Mahashay Dharampal Gulati, the owner of the spices brand ‘MDH’ passed away earlier today. As per reports, he was undergoing treatment at Delhi hospital since past three weeks. He suffered cardiac arrest on Thursday morning and passed away at 5:30 AM.
Born on 27 March, 1923 in undivided India in Sialkot, now in Pakistan, Mahashayji was a school dropout. He joined his father’s spices business in young age.
After 1947 India-Pakistan partition, he moved to India where he stayed at refugee camp in Amritsar. After that he moved to Delhi’s Karol Bagh where he opened a store. He launched MDH Masala as a brand in 1959. MDH stands for ‘Mahashayji Di Hatti’.
In 2019, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan, third highest civilian award in India.
President Kovind presents Padma Bhushan to Mahashay Dharampal Gulati for Trade & Industry. He is the Chairman of 'Mahashian Di Hatti' (MDH) and an icon in the Indian food industry pic.twitter.com/I109601WsI
After the Union Government asked the leaders of the protesting farmers to come up with specific issues they have with the three farm laws, the protesters have indicated that they are in no mood to resolve the issue. Today one of the leaders indicated that they are in no mood to give any specific issue, reiterating that they want the laws repealed. Darshan Pal, President of Krantikari Kisan Union, today demanded that the union govt should call a special session of the parliament to repeal the farm laws.
Yesterday, after the meeting with the representatives of 35 farmer organisations at the Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, the govt had asked them to identify the specific issues related to Farm Reform Acts and share with the government on December 2 for consideration. The govt had said that those issues will be discussed on the next meeting on December 3rd.
We demand that the Central government should call a special Parliament Session to repeal the farm laws: Darshan Pal, President of Krantikari Kisan Union pic.twitter.com/IPlOXKKeNH
Darshan Pal said that another farmer organisation Bharatiya Kisan Union was with them in this demand. The ‘farmer leader’ also called for burning of effigies all over the country on December 5 to protest against the Modi government and Corporate houses.
According to media reports, Darshan Pal, who was a doctor but took to farming a few years ago, is coordinating among various organisations participating in the protests. He is also a working committee member of the All India Kisan Sangrash Coordination Committee (AIKSCC). But the shocking fact is that, he is also a Maoist leader.
Darshan Pal was one of the founders of People’s Democratic Front of India (PDFI). PDFI is a constituent of the Maoist movement, the left-wing terrorism in the country.
According to a study prepared by Dr Marri Channa Reddy Human Resource Development Institute in Hyderabad, PDFI was a part of Tactical United Front (TUF) formed by the Maoists, to consolidate and expand its position.
Apart from PDFI, other Maoist organisations included in the TUF are Revolutionary Democratic Front (RDF), the Committee against Violence on Women (CAVOW) which is linked to Arundhati Roy, and the Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners (CRPP), etc.
Darshan Pal was the convenor of the 51-member executive committee of PDFI. Apart from Darshan Pal, other founder members of PDFI included known anti-National and anti-BJP names like Varvara Rao, Kalyan Rao, Medha Patkar, Nandita Haksar, SAR Geelani, BD Sarma etc.
This shows that there are anti-national forces behind the so-called farmer protests. Their plan is to destabilise the country, which is indicated by the fact that they don’t want to give any specific reason to oppose the farm laws, and just want to repeal them.
It may be noted that a call for a special session to repeal the farm laws, when there are speculations that the winter session of the parliament will be postponed to the next year and merged with the budget session, shows that the protesters are not interested in any solution. They are protesting against the laws over concerns that does not exist, and therefore, it seems that they are unable to mention any specific issue with the laws, and hence taking the dogmatic stand of repealing the laws. They know that this is not going to happen, going by the Modi govt’s reaction to the anti-CAA protests, but still they want to keep the protests going.
This shows that these protests are not for the farmers, but are for against the Modi government.
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology of Government of India has issued an order directing Wikipedia to remove a link from their website that has shown the wrong map of Jammu and Kashmir. According to govt sources, the order was issued under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
This matter was flagged by a Twitter user through a tweet asking government to take action against Wikipedia for displaying a wrong map of India.
The Twitter user Chhatrasal Singh had highlighted that the Wikipedia page on India Bhutan relationship contained that the map that incorrectly depicted the map of Jammu Kashmir. The map showed Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan occupied Kashmir and Aksai Sin as not being part of India.
Records of Wikimedia Commons, the site that hosts all media files used on all Wikimedia group sites, show that the image was created and uploaded by a Wikipedia user with the username Mangostar. The image was originally uploaded in May 2008, more than a decade ago.
