Pakistan has blocked the YouTube channel of an Indian YouTuber who goes by the name of Zafar Heretic, an ex-Muslim atheist, for speaking out against Islamic extremism, Jagran has reported. The YouTuber is an outspoken critic of Islam and publishes videos on YouTube where he elaborates on the dichotomy between Islam and what its adherents preach.
Zafar Heretic considers himself to be an-Muslim atheist and has published 17 videos thus far on his YouTube channel. On one of his videos, he has documented why he left Islam. He mentions that once upon a time he used to believe that critics of Islam are hatemongers and followed Zakir Naik’s speeches himself.
But then, he read Islamic scriptures where he learnt about the child bride of prophet Muhammad, the sex slaves, the promise of 72 virgins, Triple Talaq, Nikah Halala and everything else. He says that he used to believe these were comments made by some random scholars or some misinterpretation but realised that these were integral features of the Islamic scriptures, at which point he became depressed.
Consequently, he has also made videos on incidents such as the Bengaluru Riots where he has condemned the rioting by the Muslim mob. He also said that he was extremely confident that whatever was said in the Facebook post that led the Muslim mob to unleash chaos in the city did not contain any falsehood.
Zafar Heretic also implores every Muslim to read the Islamic scriptures with an open mind themselves which, he believes, will convince them that they are living their entire lives for a political entity that was established 1400 years ago. He has around ten thousand followers on YouTube and his videos regularly attract thousands of views. While most comments on his videos are encouraging, some concerned individuals also implore him to be careful in good faith.
In a major embarrassment for the top Pakistani army officers, a live Zoom meeting conducted by them was hacked with songs on Lord Ram and India’s National Anthem playing in the background. The cyber strike was carried out by a group of pro-Hindu social media users, who interrupted the webinar meeting organised by the Islamic Research Institute and attended by several Pakistani officials to discuss the future of the country with respect to the forthcoming US elections.
As the meeting was in progress and the host requested the participants to go on mute, he was instantly disrupted by the pro-Hindu group, who identified themselves as ‘Trad Mahasabha’, raided the meeting by playing a devotional song to Lord Ram.
This was followed by another disruption when the pro-Hindu raiders played India’s national anthem, Jana Gana Mana, in the background, sending the Pakistani participants into a tizzy and forcing the befuddled chairman, a certain Brigadier Rasheed Wali, to question if he was audible.
Realising that the meeting has been raided by a pro-India group, the host of the webinar acknowledged that they were facing some issues with the meeting. Left red-faced by the intrusion by the group, the host called off the meeting temporarily, claiming he will get back again after sorting out the “technical issues” experienced in the webinar.
Pro-Indic users disrupt Pakistan’s Zoom meeting on Kashmir
This is not the first time that pro-Hindu users have raided a Pakistani zoom meeting and caused a massive embarrassment to them. On Tuesday this week, a group of Pakistani diplomats, along with some self-proclaimed human rights ‘activists’ and pro-Pakistan trolls had organised an event on online meeting platform ‘Zoom’ to discuss the so-called ’72 Years of Indian Occupation of Kashmir’. Interestingly, CJ Werleman, a US-based pro-Islamist sympathiser, was also part of the meeting to discuss the alleged Indian atrocities in Kashmir.
As the anti-India event progressed, pro-Indian accounts appeared on the event and attempted to stop Pakistani diplomats from speaking lies on Kashmir issue. The pro-Indian users raided the show and played some Hindu nationalistic songs to stop Pakistanis from peddling their usual anti-India narrative.
At first, around 16:55 mins, the pro-Hindu participants of the event put out a Hindu religious song dedicated to Lord Hanuman. For a few seconds, Pakistani organisers and other guests present in the event were perplexed to understand from exactly such pro-Hindu content were being telecast
Even as Pakistanis continued to peddle lies on Kashmir, pro-Indic social media users raided the event at around 47th minute into the meeting, playing the famous song-“Ek hi naara, Ek hi naam, Jai Shree Ram Jai Shree Ram”. This song then continued to play during the Pakistani Zoom meet for over the next two minutes, compelling Pakistanis to remain quiet.
A case of murder due to unrequited obsession has come to the fore in the Gujarat city of Surat. A factory owner, Ramu Santram Goswami, was mercilessly killed by a man named Alam and his two associates–Ali and Satla on Sunday, October 25, because he was obsessed with the factory owner’s wife, reports Dainik Bhaskar. The murder was committed in front of the deceased’s wife and their three-year-old son.
All three were arrested in the wee hours of Monday morning by the Surat Police. According to the preliminary investigation, police found out that Alam has been carrying a torch for the factory owner’s wife and in the fit of rage against her husband, Alam and his two associates killed Goswami.
