds of rupees. In 1984, I shifted to Howrah with my children, trying to raise them single-handedly. After he died, I worked from time to time, running a tea stall, making bangles but now age has caught up and I am confined to bed most of the time,” reported “The Indian Express” in 2024.
She claimed that Bukht was the final recognised direct male descendant of Zafar, who was first granted a British pension. According to her petition, he thereafter received a pension from the “central government, the Nizam and the Hazrat Nizamuddin Trust.” Begum, who stayed in a hutment in Howrah near Kolkata claimed to be in desperate need of money. “I have a son and five daughters. The eldest of my daughters died in 2022, delaying the filing of the appeal. My children remained uneducated, none of them could finish school and we continue to live in penury,” she pointed out.
Begum’s claim over Red Fort
In 2021, Begum staked claim on Red Ford that was once occupied by the Mughal rulers and asserted that she is the heir to their dynasty as she spent many years asking with authorities to acknowledge her royal position and provide her with the compensation after his death in 1980. She filed a lawsuit to be recognized as the legitimate owner of the iconic Red Fort that was once the center of Mughal rule in the 17th century. “I hope the government will definitely give me justice. When something belongs to someone, it should be returned,” she claimed.
“Can you imagine that the descendant of the emperors who built the Taj Mahal now lives in desperate poverty,” Begum further asked. Her argument was based on her assertion that the last monarch to rule, Bahadur Shah Zafar was the ancestor of her late husband. The Mughal empire had dwindled to the limits of the capital by the time of Zafar’s coronation in 1837, following the conquest of India by the East India Company, a British trading enterprise.
When colonial authorities ordered the Red Fort to be renovated around the turn of the 20th century, the complex had fallen into disrepair and many of its buildings had been destroyed in the years after the rebellion. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister, marked the country’s independence on August 1947 by raising the national flag from the fort’s ramparts. His successors now carry out the tradition every year.
Sultana Begun works on a garment inside her house in Kolkata. (Source: Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP)
The main argument in Begum’s legal battle was that the property, which she alleged should have been inherited, is occupied illegally by the Indian government. However, the Delhi High Court dismissed her plea as a “gross waste of time” and concluded that her legal team had not provided sufficient evidence to explain why Zafar’s descendants had not filed a case of this nature in the 150 years since his exile.
On 20th December 2021, the petition was refused by Justice Rekha Palli’s as the court pronounced, “Even if the petitioner’s case were to be accepted that late Bahadur Shah Zafar II was illegally deprived of his property by the East India Company, as to how the writ petition would be maintainable after such an inordinate delay of over 164 years when it is an admitted position that the petitioner’s predecessors were always aware of this position.”
Begum’s lawyer Vivek More expressed, “She has decided to file a plea before a higher bench of the court challenging the order,” after the verdict as she voiced, “I hope that today, tomorrow or in 10 years, I will get what I’m entitled to. God willing, I will get it back. I’m certain justice will happen.” The suit was filed “in the hope that the government will take note of her and help her out financially.”
According to her, the British unlawfully took control of the Red Fort on 19th September 1857. She contended that she was legally entitled to compensation for the Union government’s alleged unlawful usage of Red Fort, which she inherited from Bahadur Shah Zafar II.
Red Fort (Source: Britannica)
Begum filed an appeal against the 2021 order in last November, arguing that “the Union government is having illegal possession of the Red Fort, which is the appellant’s ancestral property and the government is not willing to give compensation or possession of such property, which is a direct violation of petitioner’s fundamental right and constitutional right.”
However, her bid to take possession of the struture was again not entertained by the Delhi High Court last year. Her appeal against the December 2021 judgment of a high court single judge was denied by a bench of Acting Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, who noted that the challenge was brought more than two and a half years after the decision was pronounced which could not be justified.
Last nail in the coffin of Mughal dynasty
A massive uprising that took place in May 1857 led by freedom fighter Mangal Pandey and is now regarded as India’s first battle of independence witnessed insurgent soldiers name the now-fragile 82-year-old Zafar who was the emperor from 1836 to 1857 as the rebillion’s leader. He was a reluctant leader who knew the disorganized insurrection was doomed.
Sultana Begun holds up a picture of last Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar in her house in Kolkata. (Source: Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP)
Within a month, British troops had encircled Delhi and brutally put an end to the uprising, putting all ten of Zafar’s surviving sons to death even though the royal family had surrendered. After being banished and forced to travel under surveillance on a bullock cart to neighboring Myanmar, an improvished Zafar passed away five years later. His death put an end to the lineage of Mughal rulers in India.
The Mughals whose brutality is aptly depicted in “Chhaava” used the money they took from India to build the Red Fort and Taj Mahal, among other buildings. The fundamentalists might take pleasure in their violence and slaughter, but the fringe, frayed remnants of the Mughal dynasty has actually been condemned to a life of abject poverty, and obscurity. On the other hand, the current generations of Shivaji and Sambhaji are elected to the Parliament and lead a proud and honorable life. Perhaps, Dilip Mandal is correct is stating that justice has indeed been served by history and time.
In an encouraging development for defence manufacturing in India, a made-in-India sniper rifle defeated rifles imported from the USA and other countries in the recently concluded All India Police Commando Competition. The National Security Guard (NSG) outperformed the commando wings of the states and the central armed police forces and won the sniper category competition using the .338 Saber sniper rifle manufactured by SSS Defence, a company based in Bengaluru, according to a report by The Print.