The image ordered to be deleted (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
The Wikimedia page for the image shows that the same image is also used on several other Wikipedia articles in various languages. The image was created using a template image for countries of Asia, which also contains India’s map without the above-mentioned regions. The user had merely colored the maps of India and Bhutan on this map to use it for the page on Indo-Bhutan relations.
Taking cognizance of the tweet posted on November 25, the Minister of Electronics and Information technology swiftly issued an order on 27th November, 2020 directing Wikipedia to remove this page as this is violation of territorial integrity and sovereignty of India.
It worth mentioning that if Wikipedia does not follow this direction of the Government, then the Government can take serious legal action against Wikipedia including blocking access to the entire platforms as per section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000. So far, Wikipedia has not corrected the map.
It is notable that content in Wikipedia is user-generated, and the company does not create or edit content directly. It is to be seen how Wikipedia responds to the notice.
Social Media websites are awash with an image of a bottle of liquor named after Pakistan’s founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah. The bottle of gin is named ‘Ginnah’. The eponymous alcoholic beverage bottle also carries a small introduction about Muhammad Ali Jinnah, along with a description of how the country has been reduced to a “troubled place” due to the totalitarian instincts of a “military dictator” that reigned the country with the help of the United States.
Message on the gin bottle hails Jinnah as pork-eating, whisky-swilling epicure
The message reads, “Mohammad Ali Jinnah was the founder of Pakistan that came into being in 1947 as a secular state. Decades later, the country was pushed over the cliff by a military dictator, aided by supporters in Washington D.C., converted into a troubled place where he and some of the religious clergy pursued their sinister designs.”
Viral picture of a bottle of gin named after Pakistan’s founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah(Source: Twitter)
The reference made to the military dictator in the message printed on the label of the bottle is none other than Pakistani General Muhammed Zia-ul-Haq, who overthrew the then Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in 1977. It is also widely believed that Zia-ul-Haq presided over the Islamisation of Pakistan, establishing an Islamic state and enforcing the rule of Islamic Sharia. It is pertinent to note that alcohol was freely available in Pakistan until 1977 when Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, before he was deposed by Zia-ul-Haq, placed a ban over it to appease Islamic clergies.
The message further added that Jinnah would have never allowed Pakistan to degenerate into a religious regime, given that he himself enjoyed playing billiard, smoking cigars, munching pork sausages and swilling fine scotch, whiskey and gin. All the above-mentioned activities are considered as taboo in Islam.
The bottom of the label states it as “In the memory of the man of pleasure who he was: Ginnah”.
Social media users’ reaction to gin bottle named after M.A Jinnah
Though the authenticity of the picture was not confirmed, several Twitter users, nevertheless, started sharing picture that had already gone viral on the social media websites.
One of the Twitter users said, “Damn! We have gin named after our founding father.”
Pakistani journalist and popular social-media user Naila Inayat even took a dig at Pakistan’s founder, jocularly wondering if the bottle of gin represented an upgraded Jinnah.
India Today has been pandering to the Left-liberals for a long time, more so recently. However, even that has not earned them a free pass. Now, the ‘liberals’ are cancelling India Today, Rajdeep Sardesai and even Rahul Kanwal over their coverage of the allegations levelled by the father of Shehla Rashid against her.
While discussing the allegations levelled against Shehla Rashid by her father, India Today ran a ticker that alleged that Shehla Rashid was arrested in 2016 in a sedition case.
This, however, is not true. While her comrades like Kanhaiya Kumar and Umar Khalid were arrested, Shehla Rashid has inexplicably managed to keep herself out of jail, despite all her shenanigans.
Responding to the coverage, Shehla Rashid, who is now extremely occupied with playing victim but not really responding to any of the allegations levelled by her father against her, took to Twitter to urge India Today to “stick to facts”. She said that she had never been arrested in the said case.
This tweet triggered the Left-liberals who are now trying to push the grave accusations against Shehla Rashid under the rug by painting her as the victim. The liberals are now cancelling India Today, Rajdeep Sardesai and Rahul Kanwal, even though the channel and its two anchors have been trying their hardest to pander to the Left-liberal cabal.
Not to mention that the women they are calling terrorist is actually a PhD at one of the best universities in India.
Shame on you @sardesairajdeep. Does it feel manly & patriotic after setting your hounds on women?
