Home Blog Page 4821

Delhi: SIMI terrorist absconding since 19 years nabbed, was radicalising and mobilising youth against CAA, NCR

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Delhi: SIMI terrorist absconding since 19 years nabbed, was radicalising and mobilising youth against CAA, NCR

58-year-old Abdullah Danish, a terrorist associated with the banned extremist organisation Students’ Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) was arrested by Delhi Police on Sunday. Danish, a native of Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, was currently living in Zakir Nagar, Delhi. As per the police, he was one of the senior-most member of the banned outfit and had been involved in radicalising Muslim youth since past 25 years.

As per reports, police believes he radicalised two Muslim youths who carried out serial bomb blasts in Ahmedabad in 2008. According to DCP (special cell) Pramod Singh Kushwah, Danish had also been involved in radicalising youth and mobilising them against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) which fast-tracks Indian citizenship for persecuted religious minorities from three neighbouring Islamic countries, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. He was also found using fake videos to falsely propagate that the Indian government is carrying out atrocities against Muslims.

Shortly after the 9/11 attack in New York, the Indian government had banned SIMI. Following the ban, the organisation had held a press conference in Delhi’s Jamia Nagar. Many members were arrested. However, Abdullah Danish had managed to flee. A case was registered against him in 2001 at New Friends Colony police station in Delhi when SIMI was banned.

The Delhi Police, acting on specific input, laid a trap to arrest Danish at Zakir Nagar. Subsequently, he was arrested on Sunday night.

Radicalisation of Abdullah Danish

As per police, Danish’s parents were Hindus who had converted to Islam. Inclined towards Islam, he started reading Islamic literature in college. He then converted to Islam and joined Jamia-Tul-Falah madarsa in Azamgarh and learned the Quran and Urdu.

He did his MA in Arabic from Aligarh Muslim University in 1985 and started attending weekly programmes and radicalised youth to join. The then SIMI head, Ashraf Jafri, was impressed with Danish’s work and made him editor of SIMI’s Hindi magazine in 1988. He remained editor for four years.

According to the police, he wrote many provocative articles, falsely highlighting atrocities against Muslims in India. He was also given a room at SIMI headquarters in Delhi. After fleeing from Delhi, he went to Aligarh and then to Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh.

London: Known Khalistani separatists seen at ‘anti-farm laws’ protest outside Indian High Commission, Khalistani flag raised

OpIndia Staff
-
0
London: Known Khalistani separatists seen at ‘anti-farm laws’ protest outside Indian High Commission, Khalistani flag raised

On Sunday, a protest was organised outside the Indian High Commission in London against the historic farm laws brought in by the Modi government.

Several well-known known Khalistanis were present at the event, including Paramjeet Singh Pamma and Kuldeep Singh Chaheru. While Pamma is a member of the banned terrorist organisation, Sikhs for Justice, Chaheru belongs to Federation of Sikh organization, a known front of Babbar Khalsa, a Sikh extremist organisation. They had gathered outside the Indian High Commission and raised anti-India slogans while waving the Khalistani flags.

As per reports, 13 protestors were arrested by the police for violating COVID protocols. While 4 of them were allowed to go after paying a fine. Nine remain in custody.

A large team of London Metropolitan Police was deployed outside the Indian High Commission. When the Indian High Commission contacted the UK Foreign Office, the crowd was quickly disposed of by the police. While speaking about the event, Vishwesh Negi from the Indian High Commission stated that the crowd comprised of anti-India forces, who wanted to exploit the farmer agitation for their own agenda. He said, “As expected, it soon became clear that the gathering was led by anti-India separatists who had taken the opportunity of the farmers’ protests in India to pursue their own anti-India agenda.”

36 British MPs calls for urgent meeting on farmer protests in India

In a letter addressed to the Foreign Secretary, Labour Party MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi claimed, “The introduction of these new laws by the Indian government (Centre) has, despite the Coronavirus, triggered widespread farmers’ protests across the country for failing to protect farmers from exploitation and to ensure fair prices for their produce. This is an issue of particular concern to Sikhs in the UK and those linked to Punjab, although it also heavily impacts on other Indian states.”

Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi has claimed that several British Sikhs have been forced to notify their MPs about the same as the law would supposedly affect their ancestral lands in Punjab. “Being famous as “India’s bread-basket”, many Punjabis rely on farming for their existence. About three-quarters of the state’s 30 million-strong population is involved in agriculture. Therefore, these new laws present the Punjabis with a huge problem, with some describing it as a death warrant,” he added.

