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Hindu religious flags removed ahead of Navratri in Damoh, Hindu groups demand suspension of official

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On 29th March, Damoh witnessed high drama after the local civic body allegedly attempted to remove religious flags installed by Hindu groups at the Ghantaghar ahead of the Hindu festival Navratri. Hindu organisations and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers staged a massive protest and blocked roads, demanding the immediate suspension of CMO Pradeep Sharma, who has been accused of being “anti-Sanatan”

Tensions further escalated in the area after a few protestors reportedly blackened the face of CMO outside his residence. The protestors alleged that the official ordered the removal of religious flags despite them being part of an annual Navratri tradition. Speaking to media, BJP leader Satish Tiwari said, “Our opposition will continue against those who insult Sanatan Dharma.”

Demands for apology and suspension

The protest was led by Vishwa Hindu Parishad, BJP and Sakal Hindu Samaj and it lasted for almost 90 minutes. Only essential services were allowed to pass through the blocked roads. The Hindu groups later met the District Collector and SP demanding Sharma’s immediate suspension and public apology. VHP’s district head Anuj Khatri insisted that Sharma should be removed from his post and made to apologise for his actions.

Administration promised inquiry

Collector Sudhir Kochar confirmed that notices have been issued in the matter and a report will be submitted to the state by 10th April. Superintendent of Police (SP) Shrutikirti Somvanshi assured a high-level inquiry into the matter to prevent recurrence of such incidents. Police is continuously monitoring the situation.

Mohanlal starrer Empuraan receives backlash for grotesque misportrayal of 2002 Gujarat riots and pushing an anti-Hindu narrative

South Indian actor Mohanlal starrer ‘L2:Empuraan’ is facing major backlash for the alleged misportrayal of the 2002 Gujarat riots. The much-anticipated movie has been accused of showing Hindus as insensitive and merciless, using the context of the Godhra riots. Following the criticism, the movie’s producer, Gokulam Gopalan, has reportedly asked director-actor Prithviraj Sukumaran to modify certain controversial parts of the movie. “If any scenes or dialogues shown in the movie Empuraan hurt anyone, I have told director Prithviraj to make changes,” said Gopalan as quoted by India Today.

“Some words have been muted for the time being. There have been protests about certain things shown in the movie, and I have asked the director if he can make any changes; he should. The film was censored, and there was no issue then. We have no connection with any political party, I see politics as a service,” the producer clarified.

The movie portrays Hindus as insensitive

The movie, which is a sequel to Lucifer (2019), allegedly portrayed the events after the Godhra riots in a manner that pushes an anti-Hindu narrative. Among other controversial scenes, there is reportedly a scene in the movie where a Muslim family is shown as being brutally killed by Hindu right-wing extremists. Sukumaran, playing second fiddle to Mohanlal’s character in the movie, portrayed a character named Zayed Masood. The controversial scenes relating to the Godhra riots appear in the introduction of the background of Sukumaran’s character. Besides, the movie allegedly shows how the then-ruling party, which was the BJP led by erstwhile Gujarat CM Narendra Modi, misused the central agencies during the riots.

Organiser, an English weekly, pointed out certain scenes in the movie that show Hindus in a bad light, including one where a Hindu man is shown committing violence against a pregnant Muslim woman. “The film opens with a powerful and disturbing sequence depicting a Muslim village burning during the 2002 post-Godhra riots. What follows is a series of graphic and intense scenes which disturb every human mind. It includes Hindu men mercilessly beating a Muslim child and committing horrific violence against a pregnant Muslim woman, ” the Organiser wrote. “These scenes go beyond mere shock value; they are purposefully designed to reinforce the image of Hindus as the primary aggressors during the 2002 riots, perpetuating hatred between the two communities and portraying Hindus as villains, ” it added.