It was brave of Shehla to come forward and open up about her family. She is a target because of her public profile and because outspoken women face an extra burden in our society. @sardesairajdeep@rahulkanwalhttps://t.co/T8kARYFOSK
Shame on @IndiaToday .. @rahulkanwal sir.. come on! U r better than this! Horrendous targeting of an individual over a non issue. Tell us what’s happening with farmers pls! Stick with the news not family gossip! I’m so sorry you are going thru this @Shehla_Rashidhttps://t.co/N6GPpQartU
Interestingly, while the ‘liberals’ cancel India Today and shame their anchors for alleging that Shehla Rashid was arrested in the 2016 sedition case where ‘Bharat tere tukde honge’ slogans were raised and her comrades were arrested by the police, the liberals have failed to notice that even though India Today erred, they ended up giving Shehla Rashid far more respect that she deserves.
In the same show, India Today called her a ‘vocal Human Rights activist’.
Screenshot from India Today panel discussion
Shehla Rashid is hardly a ‘human rights activist’. She is a politician who has been an equal participant is stoking fire in the nation. It should be remembered that on 16 February 2019 Shehla posted a tweet stating that a group of Kashmiri girls were trapped in a hostel in Dehradun by a mob demanding their expulsion. The Uttarakhand police subsequently filed an FIR against her for disrupting public tranquillity and intent to provoke breach of peace by spreading a rumour. Before that, she was an active participant in the JNU ‘tukde tukde controversy’. She has often spoken against the interests of India and demonised Hindus and justified terrorism on several occasions.
Even while India Today whitewashed Shehla Rashid, the ‘liberal’ ecosystem was unforgiving since they demand absolute and utter subservience to the cause. Their ire was perhaps about the debate being held at all, and not one error that was made an excuse to bash the channel since the Left is not very adverse to spreading fake news themselves.
Interestingly, while the ‘liberals’ are now going after India Today and it’s veteran liar Rajdeep Sardesai along with their baby-propagandist, Rahul Kanwal, India Today has been trying its best to pander to the break-India forces that are now after its blood.
During the Hathras Case, it was evident that India Today was a frontrunner in stoking tensions in the area when the details of the case were not even clear. Later, OpIndia had reported about an audiotape where an India Today journalist was heard trying to coach the brother of the victim.
In the telephonic conversation between India Today journalist Tanushree Pandey and the brother of the deceased, Sandeep, Tanushree Pandey can be heard trying hard to convince Sandeep to send her a video statement of his father alleging that he was under immense pressure from the administration.
Throughout the conversation, Tanushree Pandey appears insistent on coaxing out a very specific statement from Sandeep while the latter remains non-committal on his statement and appears hesitant to toe the line that the journalist wants him to toe. He confirms the journalist’s allegations of pressure and on other occasions, he says that his father was not very clear on whether he was pressurised or not.
Tanushree Pandey tells Sandeep that she has learnt from somewhere, she does not specify where that an attempt is being made to blame the death of the sister on her family. It does appear to be an incendiary piece of information that has not been reported anywhere in the media. This bit of false information appears entirely fake and seems to have been invented solely to take advantage of the family’s misery to peddle a particular political agenda.
India Today had admitted that these tapes were authentic and had continued to stoke tensions in Hathras.
Apart from the Hathras Case, one also recalls their coverage of the recent case against Arnab Goswami where India Today was seen almost colluding with the Maharashtra government to implicate Arnab in a case where they themselves were the accused. Further, even during the Sushant Singh Rajput investigation, it should be recalled that Sardesai had specially flown to Mumbai to take the interview of Rhea Chakravarty, which was purportedly an exercise to prove her innocence and paint her as the victim, which is what the Left-Liberal ecosystem wanted.
Aside from the recent events, Rajdeep Sardesai has been a veteran propagandist and a senior-member of the coterie that often whitewashes terrorism, peddles fake news, shields Islamists, maligns Hindus on fictitious charges and even spreads propaganda when the need arises. He has also done several softball interviews with Congress leaders to prove his undying allegiance to the party and its ecosystem.
Allegations against Shehla Rashid by her father – terrorism
Abdul Rashid Shora, the father of ex-JNU student leader and former general secretary Jammu and Kashmir Peoples’ Movement, Shehla Rashid,has approached the office of DGP, Jammu and Kashmir Police with a written complaint that he is facing death threats from his own daughter. In his letter to the DGP Shora throws light on her daughter’s “notorious activities” and urges the Jammu and Kashmir police to investigate her bank accounts,the property acquired by her at New Delhi, her email accounts and her mysterious financial dealings.
Shora furthered that at the time when he was called by Zahoor Watali and Rasheed Engineer, Shehla was in the last semester of her PhD in Sociology. He said that in the meeting, the duo revealed their plans to launch the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Movement (JKPM) party and urged him to ask Shehla to join them. He confirms in his letter that he was offered Rs 3 crores to partake in their game plans.