The .338 Saber not only hit the target with flawless precision but also exceeded all other criteria in the sniping competition, competing against the best sniper rifles from across the globe that serve in the nation’s Commando forces, stated the report. Using the powerful American sniper rifle Barrett 50 Cal, regarded as the best in the world and utilized by the Indian Army and American Special Forces, which had deployed in small numbers to support capabilities at the Line of Control (LoC), Force One of the Maharashtra Police finished in second place. Last year, the Force One emerged victorious.
The Sabre .338 is the only sniper rifle in the most renowned sniper calibre – .338 Lapua Magnum – that is created and produced in the country. With an accuracy of less than 1 Minute of Angle MoA (a group size of 3 cm x 3 cm at 100 meters), it has an effective range of roughly 1,500 meters. The rifle has an Indian-made 27-inch match barrel, a monolithic chassis with a two-stage trigger and a suppressor that works with the Indian-made suppressor. Although the NSG has a Barrett MRAD sniper as well, they opt to use the SSS Defense model.
It’s interesting to note that a foreign nation has already purchased snipers from SSS Defence and placed a follow-on purchase. India is exporting sniper files to a foreign nation for the first time. The entire sniper rifle, including the barrel, is designed and manufactured in India. Notably, in addition to sniper rifles, the private company has secured contracts from several friendly nations for the supply of ammunition valued at around USD 50 million.
“India is now manufacturing and exporting a large number of equipment, from artillery guns to missile systems and small arms. India was till now an importer of these systems, but now we have started exporting them,” The Print quoted a source last year.
The 15th All India Police Commando Competition is being held at the CRPF centre in Gurugram from 8th to 22nd February. 21 teams representing various state police commando units and national units like NSG, ITBP, BSF etc are participating in the event. The competition is designed to rigorously assess commandos across multiple dimensions of operational readiness through a series of challenging stages.
On Friday (21st February), The Indian Express published a misleading ‘fact-check’ in the hopes of downplaying allegations of foreign interference by the United States in the Indian elections.
The development comes 5 days after the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) announced that it was saving US taxpayers money by cancelling projects abroad. One of them was about strengthening ‘voter turnout’ in India.
A sum of $21 million (~₹182 crore) was set aside by federal US agencies for the project. DOGE confirmed the matter in a tweet on 15th February 2025.
US taxpayer dollars were going to be spent on the following items, all which have been cancelled: – $10M for "Mozambique voluntary medical male circumcision" – $9.7M for UC Berkeley to develop "a cohort of Cambodian youth with enterprise driven skills" – $2.3M for "strengthening…
It also cancelled another project, which aimed to splurge $29 million to ‘strengthening the political landscape in Bangladesh.’ On Wednesday (21st February), incumbent US President Donald Trump further confirmed the figures during a speech in Miami.
He had said, “And $21 million for voter turnout in India. Why are we caring about India turnout? We got enough problems. We want our own turnout, don’t we? Can you imagine all that money going to India?”
Donald Trump added, “I wonder what they think when they get it. Now, it’s a kickback scheme. You know, it’s not like they get it and they spend. They kick it back to the people that sent it. I would say in many cases, anytime you have no idea what we’re talking about, that means there’s a kickback because nobody has any idea what’s going on there.”
After this article was published, Trump clearly said again $21 Million for India and $29 Million for Bangladesh.
“$29 million to strengthen the political landscape in Bangladesh. Nobody knows what they mean by political landscape,” the US President informed.
There was evidently public uproar over the revelation, given that the controversial USAID had been trying to carry out regime change operations both in India and Bangladesh.
On Friday (21st February), The Indian Express published a report titled ‘Team Musk flags, Trump waves, but a fact-check: $21 million did not go to India for ‘voter turnout’, was for Bangladesh.’
The Indian Daily attempted to suggest that US President Donald Trump, Elon Musk and his team of nerds at DOGE all goofed up on numbers and somehow made the Himalayan blunder of mistaking Bangladesh for India.
“That $21 million, records accessed by The Indian Express show, was sanctioned in 2022 for Bangladesh, not India,” the report by The Indian Express alleged.
Screengrab of the report by The Indian Express
“At the centre of the dispute are two USAID grants on DOGE’s list that were channelled via the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS), a group based in Washington, DC, which specialises in “complex democracy, rights and governance programming,” it further claimed.
The Indian Express claimed that there is no USAID-funded CEPPS project in India since 2008. It further alleged that the sum of $21 million matches that of the funds spent by USAID’s on ‘Amar Vote Amar’ project in Bangladesh in July 2022.
It stated that the purpose of the grant was changed to ‘Nagorik (Citizen) Program’ in November of that year.
The newspaper ironically agreed to the fact that DOGE’s list of cancelled grants included a $29.9-million USAID funding to Bangladesh (which was mentioned both by Donald Trump and the official tweet by DOGE).
Later, it went on to claim that DOGE and Trump mistook ‘Bangladesh’ for ‘India’ over the $21 million grant. The Indian Express claimed that the funds for ‘voter turnout’ in India were given to Bangladesh about 2.5 years ago.
This confidence with which the Indian daily touted their ‘fact-check’ is astonishing, given that both USAID and CEPPS have shut down their respective websites. At the same time, DOGE has not yet responded to the claims.
Throughout the article, The Indian Express failed to provide any direct evidence that could rule out the fact that no US federal agency projects were meant to ensure ‘voter turnout’ during Indian elections.
CEPPS, election interference and presence in India
Interestingly, CEPPS received 66% of USAID EPP funding in the Financial Year 2021. Furthermore, information gathered about Democratic Elections and Political Processes sheds more light on how billions of dollars have been used to directly interfere in elections worldwide under the guise of providing support to strengthen democracy.