The truth of the Godhra riots

The Godhra riots are perhaps among the most misrepresented and the most politicised events in the country’s history of communal riots. While the riots have been used by politicians, media houses and left liberals over the years to paint an anti-Hindu narrative, the carnage that preceded the riots, in which 59 karsevaks were charred to death in a train coach set on fire by a Muslim mob, has never found mention in that narrative.

On 27th February 2002, the Sabarmati Express, after running four hours late, reached Godhra station by 7:40 am. at about 3:30 am. Coach S6 of the train was carrying 59 karsevaks returning from the Ramjanmabhoomi site in Ayodhya. Within minutes of the train arriving at the station, a mob of around 2000 Muslims from the nearby Muslim-dominated area of Signal Falia surrounded the coach carrying karsevaks and set it on fire. All the karsevaks inside the coach, including 25 women and 15 children, were burnt alive.

After years of judicial trial, the trial court convicted 31 Muslims on 22nd February, 2011, for the Godhra massacre. The convictions were later affirmed by the Gujarat High Court in 2017. In February 2003, one of the accused gave a judicial confession in which he admitted that the Godhra carnage was a pre-planned attack.

Several stories were cooked up by the Islamist apologists to justify the planned attack on the karsevaks, including the karsevaks allegedly kidnapping a Muslim girl, or the karsevaks entering into an argument with some Muslim vendors at the railway station and so on. However, all these stories were rejected by the Nanavati-Mehta Commission, which was set up to investigate the Godhra massacre of karsevaks and the Godhra riots. The commission concluded that no instigation happened from the side of the karsevaks. It said that the attack was pre-planned. About 60 litres of inflammable liquid must have been used in burning that coach. The floor of the coach in some places was totally burnt. After explaining the difference between a fire in an open space and a fire in a confined place, he stated that the phenomenon of flashover can happen in a place that is small and completely closed. The size of S/6 was quite big. Its total area of it was 5000 sq. ft. Therefore, there was no possibility of a flashover in that coach unless the fire was big. The fire had not started from below the coach. The total quantity of liquid that was required for burning the coach could not have been thrown from outside, nor the fire which took place in S/6 could have been caused only by the burning rags thrown in it. As there was more damage in the eastern part of the coach, he had come to the conclusion that the fire had originated in the eastern part of that coach,” observed the commission.

Rahul Gandhi demands cancellation of offshore mining tenders, writes to PM Modi

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Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi has strongly opposed the central government’s decision to permit offshore mining along the coasts of Kerala, Gujarat, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, calling it a move that threatens marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of coastal communities.

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gandhi criticized the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2023, which he said had faced strong objections due to concerns over its environmental and socio-economic impact. He pointed out that the decision to open offshore mining blocks to private players was made without rigorous environmental assessment or consultation with stakeholders.

“The Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act 2023 was met with strong objections. Opening up offshore mining blocks to Private players without any rigorous assessment of its impact was concerning. Studies point to its adverse impacts, including threats to marine life, damage to coral reefs and the depletion of fish stock. Against this backdrop. When the Ministry of Mines invited tenders for the grant of license for 13 offshore blocks, protests erupted against this arbitrary move. Among the 13 blocks are three blocks for mining construction sand in the coast of Kollam – a vital fish breeding habitat, and three blocks for polymetallic nodules off the coast of the Great Nicobar Islands- a marine biodiversity hotspot,” Rahul Gandhi said.

“In fact, the ongoing survey of the Marine Monitoring Lab (MML) of the University of Kerala’s Department of Aquatic Biology & Fisheries found that offshore mining could have a devastating impact on fish breeding, especially in Kollam,” he highlighted.

The Lok Sabha LoP urged the government to immediately cancel the offshore mining tenders and conduct comprehensive environmental and socio-economic studies before proceeding with any further decisions. He also called for greater consultation with stakeholders, especially fisher folk, whose livelihoods are directly tied to the health of marine ecosystems.