In 2019, the former IAS officer Shah Faesal, had launched his political party the ‘Jammu and Kashmir Peoples’ Movement’ and freelance protestor, Shehla Rashid had also joined Faesal’s party.
“As I felt that the money is coming from illegal channels and shall be used for unlawful activities I did not take the money and later asked my daughter to not indulge in any such transactions with these people”, said Shora, furthering that though he resisted Shehla found support in her mother Zubeida Shora and elder sister Asma Rashid. He said that Shehla was joined by a local boy named Sakib Ahmad, whom she introduced to him as her bodyguard as he carried a pistol.
“She also told me that she has accepted the money and much more is about to come in future and so I need to shut up my mouth. As a concerned father, I strongly objected to my daughter’s decision for joining these notorious people as I felt the money coming will be used for unlawful activities”, wrote Shehla’s father in his letter to the DGP.
“I have a strong belief that there are anti-national activities going on in my house, the characters involved in this plan are my daughters, my wife and Shehla’s security guard namely Sakib Ahmad who lately threatened me with his pistol for my resistance posted to Shehla for her activities”, alleged Shora furthering that irked by his decision to oppose Shehla’s nefarious activities, she along with her mother, sister and her alleged bodyguard hatched a ploy to throw him out of his own house. They implicated him under the provisions of Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act in the court of 3rd Additional Munsiff, Srinagar.
Shehla has refuted these allegations and instead, accused her father of being involved in domestic abuse. During an interview with ABP, however, she refused to answer specific questions and ran away.
A day after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his ministers expressed their ‘concerns’ over ongoing farmers’ protests in India, Pro-AAP blogger Dhruv Rathee has called for foreign powers to interfere in India’s internal affairs to dethrone the democratically elected government and alter the political landscape of the country.
On Tuesday, Aam Aadmi Party supporter Dhruv Rathee, known for peddling false propaganda against the Modi government on social media, took to Twitter to share a news report to claim how Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau became the first international head of government to speak out on the protests by farmers in India against the Narendra Modi government’s new farm laws.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, interfering in India’s internal affairs, had made unwarranted comments about the ongoing ‘farmer protests’ saying that the situation was ‘concerning’. Appeasing the Sikh community in Canada, PM Trudeau said that the country was always ready to defend the right to peaceful protest and believe in the importance of dialogue.
The statements by Canadian Prime Minister invited a stern response from across the country, especially from the Ministry of External Affairs, who asked the Canadian leaders to refrain from commenting on India’s internal matter and maintain the sanctity of diplomatic conversations.
It may be noted that only last year at the WTO, Justin Trudeau had opposed the MSP paid to farmers by Indian govt, calling it undue advantage given to domestic producers. In February 2019, Canada had moved WTO against India on higher MSPs for five pulses, contending that India’s support prices were 26 times higher than the permitted levels by WTO regulations. But now, the same Canadian PM is supporting the protesting farmers who are demanding a law to guarantee MSP.
However, the left-liberals and the anti-India establishement in the country jumped on to the opportunity to once again to take advantage of Canada’s attempted intervention to target Modi government. Instead of condemning the interference of Canada into country’s affair, the left-liberals cheered Canada PM Trudeau’s statements.
Dhruv Rathee wants foreign interference to ‘free’ Indian people
Taking a step further, AAP sympathiser Dhruv Rathee shamelessly called for the direct intervention of foreign powers into country’s affairs. Rathee, who is not even a resident of India, sharing the report hailed Justin Trudeau for being the first international head of state to speak in favour of farmers protest.
A popular Twitter user (@Gabbbar Singh) pointed how foolish it was of Dhruv Rathee to laud foreign interference in India’s internal matters. The social media user also warned Dhruv Rathee on how these countries will now freely meddle in Kashmir in future.
Image Source: Gabbbar
In response to social media user’s tweet, Dhruv Rathee claimed that India’s institutions have already been hijacked and have become puppets at the hands of Modi government. Making misleading insinuations, Rathee dreamt of foreign interference in India saying that he would welcome it if offered a solution for Indian people.
Maybe people in Kashmir can also hope to enjoy 4G internet one day, Dhruv Rathee added.
Responding to Dhruv Rathee’s shocking cravings for the subversion of India’s sovereignty by foreign powers, Gabbbar Singh pointed how India has a robust democracy and asked whether he thought the institution of Election commission was also compromised.