CEPPS operates via three fronts: the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), the International Republican Institute (IRI), and the National Democratic Institute (NDI).
To make it evident that USAID has had a significant financial influence in Indian elections for years, it should be noted that CEPPS spent $318,614 in India in FY 2018, as clearly stated in its audit report. CEPPS’s funding in India came through IFES.
Source: CEPPS
Now comes the shocking part. IFES, which signed an MoU with the Election Commission of India (ECI) in 2012 under then-Election Commissioner SY Quraishi, is not just funded by USAID but also by several private entities with questionable motives.
In May 2012, the Election Commission of India (ECI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) in New Delhi to develop and strengthen democratic institutions and electoral processes. According to the then-issued press release, the MoU aimed to facilitate knowledge exchange, joint training programmes, research, and capacity-building initiatives through ECI’s India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM). The agreement was signed by SY Quraishi, the then Chief Election Commissioner of India, and William Sweeney, President and CEO of IFES.
Source: ECI
Considering the fact that IFES is heavily funded by USAID via CEPPS, other sources of its funding also need to be scrutinised. According to IFES’s “Our Partners & Donors” section, the Election Commission of India itself is listed as a funder alongside major public entities like USAID, the U.S. Department of State, and Australian Aid.
Source: IFSC
However, the real concern arises with IFES’s private funders, which include Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Open Society Foundations (OSF). Notably, OSF is owned by George Soros, a figure widely accused of funding anti-India activities. The fact that an organisation receiving funding from Soros has had a formal agreement with the Election Commission of India raises serious concerns about the extent of foreign influence over India’s electoral processes. This makes it imperative to question IFES’s real role and motives in India and how deeply it has interfered in Indian elections under the guise of collaboration.
Source: IFSC
The Election Commission of India’s (ECI) partnership with IFES did not end with the 2012 MoU—it continued under IIIDEM (India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management) and International Idea, a global intergovernmental organisation. IIIDEM, an ECI-established body, was founded in 2011—the same time when SY Quraishi signed the MoU with IFES. It is important to note that ECI is an autonomous body. This means that while the Government of India is not directly working with IFES, it is engaging with IIIDEM.
Rajdeep Sardesai, Mohammed Zubair hail report by The Indian Express as ‘gospel truth’
Rajdeep Sardesai, who was once taken off air peddling fake news during farmer protests, began mouthing platitudes of journalistic integrity and the need for ‘fact-checking’
“USAID $21 million for ‘vote turnout’ did NOT go to India but to Bangladesh!! US president confused Dhaka with Delhi!! BJP claimed monies were spent by Cong to topple Modi govt. Worse, so called ‘journalists’ put out identical unsourced charts on how monies were spent. NO basic fact checks!” he tweeted.
Fact check: USAID $21 million for ‘vote turnout’ did NOT go to India but to Bangladesh!! US president confused Dhaka with Delhi!! BJP claimed monies were spent by Cong to topple Modi govt. Worse, so called ‘journalists’ put out identical unsourced charts on how monies were spent.…
Mohammed Zubair, the co-founder of Islamist propaganda outlet Alt News, also shared the misleading report by The Indian Express.
In a tweet, he claimed, “USAID $21 million for ‘vote turnout’ did NOT go to India but to Bangladesh. US president confused Dhaka with Delhi. The $21 million, records accessed by @IndianExpress show, was sanctioned in 2022 for Bangladesh, not India.”
USAID $21 million for ‘vote turnout’ did NOT go to India but to Bangladesh. US president confused Dhaka with Delhi. The $21 million, records accessed by @IndianExpress show, was sanctioned in 2022 for Bangladesh, not India.https://t.co/DKJqUP7TFg
Mohammed Zubair has a history of peddling fake news and was arrested in 2022 for hurting religious sentiments and promoting enmity.
BJP junks claims made by The Indian Express
Following the publication of the controversial report by The Indian Express, BJP spokesperson Amit Malviya came forward to junk the claims made by the newspaper.
“The Indian Express story discusses $21 million in funding to Bangladesh in 2022. However, the article misrepresents the reference to a $21 million funding tranche intended to ‘promote’ voter turnout in India. What Indian Express conveniently sidesteps is the 2012 Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Election Commission of India—under the leadership of S.Y. Quraishi—and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), an organization linked to George Soros’s Open Society Foundation, which is primarily funded by USAID,” he pointed out.
“Their report also remains silent on subsequent funding, beginning in 2014, under various categories aimed at interfering in India’s election process. Details of this funding were once available through annual filings on the now-defunct website of the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS). CEPPS is a subset of IFES, which collaborates with USAID, the U.S. State Department, George Soros’s Open Society Foundation, and others,” Amit Malviya highlighted.
FAKE NEWS ALERT ?‼️
The Indian Express story discusses $21 million in funding to Bangladesh in 2022. However, the article misrepresents the reference to a $21 million funding tranche intended to ‘promote’ voter turnout in India.
“You may be surprised to learn that IFES published a white paper on the role of Dalits in Indian elections. The keywords used bear a striking resemblance to Rahul Gandhi’s recent rhetoric on representation, participation, and influence. It is becoming increasingly clear that the Congress-led UPA systematically enabled the infiltration of India’s institutions by forces working against the nation’s interests—those who seek to weaken India at every opportunity,” he pointed out.
Amit Malviya concluded, “It is also evident that a section of India’s so-called “civil society” is rattled, fearing that more details will emerge, exposing many of the usual suspects who benefited from foreign funding. Their fear is real. The radical Left will strike back with the desperation of a snake writhing in the sand. Expect more attempts to discredit and deflect from these revelations—just like this one.”