“Over 11 lakh People rely on fishing in Kerala. Any major is their traditional occupation and is closely tied to their way of life. Great Nicobar is globally recognised for harbouring diverse ecosystems and is home to several endemic species of wildlife. Any damage due to onshore miring could potentially do irreparable damage. At a juncture where erosion of our coastal ecosystems has worsened the impact of natural calamities like cyclones, it is concerning that the government is wilfully greenlighting activities without scientific assessment,” Rahul Gandhi said.

“I strongly urge the government to cancel the tenders issued for the offshore mining blocks. Furthermore, rigorous scientific studies must be undertaken to assess the environmental and socio-economic impact of offshore mining. But most importantly, all stakeholders, especially our fisherfolk, must be consulted before any major decision is taken. Their lives are intertwined with the fate of our oceans. Let us work collectively towards building a sustainable future for all,” he asserted.


(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Legal heat on Kunal Kamra: Multiple cases filed for derogatory remarks against Eknath Shinde

‘Comedian’ Kunal Kamra is in hot water after his latest stand-up act took aim at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. On Saturday, three separate cases were lodged against him at Khar police station in west Mumbai, escalating the legal troubles surrounding his performance.

According to Mumbai Police, one complaint came from the Mayor of Jalgaon city, while the other two were filed by a Nashik-based hotelier and a businessman.

Meanwhile, Khar police have summoned Kamra twice for questioning, but the comedian has yet to appear—further intensifying the controversy.

Despite the legal storm, Kamra found some respite on Friday when the Madras High Court granted him interim anticipatory bail until April 7. Justice Sunder Mohan issued the order with specific conditions, offering Kamra a temporary shield from arrest. Kamra, who projected self-righteousness in a statement claiming he won’t apologise, finds himself at the centre of a raging political and legal whirlwind.

Back in Mumbai, authorities have now issued a third summons, demanding Kamra’s presence at Khar police station on March 31 for further questioning. This follows a case filed by Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel, with Kamra previously ignoring the first two summons.

Kamra’s latest stand-up performance—uploaded to YouTube and Instagram—didn’t provoke laughter; it touched off outrage and instigated vandalism in Mumbai. Supporters of Eknath Shinde were furious, with some even vandalising the Mumbai venue where the act was filmed. In a dramatic escalation, they issued threats, warning Kamra that he would not be allowed to “walk freely.”

In his set, Kamra took a witty swipe at Maharashtra’s fractured political landscape, referencing the splintering of the Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

Karnataka: Elderly couple commits suicide after losing Rs 50 lakh in cyber fraud

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An elderly couple died by suicide in Beedi village in the Belagavi district of Karnataka after allegedly losing over Rs 50 lakh to cyber fraud.
According to the police, the victims, identified as Diego Santan Nazareth (82) and his wife Flavia (79), were found dead in their home in Christian Galli.

According to Belagavi Superintendent of Police (SP) Bhimashankar Guled, the couple left behind a two-page suicide note detailing their ordeal.

“The bodies of an elderly couple were found in their home in Beedi village, and it appears to be a case of suicide at first glance. We have also found a two-page death note. According to the contents of the death note, they seem to have been victims of a cybercrime. It appears they lost over Rs 50 lakh due to cyber fraud, and the actual amount could be even higher. We are also investigating their bank accounts,” he said.

Preliminary investigations suggest they were tricked by cybercriminals posing as crime branch officials.

“The preliminary investigation suggests that the couple was mentally distressed after falling victim to cyber fraud. They had repeatedly tried to contact the fraudster through WhatsApp video calls. The last message they sent stated, ‘If you do not answer our calls, we will end our lives,” he said.

SP Guled urged the public to remain vigilant against cyber fraud and report any suspicious activity to the police immediately. “If they had informed us, we could have protected them. This incident is a wake-up call for society,” he added.