Dhruv Rathee’s dream to oust Modi comes amidst massive fake news propaganda
Dhruv Rathee, who just yesterday was caught spreading same lies, claiming that last year Prime Minister Modi had proclaimed on American soil “Ab ki Baar, Trump Sarkar”, is now urging foreign powers to meddle in country’s domestic politics so that they can oust Prime Minister Modi.
It is not surprising anymore to see that the opposition ecosystem in the country, which has been failing constantly to convince Indian citizens about their political relevance, are dreaming about foreign interference to dethrone Prime Minister Modi and the BJP.
Rather, who lives in Germany and ironically portrays himself to be the champion of India’s democracy, has exhibited his authoritarian and fascist mindset by seeking the help of foreign powers to interfere in the democratic process of the country. The open call for foreign intervention by the likes of pro-AAP vlogger Dhruv Rathee, a resident of Germany, is nothing but an open admission of involvement in acts that threatened not only country’s security interests but also the sovereignty of the nation.
After Captain Amarinder Singh criticised Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal of notifying one of the three farm laws in Delhi, the AAP party chief hit out at the Punjab CM today, claiming that Singh was indulging in low-level politics. Refuting the allegations levelled by Singh, the Delhi CM contended that it is not up to state government to implement the farm laws.
“How can he do such low-level politics in this fragile situation? It’s not up to the state govt to implement it. Had it been so why would farmers of the country hold talks with Centre,” the Delhi CM said.
Kejriwal had denied permission for 9 stadiums that the centre had sought from Delhi government to house the protesting farmers. Defending the move, Kejriwal said that the stadiums would have been converted into “jails” and therefore his government did not grant the permission. Kejriwal added that Singh was upset with him because he didn’t accord permission to turn the stadiums into “jails”.
So, is it the pressure of these people that you are putting allegations against me? Are you doing it for friendship with BJP or are you under pressure as Enforcement Directorate has filed case against your family?: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal
Accusing Captain Amarinder Singh of colluding with the BJP, Kejriwal alleged that the Punjab chief minister has made wild allegations against him under the pressure of the Enforcement Directorate case against his family.
“So, is it the pressure of these people that you are putting allegations against me? Are you doing it for friendship with BJP or are you under pressure as Enforcement Directorate has filed a case against your family?” Kejriwal said while alleging that the pressure from the central government is what has led the Punjab chief minister to make allegations against him.
Punjab CM Amarinder Singh says AAP working behind farmers’ back to bring in farm laws
Earlier yesterday, Singh had blasted out at Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and AAP government, saying they had displayed “shocking double standards on the farmers’ protests” by “shamelessly implementing the draconian” farm law in the midst of the crisis while posturing to be in support of the farmers.
In a statement issued by Amarinder Singh on Tuesday, the Punjab CM said that though AAP was claiming to be supporting the protesting farmers, the AAP government in Delhi had brazenly passed the farm law through a gazette notification on November 23.
According to the officials, the Delhi government had notified one of the three central farm laws and was examining the remaining two. The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020 was notified on November 23, said a senior Delhi government official. This law allows farmers to sell their produce outside APMC markets, giving them more freedom and flexibility, while retaining the APMC system.
“Quite evidently, the AAP government had been working behind the farmers’ backs all these days,” Singh said, expressing shock that even before the farmers had started their ‘Delhi Chalo’ march, the Kejriwal-led government in Delhi had issued a notification for the law against which the agitation was to be launched.
“First they failed to pass any amendment laws in the Delhi Assembly to negate the central laws, as was done in Punjab. And now they have gone so far as to officially notify the agricultural legislation in Delhi, where AAP is in power. The party’s true intent and affiliation have been utterly exposed,” Amarinder noted.
Arvind Kejriwal’s comments do not make any sense
It may be noted that the arguments made by Arvind Kejriwal do not make much sense. While the Delhi CM says that his government has no power over the farm laws, it is a fact that his govt has notified one of the laws through a gazette notification on 23rd November. If Delhi’s AAP govt is fully supporting the protests by farmers from Punjab and Haryana, and opposes the farm laws, there was no reason for it to notify the law. This shows that Amarinder Singh is right in doubting the intention of the Delhi govt.
Kejriwal also alleged that Amarinder Singh criticised him for not allowing stadiums to converted into temporary jails to imprison the protesting farmers. This also does not make sense, as there is no reason why the Punjab CM would not be happy with the decision. The Punjab govt is fully supporting the protests by farmers mainly from its govt, and the Punjab CM has not made any public comment criticising the Delhi govt for not allowing to jail farmers in stadiums. If the Delhi police is not able to jail farmers due to lack of facilities, the Punjab govt should be happy with the Delhi govt for causing it. Therefore, this claim by Arvind Kejriwal does not make any sense.