On Wednesday (20th February), Nagavelli Rajalingamurthy, the man who filed a case against former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao accusing him of corruption in the construction of Kaleshwaram Medigadda Barrage (Lakshmi Barrage), was brutally killed by unknown attackers.
Nagavelli Rajalingamurthy was a resident of Bhupalpally and the husband of former councillor Sarala from the 15th ward of Bhupalpally Municipality. Ahead of the Telangana Assembly elections, Rajalingamurthy had joined the Congress party.
Reports say that Nagavelli Rajalingamurthy was attacked when he was travelling through Reddy Colony. The unidentified assailants attacked the victim with knives and sickles. Rajalingamurthy was struck on the head while trying to escape. The bloodied victim collapsed on the road and died on the spot.
Nagavelli Rajalingamurthy accused KCR government of corruption
Back in 2023, Rajalingamurthy had tried to file a complaint against former CM KCR, former irrigation minister T Harish Rao and others, accusing them of corruption in the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS) in October 2023 at Bhupalpally Police Station.
The police, however, refused to file an FIR. Rajalingamurthy then approached the local magistrate court where his plea was rejected. It was only when he approached the Principal Sessions Court, Bhupalpally that notices were issued to then CM KCR, T Harish and others. Later, the Telangana High Court put a stay on the case.
Rajalingamurthy’s family accuses BRS leaders of killing him, his wife claims Rajalingamurthy was being threatened to ‘settle’ the case
The deceased victim’s wife and former councillor Sarala has alleged that Nagavelli Rajalingamurthy was being “threatened” and offered Rs 10 lakh by Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) leaders to ‘settle’ the case.
Sarala alleged that followers of former MLA Gandra Venkatramana Reddy carried out Rajalingamurthy’s killing. Reports say that the former MLA is a close aide of KCR’s son KT Rama Rao.
“KTR’s follower is Venkatramana Reddy. His follower is Haribabu. He got this done. Around 10 days ago, my husband was threatened and offered Rs 10 lakh to withdraw the complaint in the corruption case against KCR. Reddy got my husband killed in the middle of the road because he filed a case in the Kaleshwaram case, fearing they may lose. I want justice. What will happen to my two children?”,” Sarala said.
A prominent Muslim cleric belonging to a pro-CPI(M) Sunni faction in Kerala made a controversial statement after a video of a Muslim woman enjoying the snow in Manali had gone viral on social media.
The matter pertains to one Nafeesumma, who lost her husband 25 years ago but decided to visit Manali with her three married daughters in December. A viral video from the trip captures her dressed in snow gear, holding a snowball, and encouraging others to embark on similar journeys.
However, cleric Ibrahim Saqafi Puzhakkattiri, a member of the pro-CPI(M) Sunni faction led by Kanthapuram Aboobacker Musliyar, took offence at the video of a widowed woman enjoying her life.
At a community event last week, Saqafi remarked, “You might have seen a video… A grandmother, whose husband passed away 25 years ago, is playing in the snow in a distant state when she should be at home, praying in a corner. She travelled to another state and played with snow… that is a problem.”
Nafeesumma’s family expressed their disappointment over his remarks. “The ustad’s (cleric’s) stance has devastated us,” her daughter Jiffna told the media on Thursday. “He has disturbed my mother’s peace of mind, and now she feels unable to step outside. After his speech, community members believe she has done something wrong. Does a widow not have the right to experience the world?”
Delhi Police filed a chargesheet on 17th February against 8 accused arrested in the Al Qaeda Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) module case, including Dr Ishtiaq. The chargesheet was filed under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). In August last year, the police arrested 12 individuals linked to the AQIS in a joint operation of the Delhi, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh Police.
The accused were identified as Dr Ishtiaq Ahmed, Inamul Ansari, Shahbaz Ansari, Altaf Ansari, Mohammad Rizwan, Moti-ur-Rehman, Mufti Rehmatullah, Faizan Ahmed, Umar Farooq, Hasan Ansari and Arshad Khan. Invesigation is going on against one of the accused who was arrested later by the police.
AQIS Jharkhand training module case | Delhi Police filed a chargesheet in Patiala House Court against 8 accused.
Three accused have not been chargesheeted in this case. A total of 11 people were arrested initially in August 2024. These accused were arrested in a joint operation…
However, the chargesheet was filed only against 8 accused namely, Dr Ishtiaq Ahmed, Inamul Ansari, Shahbaz Ansari, Altaf Ansari, Mohammad Rizwan, Moti-ur-Rehman, Mufti Rehmatullah and Faizan Ahmed. The other 3 accused Umar Farooq, Hasan Ansari and Arshad Khan who were not charge-sheeted were granted bail by the Additional Sessions Judge Dr Hardeep Kaur. The judge has listed the chargesheet for consideration on February 24.
#WATCH | Delhi: On AQIS Jharkhand Training Module Case, Advocate Abubakr Sabbaq, says, "A total of 12 people have been arrested in this case, among them chargesheet has been filed against 8…3 people have been received bail, chargesheet couldn't be filed against them, there was… https://t.co/acOHBt6JKVpic.twitter.com/LVW0swYg7X
Six of the 12 accused were arrested by the police from Bhiwadi, Rajasthan while undergoing weapon-handling training. Others were detained from Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh. The Delhi High Court granted a 90-day extension to the Delhi Police on December 12, 2024, to complete the investigation in the AQIS terror module case.