“We have registered a case based on the death note and also under charges of abetment to suicide. The case has been transferred to the Cyber Economic and Narcotics (CEN) police station, and the investigation will continue under my supervision. We will make every effort to identify and arrest the perpetrators as soon as possible,” said Belagavi SP Bhimashankar Guled.

“Our two special teams are already visiting various banks to collect information. The death note reveals that the cybercriminals contacted the couple, claiming that their ID had been used to commit a cybercrime. The fraudsters provided them with a phone number, claiming it belonged to the Crime Branch Police. Believing them to be genuine officers from Delhi, the couple called the provided number. The criminals then intimidated the couple and extorted money from them,” SP Guled said.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Jaipur: Clashes erupt after miscreants vandalised the idol of Veej Tejaji Marahaj, locals block roads demanding action

Clashes erupted in the Sanganer area of Jaipur in Rajasthan after some unidentified miscreants vandalised a statue of revered Veer Tejaji Maharaj late on Friday (28th March). Outraged locals took to the streets, blocked the Jaipur-Tonk road, closed the market and burnt tyres, staging a protest against the incident. Members of Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal also joined the protests. A heavy police force has been deployed in the area to control the situation.

As per reports, the police received the information about the statue being vandalised in the early hours of Saturday (29th March). Locals alleged that some unidentified miscreants damaged the idol inside the Tejaji temple in sector 3 of the Pratapgarh area late in the night on Friday. Angry people blocked the Jaipur-Tonk road for nearly 3 hours. The police had to use mild force to remove the people blocking the road.

Nagaur MP Hanuman Beniwal condemned the vandalism of the idol and called for action against the culprits. “Such an act by anti-social elements is a mockery of the public faith, which will not be tolerated, “said Beniwal. Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, Tikaram Jully, criticised the incident, calling it an attack on collective faith and heritage. He said that an attack on faith will not be tolerated. He urged the state government to take note of the situation and take strict action against those responsible. He demanded stronger security arrangements for religious places.

The police analysed CCTV footage and arrested one Siddharth Singh in connection with the vandalism.

Who is Veer Tejaji Maharaj

Veer Tejaji Maharaj is a revered figure in several states, including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. He was born on 29th January 1074 in Kharnal village of the Nagaur district of Rajasthan. He is considered among the 6 miraculous Siddhas of Rajasthan. He devoted his life to the causes of farmers and cow protection. He died on 28th August 1103 in Sursura, Ajmer, while fighting to protect cows.

Saif Ali Khan stabbing case: Accused files bail plea, claims case is ‘false’

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Shariful Islam Shehzad, who has been in the news since January for allegedly attacking actor Saif Ali Khan during a theft attempt at his Bandra home, has filed a bail plea in the Mumbai Sessions Court.

In his plea, submitted through his lawyer, Ajay Gawali, Shehzad claims that he is innocent and that the case against him is fabricated.

The bail application states that the FIR was registered improperly. It also states that Shehzad has fully cooperated with the investigation and that all evidence is already with the police, making any tampering impossible.

The case is currently being heard in the Bandra Magistrate Court. However, it will be transferred to the Sessions Court once the police file the chargesheet. As of now, the Bandra Police have yet to submit the chargesheet.

Shehzad is accused of breaking into Saif Ali Khan’s home on January 16 with the intention of robbing. During the incident, the actor was attacked and suffered serious injuries to his thoracic spine and other parts of his body. He was immediately taken to Lilavati Hospital, where he received treatment for five days before being discharged on January 21.

In February, Mumbai Police claimed they had ample evidence against the arrested accused. They also confirmed that he entered India from Bangladesh and stayed in various locations in Kolkata before coming to Mumbai.

Earlier, Additional Commissioner of Police Paramjit Singh Dahiya refuted rumours that the accused’s fingerprints did not match. “Whenever an accusation is made, multiple pieces of evidence are collected against it. We have found much oral, physical, and technical evidence against the accused… We have caught the right person,” he said.