The other allegation, that Captain Amarinder Singh was criticising the Delhi govt for his ‘friendship’ with BJP, seems completely baseless. The Punjab CM has become one of the most vocal critics of the laws after they were passed by the parliament, and the Punjab assembly had passed resolutions against the laws. The CM actively supported the protesting farmers, allowing them to block trains for weeks that had negative affects on the state. There is no evidence that there is any friendship between the Punjab CM and BJP, and the Captain is attacking the Delhi alleging hypocrisy over farm laws.
Amarinder Singh has slammed Arvind Kejriwal for not opposing the farm laws to the full extent, therefore, it is a far stretched to claim that he is doing this due to closeness to BJP, because BJP is fully supporting and defending the laws.
This shows that Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal is trying to play the game from both sides. While he has realised that the laws are really beneficial for the farmers, and hence notified one of them, he is supporting the protesting farmers to be on the good book of left-liberals. The so-called farmer protests have been completely hijacked by leftists and Khalistanis, and the Delhi CM does not want to alienate them.
Politicians vying to pass the buck on one other
As the political storm kicked up by the ongoing farmers’ protest sweeps Delhi and the surrounding region, politicians who are in the eye of the storm, have resorted to making allegations and counter-allegations against each other, in a desperate bid to extricate themselves from the ensuing mess and pass the buck of the same on their rivals.
The war of words between Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab CM Amarinder Singh seems to be an exercise to that end. The two politicians, after enthusiastically supporting the farmers’ protests, do not want to end up shouldering the responsibility of the fallout, should the protests do not yield its intended result. It is for this reason that Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, after having spurred the farmers against the agriculture bills, are vying to push the blame of a possible failure on each other.
Responding to Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut’s meltdown over his visit to Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that he was not taking anything away from the state of Maharashtra and that he was building a new Film City in Uttar Pradesh. “We’ve not come here to take anything away. We’re building a news Film City. Why one is getting worried about it? We’re giving something new to people in form of world-class infrastructure”, said CM Yogi when asked to comment on Raut’s remarks.
We’ve not come here to take anything away. We’re building a new Film City. Why one is getting worried about it? We’re giving something new to people in form of world-class infrastructure: UP CM Yogi Adityanath on being asked about Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut’s Film City comments https://t.co/2sP3FmIbhepic.twitter.com/REn2SqEDa4
CM Yogi said that the Mumbai film industry would remain there and a new Film City would be developed in Uttar Pradesh in a new environment according to new requirements.
We’re not taking anything anywhere. Mumbai Film City will work in Mumbai itself, new Film City in UP is being developed in a new environment according to new requirements: UP CM on being asked about Maharashtra CM saying that he won’t allow his state’s business to be taken away https://t.co/kSluuRkL4Gpic.twitter.com/5OiTdQaTve
Rattled by CM Yogi’s visit to Mumbai, Raut had warned that it was not easy to shift Mumbai film city to another place. He said that there separate film industries in South India, West Bengal and Punjab that CM Yogi should visit and talk to directors and artists there.
Not easy to shift Mumbai’s film city to another place. The film industry in south India is also big, there’re film cities in WB & Punjab too. Will Yogi Ji also visit these places & talk to directors/artists there or is he going to do so only in Mumbai?: Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena pic.twitter.com/JTh6UU3CcM
Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray had warned CM Yogi ahead of his visit to the state that he would not let anyone take away business from the state.
CM Yogi’s visit to Mumbai
CM Yogi reached Mumbai yesterday is expected to meet several industrialists, bankers and film personalities regarding the upcoming Film City in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. After reaching Mumbai, he first met actor Akshay Kumar and discussed the possibilities of film production in Uttar Pradesh. He also met singer Kailash Kher.
In September this year, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister had announced that Film City will be established in the state. CM Yogi had held a meeting with several film personalities to invite suggestions for the upcoming Film City.
Earlier this week, a video of a Shiv Sena leader promising to organise an Azaan recitation competition for Muslim children went viral on the internet. The proclamation drew severe flak from netizens on social media websites and invited criticism from the opposition parties like the BJP.
Several social media users criticised Shiv Sena for its brazen pandering to the minorities. The BJP, on the other hand, accused Shiv Sena of bartering Hindutva for minority votes. One of the BJP leaders slammed Shiv Sena for its decision to organise an azaan recitation competition and alleged that the only thing left for Shiv Sena now is to carry a “green flag” on its shoulders.