What is the AQIS terror module?
The investigation into AQIS module, led by Dr Ishtiaq, uncovered a well-planned network aimed at training individuals for terror attacks in India. Dr Ishtiaq, a radiologist from Ranchi, organised training camps in remote areas like Nakata forest in Jharkhand, where recruits were taught to handle weapons and prepare for suicide bombings. The group’s goal was to establish an Islamic state in India. Dr Ishtiaq had also expanded the module’s operations to Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Investigation revealed that he was planning to build a suicide squad.
During the investigation, Delhi Police reportedly found that the Al-Qaeda-inspired terror module planned to collect funds for jihad using the PM-Kisan Yojana (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi). In a statement to the city court, Delhi Police informed the court that two of the arrested individuals were beneficiaries of the PM-Kisan scheme. They allegedly provided money for the purchase of arms to support terrorist activities in the country.
On Thursday (20th February), the Finance Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Suresh Kumar Khanna presented the state’s Rs 8,08,736 crore budget for the Financial Year 2025-26 on Thursday, marking a 9.8 per cent increase from the previous fiscal. Touted as Uttar Pradesh’s biggest budget ever, this budget is also reported to be the highest ever for any state in the country. For the fiscal year 2024-25, the Maharashtra government had presented a budget of Rs.6,12,293 crore.
Uttar Pradesh’s budget for the fiscal year 2025-26 prioritizes infrastructure development, technology, education, healthcare, and social welfare, aiming to accelerate economic growth and improve public services across the state.
The budget’s capital expenditures are 20.5 per cent of the total allocation, highlighting the government’s emphasis on industrial expansion, transportation, and investment-driven projects.
Among sectoral allocations, 22 per cent has been earmarked for infrastructure, 13 per cent for education, 11 per cent for agriculture and allied services, 6 per cent for medical and health sectors, and 4 per cent for social security programs
Additionally, a special provision has been made to equip the Legislative Assembly with modern IT systems, reinforcing the government’s focus on digital governance.
A key highlight of the budget is the establishment of an “Artificial Intelligence City” to position Uttar Pradesh as a leading hub for AI-based innovations and technology-driven enterprises. To further support this, the government has proposed the creation of a Technology Research Translation Park in Cybersecurity.
In the education sector, a significant push has been made to integrate technology into learning. Plans are in place to establish ICT labs and smart classrooms in primary and higher secondary schools across the state.
Additionally, government polytechnics will be upgraded with smart classrooms and fully digital libraries, ensuring students have access to modern learning tools. Furthermore, a Centre of Excellence has been proposed to promote Artificial Intelligence and emerging technologies.
The budget also emphasizes urban development, with 58 urban local bodies at district headquarters set to be transformed into model smart urban bodies through the convergence of various schemes.
A total allocation of Rs 145 crore has been made for this initiative, with Rs 2.50 crore assigned to each urban body.
Moreover, the government plans to establish and renovate Science City, Science Parks, and Planetariums, fostering a culture of scientific curiosity and innovation among students and researchers.
Uttar Pradesh’s budget also includes a range of social welfare measures aimed at improving the quality of life for its citizens. The Uttar Pradesh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board has announced a new scheme to establish labour hubs at district headquarters, equipped with canteens, drinking water facilities, bathing areas, and toilets to improve living conditions for workers.
To encourage higher education among women, the government has introduced a new scheme to provide scooters to meritorious female students, ensuring ease of mobility and greater access to educational institutions.
The Uttar Pradesh government has also focused on strengthening forensic and medical infrastructure. Six new forensic science laboratories are being set up in Ayodhya, Basti, Banda, Azamgarh, Mirzapur, and Saharanpur, enhancing the state’s forensic capabilities to improve criminal investigations and law enforcement.
In the healthcare sector, the government has proposed an allocated Rs27 crore for the establishment of an autonomous medical college in Ballia and Rs25 crore for a similar institution in Balrampur.
These investments are expected to increase medical seats, improve healthcare access, and strengthen Uttar Pradesh’s medical education system.
Lauding the budget during a press conference, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, “This budget is over 8,08,736 crore Rs, which is 9.8 per cent higher than the 2024-25 budget. On one hand, the growth in the budget size reflects the state’s strength, while on the other hand, it also shows the commitment of the double-engine government.”
#WATCH | UP Budget | Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath says, "… 22% of the total budget has been allocated to infrastructure development… 13% of the total budget has been allocated to education. 11% of the total budget has been allocated to the agriculture sector.… pic.twitter.com/Tl0sWIh9rs
The Hindu festival of Holi is still a month away but the liberal cabal couldn’t wait to sling their annual mud, swapping Holi’s ‘regressive’ colours with the sea of devotees at Mahakumbh. As the ‘secular’ politicians of India mock the mass Hindu gathering, Delhi University professor Savita Jha in her Indian Express op-ed lamented how crores of Hindus taking a holy dip at the once-in-a-century festival is altering the “pluralistic character” of Hinduism.
In her sanctimonious screed titled: Rush at Maha Kumbh shows how Hinduism is losing its pluralistic character, Savita Jha laments that Mahakumbh is somehow forcing her to contemplate “if Hinduism is moving toward a more codified, performative and mandatory form.”
Is Hinduism becoming performative, mandatory and codified because crores of Hindus attended Mahakumbh?
From the very onset, Savita Jha makes it evident that this piece is going to be yet another ‘liberal’ attempt at gaslighting Hindus for displaying their faith unapologetically. While the JNU professor argues that since crores of Hindus are partaking in the Mahakumbh festival, Hinduism is becoming performative, mandatory and codified, however, what she affectionately called “my religion” has always been performative.