ST children being brainwashed for Christian conversion: MP Child Commission finds 48 tribal kids in illegal hostel run by ‘Sign for India’ school in Mandla

Christian missionaries are active in the Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh. They are running schools and hostels where children are being converted to Christianity in the name of education. One such nexus has come to light in Ghutas village of Mandla, where a school named Sign For India has been operating an illegal hostel where 15 girls and 33 boys from the tribal community have already been converted. Notably, the school does not have permission to run a hostel.

The Madhya Pradesh Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MPCPCR) found that these children had been systematically brainwashed and coerced into accepting Christianity. The school is being run without permission by one Jyoti Raj, who hails from Odisha. The Commission has taken the matter seriously and forwarded the details to the Bhopal headquarters and to the administration for strict action.

Brainwashing and religious books found with children

Speaking to OpIndia, Commission member Omkar Singh said that 48 children had been brought from Damoh, Anuppur, Odisha and nearby regions. The team spoke to the children, and the revelations made by them were shocking. Instead of saying that they wanted to become doctors or engineers, many of them wished to become pastors and nuns. The children themselves confessed that they had been told to embrace Christianity. Singh said that it was evident their minds were completely rewired. Bibles and several other religious texts were found on the school premises, which were clear proof that religious indoctrination was being carried out at the school.

Prayers held underground, not in the open

The Commission found a bizarre trend — that prayers at the school were not being held in the open, which is the norm in schools, but in an underground space. The team recorded videos of children praying and their conversations with the members of the Commission. Everything has been sent to Bhopal HQ and local officials as part of the evidence.

District Programme Coordinator (DPC) K.K. Upadhyay said that there were suspicions about the school. When the team arrived, it was found that children had Bibles in their hands while entering the prayer room. The children revealed that they participated in Christian prayers daily at 6:30 p.m., and earlier, they used to follow another religion.

CCTV cameras found in girls’ bathrooms

Another shocking discovery made by the team was the presence of CCTV cameras installed in girls’ bathrooms, which is a highly objectionable violation. Another member of the Child Rights Commission, Dr Nivedita Sharma, revealed that on school documents, the children’s religion was mentioned as Hindu and caste as Gond. However, in hostel records, they were mentioned as Christians. Several documents were found to be missing from the records.

The Commission has rescued 15 girls and 33 boys who were brought from Mandla, Odisha and Anuppur and were forced to participate in religious activities without the consent of their parents.

Gond and Baiga tribal children targeted

Speaking to OpIndia, local social worker Tarendra Chaurasia said that religious symbols such as kalawa and tilak were removed. The Gond and Baiga tribal children were fully converted to Christianity. They pray to Jesus, hold Bibles, and follow Christian rituals. The Baiga tribe, which is already facing extinction in many regions, is reportedly being aggressively targeted by such missionaries.

Chaurasia said, “The biggest concern is that even Baiga tribal children, along with other tribal kids, have been converted here. They are being made to pray without any parental consent, and even their school forms list them as Christians. Christian missionaries have turned Mandla, a tribal district, into a hotbed of conversion, and similar patterns are visible in almost every missionary-run school.”

The videos and photos linked to the case have been forwarded for further action. Shockingly, in a backward village of barely 100 families, missionaries have pumped in crores to set up a school and offer dirt-cheap education — which raises suspicion about their motive and who is funding such missionaries.

This case is a clear indication that it is a well-organised operation by Christian missionaries. They are running a school without permission, brainwashing children, and forcing religious conversion — which is a serious crime. The main accused, Jyoti Raj from Odisha, is now facing growing demands for strict action. Authorities have been approached to take decisive steps.

This report was first published by OpIndia Hindi which can be checked here.

Provide special protection to Kunal Kamra just like Kangana Ranaut was provided when we had a ‘rift’ with her: UBT Sena’s leader Sanjay Raut

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Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut demanded special protection for satirist Kunal Kamra on Saturday, after three more cases were filed against him at Khar police station for his alleged controversial remarks about Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Sanjay Raut said that just like Bharatiya Janata Party MP Kangana Ranaut was given protection following her “rift” with Shiv Sena, Kamra should be provided the same.