Pakistan with help of Khalistanis and China is inflicting narco-terrorism in Indian subcontinent

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Pakistan with help of Khalistanis and China is inflicting narco-terrorism in Indian subcontinent

Our not-so-friendly neighbour Pakistan has expanded its narco-terrorism network if reports are to be believed. On Sunday, the Sri Lankan authorities seized Rs 2.5 billion worth of drugs which originated from Gwadar port in Pakistan. Pakistan’s Gwadar port is part of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and is operated by China Overseas Port Holding Company.

Four people were arrested for transporting heroin and crystal methamphetamine to Sri Lankan boats from the Pak Dhow that had set off from China-controlled Gwadar port of Pakistan.

Drugs seized by Sri Lankan authorities

As per reports, drug smuggling from China-controlled Pakistan port suggests involvement of Pakistan’s spy agency, ISI. Such huge quantity of drugs supply from the Gwadar port is not easy without involvement and support of the ISI as well as Chinese intelligence agencies.

Dubai-based drug trafficker named ‘Jude’ is believed to be the mastermind behind this drug smuggling.

This comes just a week after the Indian Coast Guard seized about 100 kg heroin, pistols and a satellite phone from another boat, which originated from Pakistan’s Karachi. As per reports, 99 packets of heroin, 20 small boxes of synthetic drugs, five 9mm pistols and a Thuraya satellite phone set were recovered from a boat. Six Sri Lankan nationals were detained and interrogated. It is believed that the drugs were to be sent to western countries and Australia.

Pakistan, with tacit support of Khalistanis in India and abroad, has been relentlessly pushing drugs in India, especially through border in Punjab and Rajasthan. It is a major security concern for India as it acts as a major source of funding for Pakistan sponsored terrorism in India.

In fact, one of the most prominent use of drug money to inflict terror on Indian citizens was during the 1993 Mumbai Bomb Blasts. It was found that the explosives used in the terror attack were brought to India using the same routes that the Dawood gang used to smuggle people, arms, and contraband. In fact, there have been various reports which suggest a strategic alliance between ISI and terror organisations including Lashkar-e-Taiba and Al-Qaida which use drug money to fund terror activities.

Khalistani elements infiltrating farmers’ protests

There have been numerous links of organisations, especially abroad, backed by Khalistanis, reaching out and financially supporting the Punjab farmers’ protests. In fact, the ‘farmers’ protesting against the new farm laws had even given death threats to PM Modi after proudly showing off how they killed Indira Gandhi, they could very well kill PM Modi as well.

Twitter suspends ‘liberal’ anti-Modi journalist Salil Tripathi for violating rules

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Twitter suspends ‘liberal’ anti-Modi journalist Salil Tripathi for violating rules

Twitter has suspended the account of ‘liberal’ political commentator and journalist Salil Tripathi for violating its rules. It is not yet clear why his account was suspended or what rules he violated. He tweets under the username @saliltripathi.

Salil Tripathi suspended by Twitter

It is not known whether Twitter mistakenly suspended Salil Tripathi. Given the fact that Tripathi is an anti-Modi ‘liberal’ and not a non-left voice on the platform, it is very much possible that it was unintentional and the account could be restored very soon in that case. ‘Liberals’ on the platform are quite distressed at the development as it is highly unusual for a person of liberal political inclinations to be suspended despite violating rules.

Some suggested that Salil Tripathi might have been suspended for posting a poem on Babri Masjid demolition. Today is the 28 year anniversary of the demolition of the disputed structure at Ram Janmabhoomi.

Rahul Gandhi fan Sanjukta Basu suggested that the suspension could be the result of a ‘technical glitch’. “This must be a mistake,” she said.

Salman Rushdie, too, joined the crowd ranting against the suspension and called it an ‘outrageous’ act of censorship. He called Salil Tripathi “one of the most important advocates of free speech”.

Activist Shahidul Alam shared a message from Salil Tripathi on the platform. The message said, “Twitter has suspended my account, no reason given. I have followed the process and asked for them to remove the suspension, but do not wish to kowtow further. If you feel up for it, do tweet, outrage, if you wish.”