Unnerved by the criticism his announcement garnered, Shiv Sena leader Pandurang Sakpal, who had claimed that Shiv Sena would organise an azaan recitation competition on the lines of Bhagavad Gita recitation and even reward the winners, made an about-turn, stating he has no plans on conducting such an event.
However, it appears that the party is bent on tying itself in knots as it tries to defend the indefensible. Earlier today, an editorial was published in party mouthpiece Saamana, lambasting the critics for Sena’s contentious announcement of organising an azaan recitation competition.
In its bid to criticise the detractors accusing the party of courting minorities, Shiv Sena leader and Rajya Sabha MP, Sanjay Raut, who is also the editor of Saamana, proffered a bizarre and ambiguous analogy in the editorial that lends itself to multiple interpretation.
“Dragging Shiv Sena through the mud on the issue of azaan recitation competition is akin to calling protesting farmers in Delhi Pakistani terrorists,” the editorial published in Saamana said. This ambivalent parallel drawn by Sanjay Raut in the Shiv Sena mouthpiece can mean a host of things. Here are the four things that Raut could have meant with this absurd comparison.
Did Sanjay Raut mean Farmers are Pakistani terrorists?
The most basic interpretation of the aforementioned analogy in Saamana could mean that Shiv Sena agrees that the protests carried out in Delhi are done by Pakistani terrorists. This assertion may not be far-fetched as the protests convulsing the national capital region and the Punjab-Haryana border has seen participation from pro-Khalistani elements.
At the very least, it would seem like political parties, Khalistani elements etc have come together to mislead farmers, spread misinformation, and ensure that the country burns.
Deep Sidhu, a Punjabi actor, became the face of the protests after his video threatening a security official manning a barricade went viral on the internet. Subsequently, Sidhu was offered a platform by Barkha Dutt and Shekhar Gupta to come clean on the allegations of him being a Khalistani supporter. However, Sidhu dug his heels in, hailing Khalistani terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale as a revolutionary fighter who fought for a strong federal structure and refusing to condemn him as a terrorist.
It is an established fact that Khalistanis, in their heydays during the 1980s, were morally and financially supported by Pakistan. The ulterior motive of Pakistanis then was to dismember India as a retributory action for the secession of Bangladesh back in 1971 by aiding the Khalistanis. In this context, Pakistan had waged a proxy war on India with the help of Khalistanis. The Khalistan supporters and sympathisers can therefore be effectively compared to Pakistani terrorists, who are trying to revive militancy and stoke unrest in India.
Did Shiv Sena imply Khalistanis are not terrorists?
If Sanjay Raut did not mean that the protesters thronging the national capital are terrorists, then the corollary that naturally follows it would imply that for Shiv Sena and Sanjay Raut, Khalistanis are not terrorists, since the protests were decidedly hijacked by Khalistani proponents.
The protests and blockades carried out by the so-called protesters saw posters of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale being raised at various places. On other instances, protesters could not hide their Khalistani impulses. The demonstrators gloated on former PM Indira Gandhi’s assassination and threatened PM Modi with a similar fate. Pro-Khalistan slogans were also raised by the protesters who were apparently demonstrating against the three new agriculture laws.
Since Shiv Sena has a history of trading their ideology for petty political gains, it remains to be seen what is Sanjay Raut’s stand on Khalistanis who had taken over the farmers’ protests. Would Shiv Sena condemn the protests or will it, like its alliance partners—NCP and Congress—continue to turn a blind to the Khalistani presence in the ongoing protests?
Shiv Sena is being humanitarian in respecting azaan and hence, Shiv Sainiks were brutish thugs earlier?
Another interpretation that the ambivalent analogy lends itself to is that Shiv Sena is being humanitarian in respecting azaan and minority sentiments. However, admitting to this would effectively mean that Shiv Sainiks in the past were cruel ruffians who allegedly targeted and harassed the state’s Muslim populace.
Ironically, Sanjay Raut which claims Sena of being a ‘secular’ party, had in the past asked for disenfranchisement of Muslims. In an editorial published in Saamana in 2015, Raut had called for barring of Muslims from voting, stating that the masks of the secularists will come off if Muslims are disenfranchised. For a long time now, Shiv Sena had preened itself on being a party whose members played an instrumental role in levelling the controversial Babri structure in Ayodhya. Shiv Sena leaders have also been convicted of orchestrating the riots in 1992 in which several Muslims were killed.
The party’s past antecedents do not jibe with this interpretation of Shiv Sena being an inclusive and pluralistic party in organising the azaan recitation competition. Nonetheless, if Shiv Sena still persists with this outlook, it would mean denouncing its past and therefore implicitly admitting that it was a party of radical fundamentalists earlier.