Hindu dharma has elements of and is characterised by the performance of a social or cultural role. From festivals to rituals and traditions, Hinduism is about “performing” the faith and the outward projection of faith in forms of religious symbols, dance, bhakti songs, colourful festivals etc. There is no “change” there.
As far as mandatory is concerned – Kumbh never was and still is not “Mandatory”. The Hindus taking holy dip at Prayagraj are doing so out of their own bhakti and faith. No Hindu religious leader has said that Hindus must visit the Kumbh Mela.
Unlike Islamists, who despite having numerous legal and illegal mosques take delight in performing namaz on streets, railway stations and even flights to assert their dominance and supposed religious ‘supremacy’, the Hindu devotees in Mahakumbh are not there for a show of power or assert their dominance, but simply to practice their faith. There is special spiritual zeal among Hindus during Kumbh Mela given it occurs over a gap of many years, and Mahakumbh which is said to be occurring after around 144 years makes it even more special and almost unmissable for many Hindus.
Dr Savita Jha argues that somehow the outward projection makes Hinduism ‘Abrahamic’. This is a sleight of hand. In Islam, there is no deity and no celebratory rituals per se. It is supposed to be about Namaz, which again is supposed to be done in Muslim houses of worship. It is Hinduism that celebrates community celebration, outward projection in terms of religious symbols and traditions and communal festivals.
While Hindus have undeniably become more aware and unapologetic about their faith and traditions over time, it is but a juvenile argument that somehow “heightened devotion” among Hindus hints at a departure from the “organic, regionally diverse expressions of Hinduism.”
The very fact that Prayagraj is attracting an influx of Hindus from every nook and corner of the country. From north to south, Hindus ‘rushing’ to take a holy dip at the divine confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati rivers beautifully reflects Hinduism’s living unity in diversity, not a decline of Hinduism’s pluralistic character. In Hinduism, pluralism is not about staying divided into sects and groups but about having own belief systems, aaradhya devas and traditions aligned with the core beliefs and principles of Hinduism and yet staying united under the umbrella of Sanatan Dharma.
It is also outrageous that Jha finds “heightened devotion” as unfortunate. Hindu dharma is not a tepid, armchair hobby, even sitting in one place and doing “naam jap” (chanting of holy name) requires effort and devotion. Hinduism has always had room for loud and spiritually profound Naga sadhus, grihast (householders) and even the quiet meditators who all come together at Kumbh showcasing how so diverse and yet similar they are in their devotion. Calling this “unfortunate” is just elitist whining and losing their minds over the fact that Hindus would not dim their devotion and joy to embrace some sanitized or ‘secularised’, low-energy ideal. Hindus are not up for this Faustian bargain.
Jha writes that “A standardised version of faith is being promoted, narrowing the vast landscape of Hindu thought into one-size-fits-all religiosity This loss of balance — between deep, contemplative faith and mass fervour — poses a significant challenge to Hinduism’s foundational essence.”
Basically, the author wants Hindus to shut up and sit at home. Outward celebration and projection of faith even by the young, urban class challenges the shame they tried to make Hindus feel for decades. The mere expression of faith by Hindus is by default associated with majoritarianism, deterrence of ‘secularism’, ‘Hindu nationalism’, if it is devoid of ‘secular’ “Ramzan mein Ram, Diwali mein Ali” flavour.
Be it after the Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi verdict, or over Centre rightly excluding Muslims from CAA, or for simply not becoming outrightly divorced from their faith, left-liberals have long been inducing the “survivor’s guilt” in Hindus and gaslighting the majority community which from the medical era of Islamic invasions to British era and in the ‘independent’ India has been victimised by different oppressors with one intent of destroying Hindu faith.
Contrary to Savita Jha’s assertion that crores of Hindus celebrating Mahakumbh is somehow indicating a deflection from Hinduism’s pluralistic character towards any Abrahamic religion-like centralisation, doctrinal rigidity or emphasis on obligatory practices, Mahakumbh is a melting pot of diverse Hindu groups.
The grand Hindu festival is uniting ascetics (sadhus), householders (grihast) and sects (sampradaya)—Vaishnavas, Shaivas, and Shaktas—in a voluntary, vibrant expression of faith.
Savita Jha asserts that Kumbh Mela has traditionally not been the ultimate destination pilgrimage and a personal spiritual journey for elderly Hindus. This assertion, however, is far from true. Kumbh Mela, Chaar Dhaam Yatra, and Rameshwaram (in Tamil Nadu), among others have in fact been some of the ultimate pilgrimage destinations for Hindus regardless of age though the elderly traditionally considered it more important to visit Kumbh.
Jha is upset that earlier, mostly old dying people visited Kumbh. Now young Hindus are doing so too – the problem here is about how the younger generation, which the Left tried to detach from faith and deracinate completely – are also finding solace in spirituality and wearing their faith on their sleeve with pride.
The JNU professor further compared Kumbh Mela to the Jain practice of Sallekhana to suggest that although the latter was a journey of voluntary renunciation of life, Kumbh is chaotic, reckless and devoid of dignity.
“Traditionally, the Kumbh Mela has never been the ultimate destination for pilgrimage. It was a deeply spiritual journey, especially for the elderly. Many aged individuals, aware that their bodies were nearing the end of life, would undertake the yatra with a sense of detachment, much like the Jain practice of sallekhana — a voluntary, peaceful renunciation of life. They went with the understanding that they might not return, embracing death as a natural transition rather than a tragedy, accident, fear or shock. This practice was not chaotic or reckless; it was done with dignity and acceptance, with younger companions from the village or neighbourhood guiding them. The losses, if any, were minimal because the journey was taken with restraint, preparation, and spiritual resolve, not as an impulsive, desperate act,” Jha writes.