Not just during coronavirus lockdown, but Hindu temples have been feeding the poor and hungry every day since ages. An indicative list

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Not just during coronavirus lockdown, but Hindu temples have been feeding the poor and hungry every day since ages. An indicative list

There is a verse in Atharvaveda, “शतहस्त समाहर सहस्त्रहस्त सं किर” that means “Earn with 100 hands and donate with 1000 hands.” In Bhavishya Purana, while telling the importance of Annadaan to Yudhishthir, Shri Krishna had said that wealth would not follow you in your journey after death, but the food you have donated in your life will become ensure you do not get hungry during the journey. There are tons of references in Hindu text that emphasize providing food to the hungry. The Hindu temples worldwide are famous for their Prasad Halls where people can have food without being questioned about their caste, religion, race, etc.

These halls serve pure vegetarian food to everyone. During the coronavirus pandemic, Hindu temples kept their kitchens open to feed the poor and hungry. The temples have not only been generous with the food but also with the monetary donations that they donated to the state and PM Cares funds.

Here is a list of prominent temples that have donated money during pandemic.

  • Mata Mansa Devi Temple, Panchkula donated Rs.10 crore to the state’s Corona relief fund.
  • Non- gazetted staffs of Mata Vaishno Devi temple donated their one-day salary to J&K Relief Fund. The temple trust donated Rs.26.40 lakh.
  • Mahamaya Mandir Trust, Chattisgarh, donated Rs.5 lakh to CM’s relief fund.
  • Devasthan Management Committee, Kolhapur, donated Rs.2 crore through the famed Mahalaxmi Temple.
  • Somnath Temple’s Trust, Gujarat, donated Rs.1 crore to the CM relief fund.
  • Mahavir Mandir Trust donated Rs.1 crore.
  • Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham donated 10 lakh to PM Cares and 10 lakh to the Tamil Nadu CM Relief fund.
  • Ambaji Temple donated Rs.1.1 crore.
  • Kanchi Mutt donated Rs.10 lakh.

Countless other temples have donated to PM Cares fund according to their capacity. Apart from the monetary donations, thousands of temples across the country serve the needy throughout the year. Though many temples have not opened the doors yet, there are many temples like Swaminarayan Mandir that are preparing food packets for the needy.

Divine food for the hungry

A Twitter user @brawling_virgo asked on Twitter about the temples that serve food to the devotees. In one of the replies under the tweet, she discussed that many people think that temples mainly collect money and do not indulge in any social service. She said that a few years back, she was one of them, and this perception needs to be changed.

Based on the replies to her tweet and our research, here is a list of famous temples serving nutritious food to the devotees.

Mata Mansa Devi Mandir, Panchkula, Haryana, has a dedicated hall for serving food every day. They mainly serve Kadi Chawal along with a vegetable, two roti, and sweets, depending on the menu they have prepared.

Jalaram Mandir, Virpur, Gujarat, a temple dedicated to Jalaram Bapa, has been serving food to people for centuries. In February 2000, the temple stopped accepting donations as they have accumulated funds that will last for the next hundred years.

Hanuman Mandir, Salangpur has a dedicated Bhojanshala where devotees can eat wholesome food twice a day.

Tirumala, Tirupati, and Tiruchanoor temples, Andhra Pradesh, serve food to over 1.5 lakh devotees on weekdays and over two lakh devotees on weekends.  During festivals, the number of devotees in these temples is much higher.

Every Iskcon temple has a Bhojanalaya where anyone can come and eat food. Iskcon temples are in over 60 countries, and people from all religions eat in these temples.

Udupi Temple serves Prasadam twice a day. There are three dining halls in the temple premises where devotees can have wholesome food. Around 5,000 devotees eat food daily in this temple, and during the festive season, the number of devotees crosses 30,000 per day.

Vaishno Devi Mandir, Jammu, and Kashmir serve food to thousands of devotees every day. There are Bhojanalayas on the way to the temple where devotees can have food and relax for a while before continuing their Yatra.

Though Amarnath temple in Jammu and Kashmir does not have a Bhojanalay on the premises, there are countless langar stalls on the way to the cave. These langar stalls are set-up by the devotees who come from different parts of the country to serve the Yatris.

Jagannath Temple, Puri feeds 50,000 devotees every day. Mahaprasadam is cooked at the temple premises and served in dedicated Bhojan halls.

Read- As India fights Wuhan Coronavirus, here is a list of prominent Hindu Temples and religious leaders helping India through donations and welfare

The list is endless

This list does not justify the large number of temples serving the needy without asking for any fame. Apart from these temples, one organization that needs recognition is Akshay Patra that serves mid-day meals to over 17 lakh students every day. The nutritious, freshly cooked vegetarian food is delivered to the children every day. During the pandemic, the organization has delivered over five crore cooked meals and over 12 lakh grocery kits that can serve two people twice a day for 21 days.