Anyone who does not agree with Shiv Sena is a terrorist and must be treated so
The last interpretation that emerges from Raut’s absurd comparison is that whoever does not agree with Shiv Sena is a terrorist and must be treated as one. This appears to be the most likely case when Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said that criticising Shiv Sena for keeping Azaan recitation competition is tantamount to calling protesters in Delhi terrorists.
This stance was evident in its full glory when the Uddhav Thackeray government relentlessly pursued Republic TV, just because it asked uncomfortable questions of the Uddhav Thackeray government.
Ever since Arnab Goswami criticised the state government on its handling of Palghar lynching of Hindu sadhus, the Maharashtra government, of which Shiv Sena is a part, carried out a relentless witch hunt against the journalist and his channel Republic TV. Multiple FIRs were lodged against him. Republic TV employees were routinely harassed. A Republic TV crew was unlawfully jailed when they were pursuing an investigative story in Navi Mumbai.
Mumbai Police commissioner called out a press conference to allege that Republic TV had indulged in manipulating TRPS. Later, it was found that the complaint had mentioned India Today and not Republic TV. The culmination of this witch hunt resulted in the arrest of Arnab Goswami, who was arrested by a phalanx of armed police officials and lodged in the Taloja jail. Mr Goswami had claimed that he was treated like a terrorist and not allowed to meet his lawyers.
Similarly, actor Kangana Ranaut was also attacked by Shiv Sena after she likened Mumbai to Pakistan occupied Kashmir after Azaadi graffiti had defiled the streets of the city. In response to her remarks, BMC demolished her office. The Bombay High Court recently slammed that BMC, stating that the demolition was carried out with malafide intent and directed the corporation to compensate the actor for her loss.
We really have no idea what Sanjay Raut really meant, but that is ok. We are used to it. Aren’t you yet?
Denmark authorities are planning to dig up thousands of buried dead mink that were killed to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus. Research had shown that the virus jumped from humans to mink and then back to humans. The mutated strain was found in 12 patients. The government had ordered to kill all the minks in fur farms to prevent the virus’s spread.
Hundreds of dead mink emerged from their burial sites, according to Danish state broadcaster TV2. It is believed the gas used to kill them caused the carcasses to swell and resurface, prompting Danish media to dub them “zombie mink.” https://t.co/NUa6fDRkVC
Reports have suggested that hundreds of dead mink emerged from their burial sites after the carcasses bloated. It is believed that the gas that was used to kill them caused the dead bodies to swell and resurface. The Danish media has named them “Zombie Mink”.
As per the CNN report, some 17 million mink had been killed by lethal gas and buried in a military zone in Western Denmark. However, after some days, the bodies began to rise to the surface. Denmark’s agriculture minister Rasmus Prehn has suggested that the mink can be exhumed and reburied, but such a move will need environmental clearance first.
Research found human to animal to human virus jump
A study done by the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases revealed that SARS-CoV-2 jumped between people and mink. It was dubbed as the evidence of zoonotic transmission. The study was carried out on 16 farms in the Netherlands. The result showed that it was likely the virus jumped from humans to mink and then back to humans.
Scientists are still trying to find the origin of the virus. Different studies have shown that non-human primates, hamsters, bats, and rabbits, along with cats, dogs, and tigers, can get SARS-CoV-2 infection. A recent outbreak in the mink farms added the animal to the list.
Orders to kill farm mink
In May, Netherlands mandated Covid-19 testing in farm animals as they believed mink might have infected humans. The testing led to the killing of 2.9 million mink. In July, Spain had ordered to kill around 100,000 farmed mink after animals on the farm were tested positive for the infection. Mink are widely bred in European countries for fur. In October, a series of Covid-19 outbreaks were reported in Danish farms. The government ordered to kill around a million mink to prevent further spread. In early October, the authorities found mink at 60 farms positive for Covid-19.
Earlier this month, Denmark had ordered all farmed mink to be culled, including the animals in uninfected farms, after finding that 12 people had been infected by a mutated strain of the virus that causes Covid-19, which reportedly passed from humans to mink and back to humans. However, the government has to take back the orders as it has no authority to give such an order. It could only recommend such a move.
Ethical and economic concerns over mink mass killing
A video had emerged that raised concerns over the method of killing the mink. A lone mink was seen wiggling among a box full of dead animals. Another issue with culling is the economic impact. Mink farming provides jobs to around 5,500 people. Mass killing the animals could lead to mass unemployment. The legal, ethical and economic concerns had triggered debates in Denmark over the culling orders.