Alam kept harassing Goswami’s wife with incessant calls
Goswami, who ran a factory of polishing fabrics in the Katargam neighbourhood of Surat, lived in Amroli with his wife and son. A few days before his murder, his wife received a call from an unknown number who asked her to connect her to a woman named Pooja. Goswami’s wife hung up the phone after responding that it was a wrong number. However, she kept receiving the calls from the unknown number again and again.
When the woman informed his husband, Ramu Goswami, about the harassment from an unknown number, he got the details of the number checked which turned out to be of a man named Mohammad Alam, an acquaintance of Ramu. After it was found that Alam had been harassing his wife, Ramu went to his house to convince Alam. Ramu reprimanded Alam for his incessant calls to his wife and threatened him to take up the matter with police if he did not make amends. Following this incident, Goswami’s wife stopped receiving Alam’s calls.
Ramu was stabbed to death by Alam and his two associates
However, on Sunday night, Alam reached Ramu’s house with two of his accomplices. As soon as Goswami opened the door, the three forcibly barged into his house and bolted the gate from inside. There, in front of his wife and their three-year-old son, the three repeatedly stabbed Ramu in his stomach and chest. A mortally injured Ramu was later rushed to the nearby hospital, where he died during his treatment.
France which was once hailed by the ‘liberal world’ as an epitome of secularism, is at the receiving end of the hatred of Muslims as well as liberals after French President Emmanuel Macron called out radical Islamist ideology and refused to condemn the caricatures of Prophet Mohammad created by French satirical magazine Charlies Hebdo. Despite the Indian government condemning the brutal attacks by Islamic terrorists in France and expressing solidarity with the country, protests are being organised by Muslims, with Congress leading the protest, across India condemning France and French President.
After the recent protests organised by Congress MLA Arif Masood in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh condemning President Macron, now Congress leaders in Telangana have organised protests demanding Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao to ban French products in the state. Congress members led by Shaikh Abdullah Sohail, chairman of Congress minorities cell, held a protest yesterday after offering Friday prayers at Masjid-e-Rahmania, Prabhat Nagar in Erragadda.
During the protest, Sohail demanded that the Chief Minister should condemn the French President’s remarks and also ban French products in the state. Banners were raised and poster of French President Macron was burnt during the protests. Sohail condemned the Central government for supporting the French government and accused it of provoking Indian Muslims. He said that India should not support anyone who hurt the religious sentiments of any community. He urged all the wholesalers and retailers to withdraw the products manufactured in France.
On the occasion of birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammad, Muslims leaders in Friday sermons called upon Muslims to boycott French products in Hyderabad. Protests were also held during the Milad processions wherein posters of President Macron trampled by protestors. Moulana Ahmed Qasmi, Imam of Masjid-e-Sufa in Toli Chwoki area, said, “The almighty Allah sent Prophet Mohammad as the mercy for the entire mankind and President of France is insulting such a great personality. Can somebody keep quiet when his parents are insulted in the name of freedom of speech? Our Prophet is dearer to us than our parents. How can we keep quiet?”. A resolution was passed condemning the alleged blasphemy by French President at 71st public meeting organised by All India Majlis-e-Tamir-e-Millat. The Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT) also staged a protest against the French president.
Not just Congress leaders: Darul Uloom demands Indian government to condemn France
Outraging against France for allegedly insulting Prophet Mohammad, Maulana Mufti Abul Qasim Nomani, head of Darul Uloom, Deoband, demanded the Islamic Organisation of Cooperation (OIC), the Arab League and other Muslim countries to take action against France. “It is the responsibility of the Islamic countries and their rules to form a strong strategy against France on this matter and this should be strongly raised on international forums as well. The OIC, the Arab League and other Muslim countries should raise their voice against the French government and lodge a protest at the diplomatic and commercial levels”, Nomani said.
During the protest held by Congress MLA Arif Masood in Bhopal, he said that if it had been in his capacity, he would have crushed the face of President Macron. “We want to send out a message to the French President, if it was in our capacity we would have mowed your face”, Masood said. “Our hands are tied because we are law-abiding citizens and we have been taught peace by our Allah’s prophet”, he added.
PM Modi on Saturday paid tributes to the ‘Iron Man of India’, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, on his 145th birth anniversary. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who served as India’s first Home Minister, was also known as the chief architect of India for bringing along more than 500 princely states into the Union of India.
PM Modi paid floral tribute to the towering leader at the Statue of Unity memorial in Gujarat’s Kevadia and credited Sardar Patel for giving India its present form. He also reiterated the salience of country’s unity that is embodied by Sardar Patel.