The Manchesthair Derby: Anurag Kashyap and Anil Kapoor engage in a ‘public spat’ to promote their movie ‘AK vs AK’

OpIndia Staff
-
0
The Manchesthair Derby: Anurag Kashyap and Anil Kapoor engage in a ‘public spat’ to promote their movie ‘AK vs AK’

Bollywood star Anil Kapoor had a public spat with Anurag Kashyap in what appears to be an orchestrated publicity gimmick for their movie ‘AK vs AK’ on Netflix. Netflix describes the movie as “After a public spat with a movie star, a disgraced director retaliates by kidnapping the actor’s daughter, filming the search for her in real time.”

The movie is categorised as a dark comedy. The apparently orchestrated public spat on Twitter began with Anurag Kashyap taking potshots at Anil Kapoor after the latter congratulated the makers of Delhi Crime for winning the best drama series honour at the 48th International Emmy Awards. The director asked the actor where was his Oscar award.

How the ‘public spat’ between Anil Kapoor and Anurag Kashyap began

Anil Kapoor responded by reminding Anurag Kashyap that Slumdog Millionaire, a movie where the actor had played a prominent role, had won the Oscars for the best movie in 2009. Anurag Kashyap then said that he was the king of ‘hand-me-down’ movies and that he was the second choice for his role in the award-winning movie.

‘AK vs AK’

The spat moved on body hair after that. It is pertinent to mention that Anil Kapoor has been mocked for his body hair with memes such as ‘Manchesthair United’, a wordplay on the name of Manchester United, one of the most popular football clubs in the world. When he said that he doesn’t have to tear his hair to get roles in movies, the director responded that the actor gets roles on the basis of his body hair.

The Manchesthair Derby

That the ‘public spat’ is likely part of promotion efforts for the movie AK vs AK became clear when the actor used the hashtag ‘The Real AK’. The ‘spat’ appears to have ended with Anil Kapoor saying that the only thing he regretted was working in a movie with Anurag Kashyap.

‘AK vs AK’

Movies and web series in recent times have used such ‘innovative’ techniques to promote their products. On certain occasions, it has backfired on them. Sony Liv came under intense criticism after it deployed telecallers to promote Undekhi, a thriller web series that is apparently inspired from true events.

People received calls from telecallers where a man can be heard saying that he has recorded a murder on his phone in a very distressed voice. He calls himself Rishi and says that one ‘Rinku’ is attempting to murder him too. This was before another voice says “Undekhi… streaming now on Sony Liv.”

Amidst protests by Punjab farmers against the farm laws, farmers from various States request the centre not to repeal them

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Amidst protests by Punjab farmers against the farm laws, farmers from various States request the centre not to repeal them

Amidst the ongoing protests by farmers from Punjab against the historic farm laws, farmers from across the country have come forward to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi and requested the Centre to not bow down to the demands of the protestors. These farmers from various states, including Punjab, have said that the new farm laws have been beneficial to them, and said that these should not be repealed as demanded by the farmers mostly from Punjab.

Kulwant Singh, a farmer from Bathinda in Punjab stated, “I am a farmer. We have been following the occupation for ages. The Ordinance brought in by the government will benefit the farmers.” He stated that the farmers have been looking up to the government to ensure fair pricing for their produce. “We can now sell anywhere we want. Some people are spreading rumours and indulging in scaremongering over MSP. The government hand other political leaders have assured us of the MSP,” Singh said. He further added that only those, whose vested interests are compromised by the new far laws, are the ones actively spreading rumours about it. While thanking PM Modi, he emphasised that the middlemen will be eliminated and farmers will be benefitted.

Another farmer from Punjab, who owns 5-acre land, lambasted the Aam Aadmi Party, Congress and Akali Dal for opposing the farm laws for their own political agenda. While thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for easing the lives of farmers, he called out that theatrics by the Opposition parties and how they are misleading the farmers.

Kamal Patel, a farmer from Dewas district of Madhya Pradesh, narrated, “The newly introduced farm bills have proved beneficial to farmers. We are now getting a high price for our produce. Recently, an ITC hub was opened in the area. Farmers are getting ₹200-₹300 per quintal for their food produce. Farmers can now sell their crops at Mandi or even outside. We are now independent.”