“I also demand that the Maharashtra Govt should provide special protection to Kunal Kamra. Kangana Ranaut was also provided special force for her security when she had a rift with us,” Raut said during a press conference.

Meanwhile, 3 more complaints have been filed against the stand-up artist. One of the complaints against Kunal Kamra has been filed by the Mayor of Jalgaon city, while the other two complaints came from a hotelier and a businessman from Nashik, as per the Mumbai Police.

On March 27, the Mumbai police asked the comedian to appear on March 31 at Khar police station for further questioning in the case. This is the third summon issued to Kamra in the case filed by Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel at the Khar police station. He has failed to appear before the police in the first two summons.

On Friday, the Madras High Court granted interim anticipatory bail to Kunal Kamra in connection with multiple FIRs lodged against him. Justice Sunder Mohan ordered interim anticipatory bail until April 7 with conditions.

Kunal Kamra had approached the Madras High Court to seek transit anticipatory bail, claiming he has been receiving many threats following his recent satirical comments.

Earlier on Thursday, Kunal Kamra criticised the mainstream media, accusing it of serving as a mouthpiece for the ruling party. Kamra labelled the media as “vultures” and expressed his disdain for the media’s role in perpetuating misinformation and distracting from pressing issues.

Kamra had sparked a row with his “gaddar” (traitor) joke allegedly aimed at Eknath Shinde. Several political leaders condemned his remarks and demanded action against him.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

US university launches ‘Hinduphobic’ course, distorts meaning of Hinduism and links it with extremism, cries foul after student complains

Vasant Bhatt, an Indian-American student who enrolled in the course ‘Lived Hindu Religion‘ at Houston University, found that the course is Hinduphobic and has distorted India’s political landscape.

The university offers the course online. The video lectures are delivered by Professor Aaron Michael Ullrey weekly. The controversial course misrepresents certain statements about the Hindu religion as facts.

For example, the course claims that the word ‘Hindu’ is a modern construct and has no historical basis. Bhatt, a political science major at the university, raised the issue with the dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences under which this course is being offered.

He alleged that Professor Ullrey claimed that Hinduism was not an “ancient, lived tradition”, but a “political tool” weaponised by “Hindu nationalists, and a system of oppression against minorities”.

After facing backlash over its course on the Hindu religion alleged to be Hinduphobic, the University of Houston has defended the course in the name of academic freedom.

“Hindutva, or ‘Hindu-ness’, is a term that Hindu nationalists, those who believe Hinduism should be the official religion of India, use to designate their religion and denigrate others, namely Islam,” read a quote from the syllabus shared by Bhatt with India Today.

Dismissing the allegation, Professor Ullrey denied having said anything as alleged and clarified that his words were taken out of context.

Statement by the Houston University

Responding to the student’s allegations, the university released a statement saying that the university valued academic freedom, which allowed faculty to explore complex and challenging topics.

“The University of Houston values academic freedom, which includes allowing faculty to explore complex and sometimes challenging topics in their teaching. While UH does not typically review individual lectures, the university maintains oversight of the curriculum to ensure it meets established academic and pedagogical standards,” read the statement as reported by the ANI.

The university claimed that academic terms can carry different meanings from how they are used in public or political discourse which sometimes leads to misunderstanding.

“The word ‘Hindu’ is not found in the Vedas or the Mahabharata or the Puranas, which is surprising considering the prevalence of the term now. The specific term Hinduism is not found in the inscriptional record, in which the patrons declare affiliation with a specific deity (Saiva) or religious authority (Bauddha), and a king who might be considered Hindu by modern standards could call himself Son of the Gods (devaputra), but the kings and patrons did not use the term Hindu to mark their identities, ” said Professor Ullrey defending his course.