Jha goes on to assert that while the number of Hindus participating in Kumbh Mela has increased dramatically, there lack of profound depth of contemplation. Firstly, Kumbh Mela has always been a massive gathering comprising people of all age groups, genders, and sects with better interconnectivity and travel means, it has become easier for people to participate in Kumbh Mela. Secondly, Savita Jha or anyone for that matter, cannot judge or evaluate the depth of contemplation of Hindus partaking in Mahakumbh. Can she question the depth of contemplation of Muslims in doing Haj pilgrimage or any other religious community’s rationale behind undertaking their pilgrimage?
Contrary to Jha’s assertion that the rush lacks spiritual preparation, replacing contemplation with mere performance is baseless. Kumbh pilgrimage is not devoid of contemplation, rather there is an abundance of it. The kalpvaasis observe fasts, sadhus meditate by the Sangam, all while co-existing with the crowd of devotees.
What Savita Jha fails to comprehend about the zeal and devotion of Hindus in partaking in Kumbh Mela, has been well-explained by Mark Twain in his book “Following The Equator”. Describing his experience at Kumbh of 1895, Twain wrote, “It is wonderful, the power of a faith like that, that can make multitudes upon multitudes of the old and weak and the young and frail enter without hesitation or complaint upon such incredible journeys and endure the resultant miseries without repining.”
There is no rigidity, no coercion and definitely no push towards a central mandate but it is unfathomable for the likes of Savita Jha that Hindus instead of practising their faith somewhat clandestinely in line with the ‘liberal’ expectation, are displaying their faith. Hindus are attending Kumbh Mela due to their personal devotion and not any obligation. No Hindu who for some reason does not visit Prayagraj during Mahakumbh will be looked down upon as a lesser Hindu or ostracised from the community.
Savita Jha’s assertion that Hinduism is heading towards becoming “codified” is flawed. Hinduism is codified – just that the method of codification is not one book – but many scriptures, including the Rig Veda which prescribes ways of worship. Plus, Hinduism is “codified” not merely by texts but also by performative traditions. Vedas, Upanishads, Shruti, Smriti, Puranas, Ramayana, Mahabharat and Bhagvadgita are all significant in Hinduism yet no specific text governs Hindu life. While the Gita emphasises Karma Yoga, the Upanishad delves into metaphysics and yet both reinforce the same worldview.
We are unified by not one scripture but shared principles of Dharma. While Vedas codify rituals through mantras and yajnas, their execution varies in North and South India. Hindu Dharma’s “code” is a resilient tapestry, woven from a thousand threads, not a single stitch.
#WATCH | #MahaKumbh2025 Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh: "I have come from Hubballi, Karnataka. It is very crowded but I am happy to be here at the Triveni Sangam. We will never get to see this moment again. Our children or grandchildren will not get to see it. Only, we are fortunate… pic.twitter.com/QnfuztZ1tO
Jha also says “Even the Indian Constitution struggles to define “Hindus” with finality because Hinduism is not a monolithic religion but a vast and fluid tradition encompassing countless beliefs, practices, sects, and philosophies.”
No. Hinduism is not a disco party. There are rules, but Hinduism is indeed made up of many Sampradayas. Jha’s agony apparently, is that Left created schism is visibly disappearing.
The hypocrisy of those ever-ready to scrutinise Hindus and Hinduism is amusing. They would have their hearts melt if a Hindu keeps roza, or Hindus open their temples for Muslims to offer namaz but if a Hindu belonging to one sampradaya takes part in another’s practices, even if for argument’s sake, conceded that Kumbh is not a necessary ritual for all Hindus, it becomes a sign of pluralism being threatened.
Contrary to Savita Jha’s mendacious claim, Kumbh is actually the most plural form of worship that we can see. Hindus of all castes, creeds, financial strata and sampradayas come together. And this is precisely the chagrin of the IE article’s author— that Kumbh has seen a sea change in how Hindus come together to worship transcending societal lines, financial strata etc.
Beyond the farce of Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb, which has done more damage to Hinduism than benefit, Bharat’s culture, though diverse, is mainly derived from “performative” Hinduism.
Savita Jha has a problem with music during Kanwar Yatra
While Jha repeatedly expresses her unfounded apprehensions that somehow Hinduism is becoming Abrahamic in character, she finds music and dance during Kanwar Yatra problematic.
“This cost is on the rise in different strenuous practices such as the Kanwar Yatra. Self-penance was considered a purifying process; with the loud noise of DJs and bikes obstructing our inner voice, the Kanwar Yatra has become restricted to performance only,” Jha writes.
In Hindu dharma, Lord Shiva or Mahadev is the originator of all forms of artistic expression, including dance and music. How can any practising Hindu have an objection to Hindus celebrating their festivals by playing music or dancing?
The Kanwar Yatris are devotees of Mahadev who travel long distances on bikes to offer Kanwar or jal to Mahadev. They follow the sattvic diet in the holy month of Saawan and have utmost devotion to Lord Shiva. DJ music or bikes don’t diminish their faith and resolve. Hinduism has always celebrated with dance and Music – we are not Islam. Music is not ‘haraam’ for Hindus and the Kanwar Yatris must abstain from playing devotional music or overtly displaying their faith. The yatra itself is a spiritual “performance”, Kanwariyas don’t have to just sit and imagine that they undertook the yatra.