Nikhil Pramanik, a farmer from West Bengal, stated, “The production in our area is high. However, we would not get a fair price for our produce. But with the new farm laws, we get 15% more on our crops. We now get direct cash and subsidised fertilisers… As a result, our production remains high and we are grateful to the government.”

“The bill passed by the government is a welcome step by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Earlier, the middlemen would feast on our money. Now, we have started to receive direct payment. We are no more dependent on others. We get our full payment now,” a farmer stated.

Farmers from Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh extend their support to new farm laws

Earlier, a report broadcasted on TV9 Bharatvarsh showed that farmers from Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan have benefitted from the new farm laws that were passed by the Centre in September 2020. One of the beneficiaries of the farm laws from Madhya Pradesh said that he has sold his agricultural produce at Rs 2500/- per quintal while the minimum support price of the crop was close to Rs 1800/- per quintal. Besides getting a premium, the farmer also said that the new laws have saved him time and rendered his transportation cost to zero as businesses came to his fields to collect the grains.

Similar is the story of other farmers in Madhya Pradesh, who said that earlier the trade in the Mandis was restricted to a few influential businessmen who would decide the price of the agricultural produce. With the passage of the three laws, the farmers can directly sell their produce to the businessmen at their preferred price.

Tamil Nadu: DMK-VCK cadre attack Hindu leader and IMK chief Arjun Sampath, prevent him from paying respects to Babasaheb Ambedkar

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Tamil Nadu: DMK-VCK cadre attack Hindu leader and IMK chief Arjun Sampath, prevent him from paying respects to Babasaheb Ambedkar

In a shocking display of intolerance towards Hindu groups, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) workers gheraoed and forcefully tried to prevent Indu Makkal Katchi head Arjun Sampath from paying respects to Babasaheb Ambedkar at a memorial in Chennai, reports Communemag.

According to the reports, Indu Makkal Katchi chief Arjun Sampath had visited Babasaheb Ambedkar’s statue at the memorial located in Raja Annamalai Puram in Chennai to pay his respects on the death anniversary of Bharat Ratna BR Ambedkar. During his visit, VCK and DMK cadres, both parties allies of Congress in Tamil Nadu, confronted him and prevented him from entering the premises.

Shockingly, the party workers locked the gates and kept shouting slogans at Arjun Sampath. Making anti-Hindu statements, the cadres present at the spot said that they would uproot Sanatana Dharmam and ‘eradicate’ saffron while aggressively charging at the IMK members who had come to pay respects to Babasaheb Ambedkar.

Two members belonging to Muslim community belonging to VCK’s flag also tried to snatch Arjun Sampath’s saffron shawl worn around his neck.

VCK-DMK cadre objects to chanting ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ slogans

A few members belonging to far-left ‘Periyarist’ organizations and Communists reportedly surrounded the IMK leader and allegedly tried to attack IMK chief. One of the members also reportedly objected to chanting ‘Bharath Mata ki Jai’ inside the memorial.

However, Arjun Sampath and other IMK leaders managed to enter the memorial to pay respects to the national leader with the help of police.

Arjun Sampath said, “These so called flagbearers of social justice are practicing a kind of untouchability by preventing me from paying respects to Babasaheb. They should be ashamed of themselves to use Babasaheb’s name. He is not a leader of the VCK or the DMK. He is a leader for all Indians”.

Sampath also warned them saying that such undemocratic and ruthless behaviour of VCK and DMK goons will not prevent them from paying respects and that they would be visiting 5 places where Ambedkar’s statue has been kept to pay respects.

“IMK follows the principle of Babasaheb whereas these VCK goons follow the principles of EVR [known as ‘Periyar’ by his followers]”, the IMK leader said.

He said that the VCK head should monitor and control his cadres who are bringing disrepute to Babasaheb’s name. He also urged the Tamil Nadu government to take action against such miscreants added that the IMK is always ready to engage with the VCK on forums of dialogue and not in violence.

VCK’s history of intimidation and violence

The far-left political party Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and its cadre, especially its chief Thol Thirumavalavan are extremely abusive to Hindus, in particular to upper caste communities. They have time-and-again abused and attacked Hindu organisations.

In October,  an office-bearer of the Hindu organisation in Tamil Nadu – Indu Makkal Katchi (IMK) was attacked by members belonging Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) at Vedachandur in Dindigul district. The VCK members stabbed an IMK member identified as Manikandan Prabhu, who worked as the in-charge of Vedanthur Assembly constituency for IMK.

VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan hate speech against Hindus

Earlier this week, Thol Thirumavalavan, the Member of Parliament from Chidambaram constituency of Tamil Nadu, sparked a massive controversy by making hate speech against Hindus by saying that Hindu religious scriptures treated women as ‘sex workers’.

Thol Thirumavalavan, the founder of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), who won 2019 Lok Sabha elections under a UPA-DMK alliance ticket from Chidambaram constituency, recently spoke in an online seminar organised by a Periyarist group. In his speech, the controversial anti-Hindu ‘activist’-cum-politician said that all Hindu women are ‘prostitutes’ according to Sanatana dharma.

The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) chief Thol Thirumavalavan spoke about Periyar and hailed him for ‘helping’ break the Brahmanical ideologies that were taught by Hindu scriptures.

Thol Thirumavalavan has a history of indulging in such anti-Hindu rants. Last year in November, Thol Thirumavalavan had made offensive statements against Hindu temples triggering a massive uproar across social media

Ichchhadhaari protester Yogendra Yadav to lead ‘chakka jam’ for Punjab farmers, will block delivery of essential commodities

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Ichchhadhaari protester Yogendra Yadav to lead ‘chakka jam’ for Punjab farmers, will block delivery of essential commodities

Failed politician and professional protester, Yogendra Yadav, appears to be leading the protests against the newly passed farm laws by Punjab farmers. Addressing a press conference on Sunday, he announced that not even the delivery of essential commodities will be permitted during the bandh. He said that Chakka Jam will remain in place till 3 p.m.

Yogendra Yadav, however, said that marriages and emergency services will be allowed. Delivery of milk, fruits, vegetables and other services will remain shut.

Yogendra Yadav is not a farmer himself. He was prevented recently from attending the discussions between farmers and the central government on the matter because he is a political activist and not a farmer. Yadav, who is also apparently a psephologist, claimed that Home Minister Amit Shah himself objected to his presence.

“Though the farmers union decided that the invitation to the meeting would be accepted only if the four representatives were also added to the delegation, I was informed that Amit Shah personally objected to me being a part of it. The government said that I was political. The farmers’ union were ready to boycott the meeting but they went ahead with it on my insistence,” Yogendra Yadav had said about his exclusion.

The involvement of elements such as the ‘Ichchhadhaari’ protester and others making communally charged comments in the protests has led many to question the motivations behind the protests.

“Ram symbolises heroism for me”: Saif Ali Khan retracts his statement of showing ‘humane’ side of Ravan in ‘Adipurush’, but only partially

OpIndia Staff
-
0
“Ram symbolises heroism for me”: Saif Ali Khan retracts his statement of showing ‘humane’ side of Ravan in ‘Adipurush’, but only partially

A day after facing social media backlash for cultural distortion in his upcoming movie ‘Adipurush’ actor, Saif Ali Khan has now retracted his statement. He had said that the movie, based on Hindu epic Ramayana, would show the ‘humane’ side of demon king Ravan and also justify the abduction of Goddess Sita.

In a statement issued to media, Khan has ‘apologised’ for hurting the sentiments of the Hindu community. He stated, “I’ve been made aware that one of my statements during an interview, has caused controversy and hurt people’s sentiments. This was never my intention or meant that way. I would like to sincerely apologise to everybody and withdraw my statement.”

Saif Ali Khan has now ‘hailed’ Lord Ram as the symbol of righteousness and heroism. “Adipurush is about celebrating the victory of good over evil and the entire team is working together to present the epic without any distortions,” the actor emphasised.

Saif Ali yet to apologise for justifying abduction of Goddess Sita

While speaking to Mumbai Mirror, Saif Ali Khan had earlier claimed, “It’s interesting to play a demon king, less strictures in that. But we will make him humane, up the entertainment quotient, justify his abduction of Sita and the war with Ram as revenge for what was done to his sister Surpanakha by Lakshman, who cut off his nose.” While the actor has apologised for his statement directed at ‘humanising’ Ravan by hailing Lord Ram, he is yet to withdraw his statement wherein he said that his role in the movie will justify the abduction of Goddess Sita.

Apart from Saif Ali Khan as Ravan, Adipurush stars Prabhas as Lord Ram, and reportedly Kirti Sanon will play the role of Sita. T Series is financing the movie directed by Om Raut. The mythological movie is being made on a whopping budget of Rs 400 crore, with a lot of it going to VFX for the special effects.

1...4,8204,8214,822...7,676Page 4,821 of 7,676