What Savita Jha calls a Hindu shift towards Abrahamic character, an “outwardly visible form of faith — demonstrated through large processions, mass pilgrimages, and aggressive displays” is nothing like what Muslims or adherents of any Abrahamic faith do. In fact, mass pilgrimages, large processions and overt displays of faith have been an integral part of Hindu culture.
Interestingly, Savita Jha also mentions how it was villagers who used to attend such pilgrimages. Basically, her problem also is that now, the Urban youth – who were forced to feel ashamed of their faith, have found their faith against and are displaying their faith on their sleeve.
“Earlier, only a few people from the village would undertake the difficult pilgrimage to Kedarnath and Badrinath, while the rest would simply receive prasad and blessings. There was a natural sense of restraint and awareness of risks, ensuring that only the most prepared undertook such journeys,” Jha writes overlooking the financial restraints people earlier had.
God alone knows what makes Savita Jha think that the tradition of serving prasad to those who could not go on pilgrimage has ended. Many Hindus who visit Vaishno Devi temple or any other such temples often distribute prasad not only to their family members but also to their neighbours and colleagues. With improved accessibility and standard of living, why would Hindus not be willing to undertake “Sa-parivar” (with family) pilgrimages? People have accidents while going to their office also, should they stop working to stay safe? Under the garb of ‘rationality’ it seems like Jha wants to deter Hindus from undertaking pilgrimages.
Is heightened devotion to blame for the Kumbh stampede? Has Hindu devotion caused violence in Mahakumbh?
The Indian Express article further insinuates that the stampede in Prayagraj last month that resulted in 30 deaths was caused by the “heightened devotion” of Hindus. While Savita Jha makes no explicit mention of any politician or political statements, her article carries the undertone that somehow, Hindus have become dogmatically expressive Hindus in the last decade.
The tragic loss of lives at Mahakumbh on Mauni Amavasya was not the first time that a stampede occurred in Kumbh Mela. Such incidents happened in 1954 and 2013 as well when both, Uttar Pradesh and India were by supposedly ‘secular’ governments. Hindus have always attached immense significance to Kumbh Mela, stampedes may occur due to rumours, mismanagement or due to conspiracies, but never due to heightened devotion. Stampedes are not unique to Hinduism, a stampede occurred at Mecca as well in 2015, would Savita Jha or any liberal ‘intellectual’ blame the ‘heightened devotion’ of Muslims for the tragedy?
In her pursuit to gaslight Hindus for attending Mahakumbh, the founder of the Centre for Studies of Tradition and Systems(CSTS), resorted to peddling lies as she claimed that there was “mindless violence” in the ongoing Kumbh Mela. In reality, there has not been a single instance of any violence during Kumbh.
Social media and commercialisation of religion making Hinduism unilinear?
Furthermore, Jha asserts that singular narratives on social media and commercialisation have reduced the faith to somewhat formulaic acts, sidelining regional variations. This is outright ridiculous. Social media can never be a space where any singular narrative thrives. People from Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Himachal and other states came to Prayagraj and took the holy dip while performing their rituals, there was no dress code, no specific rule that a south Indian cannot perform their rituals before, or during the ritual bathing. Social media is replete with posts, videos of sadhus sharing ascetic wisdom, and commoners describing how they performed their regional rites and unique experiences. There is no herd mentality at play here.
“The commercialisation of religion, from packaged pilgrimages to mass events, promotes specific rituals and experiences as the “ideal” and “only” way to connect with the divine, reducing faith to formulaic participation. Several water bodies once served as sites for the observance of kalpvaas (staying near the river in a certain time period) from Paus Purnima to Maghi Purnima. In Bihar, Simaria was known as mini-Kumbh. However, modern religious expressions are increasingly unilinear, emphasising mass participation over individual spiritual experience. A standardised version of faith is being promoted, narrowing the vast landscape of Hindu thought into one-size-fits-all religiosity,” Jha writes.
Nobody can help Jha if she thinks that packaged pilgrimages or mass events like Kumbh are the ‘commercialisation’ of religion. The government would obviously promote, the grand event the businesses would naturally want to make money when they know a large number of people are gathering at Prayagraj for spiritual reasons. It is not the commercialisation of religion but a demonstration of how religious events also offer people economic opportunities. The author ignores the fact that even in the era of kings, Kumbh events had imperial patronage.
Chhath pooja, Bengal’s famous Ganga Sagar Mela, Baneshwar Mela and Pushkar Mela in Rajasthan, among others, thrive alongside Kumbh, proving that diversity isn’t lost but scaled. Hinduism never was and can never be unilinear or centred around one-size-fits-all religiosity.
Jha concludes her sanctimonious rant with a question: Is Hinduism evolving or is it being reshaped into something it was never meant to be?”
The answer is: No! It is not. Hinduism is the oldest yet the most modern religion in the world. Reason: Though Sanatan (eternal, timeless), Hinduism has evolved over the ages and yet retains its pluralistic character. Shaming Kumbh’s grandeur, gaslighting Hindus for displaying their faith, suggesting that Hinduism is corrupted or reshaping into a rigid unilinear faith is an outright insult to Hindus and their faith but then liberals draw sadistic pleasure in insulting and gaslighting Hindus for their unapologetic Hinduness.
While crores of Hindus revel in their “heightened devotion” at Mahakumbh, armchair prophets like Savita Jha slobber over their keyboards, just Rakshasas used to prevent Rishis from performing Yajnas.