सभी देशवासियों को सरदार वल्लभभाई पटेल की जयंती की बहुत-बहुत शुभकामनाएं।
देश की सैकड़ों रियासतों को, राजे-रजवाड़ों को एक करके, देश की विविधता को आधार भारत की शक्ति बनाकर सरदार पटेल ने हिंदुस्तान को वर्तमान स्वरूप दिया।
PM Modi is on a two-day visit to Gujarat, his first visit to his home state after the coronavirus pandemic began. In Gujarat, PM Modi inaugurated a host of new attraction spots and projects near the Statue of Unity. PM Modi unveiled the Sardar Patel Zoological Park, popularly called the Jungle Safari, in Kevadia. The zoological park has been set up near the 182-metre-tall Statue of Unity. He also inaugurated the ‘Arogya Van’, ‘Ekta Mall’ and ‘Children Nutrition Park’ in the same town yesterday. ‘Arogya Van’ is home to hundreds of plants and herbs that have medicinal value.
On his second day of visit in Gujarat, i.e today, PM Modi flagged off Rashtriya Ekta Diwas parade and addressed the nation. Here are the key takeaways from PM Modi’s speech at the Statue of Unity:-
India is establishing new dimensions of unity: PM Modi
In a reference to the abrogation of Article 370, PM Modi said that India is establishing a new dimension of unity as Jammu and Kashmir has moved on a new path of development.
Today, Kashmir has moved on a new path of development…Whether it is restoration of peace in the Northeast, or the steps being taken for development there, today the country is establishing new dimensions of unity: PM in Gujarat on birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel pic.twitter.com/byO2TtpUhf
“Today, Kashmir has moved on a new path of development…Whether it is restoration of peace in the Northeast, or the steps being taken for development there, today the country is establishing new dimensions of unity,” he said.
Opposition parties slammed by PM Modi over Pulwama attack
Launching a blistering attack on the opposition parties in the country, PM Modi highlighted the confession of complicity in the Pulwama attack by one of the Pakistani legislators and stressed the importance of uniting against the menace of terrorism.
पिछले दिनों पड़ोसी देश से जो खबरें आईं हैं,
जिस प्रकार वहां की संसद में सत्य स्वीकारा गया है,
उसने इन लोगों के असली चेहरों को देश के सामने ला दिया है।
अपने राजनीतिक स्वार्थ के लिए, ये लोग किस हद तक जा सकते हैं,
पुलवामा हमले के बाद की गई राजनीति, इसका बड़ा उदाहरण है: PM
“The way the truth (about Pulwama attack in India) has been admitted in the parliament of the neighbouring country, it has exposed the real faces of those who did politics over the incident,” PM Modi said.
He asked Indian political parties to not cross limits for petty political gains. Urging the opposition to not indulge in such kind of politics, he added that such behaviour adversely affected the morale of the country’s security forces.
Urgent need for world to unite for the fight against terrorism: PM Modi
PM Modi underlined the urgent need for the nations to join hand and come together in their fight against terrorism. Claiming that India has always been at the vanguard at the battle against the terrorism, PM Modi said that the countries afflicted by the scourge of terrorism should unite to defeat terrorism.
“India has always given a firm response to terrorism, but it is time for the world to unite against it. India has always been an advocate of peace. One of the strengths of India’s unity is its diversity. But many forces dislike our unity and want to turn our diversity into our weaknesses. We must identify these force,” he said.
India demonstrated its collective potential during the COVID-19 pandemic: PM Modi
PM Modi proclaimed that the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic has shown the country’s collective potential to tackle a crisis of such a huge proportion.
“Around 130 crore Indians together honoured the Covid-19 warriors in their fight against this pandemic. The way the country has proved its collective potential during this time is unprecedented,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Kevadia.
He also added, “When other countries of the world are struggling against the pandemic, India has fought it bravely and is coming out of it.”
Construction of Ram Mandir an extension of Sardar Patel’s endeavour of restoring India’s cultural heritage with Somnath Temple’s rebuilding: PM Modi
PM Modi on Saturday linked the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya with the Sardar Patel’s endeavour of rebuilding Somnath Temple and restore country’s cultural pride. PM Modi said that the ongoing construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya is an extension of Sardar Patel’s goal of restoring India’s cultural heritage through the rebuilding of Somnath Temple.
“The Ram Mandir construction is an extension of Sardar Patel’s efforts to restore India’s cultural pride with the reconstruction of Somnath Temple. The entire country is witness to the rebuilding of Ram Temple which is in accordance with the Supreme Court ruling. A magnificent Ram Mandir will be built in Ayodhya. Today, we, 130 crore citizens, are building a country that is not only strong but also capable, a country in which similarities will exist but so do opportunities,” PM Modi said.
PM Modi remembers Maharishi Valmiki on his birth anniversary
In his speech, PM Modi also highlighted that besides Sardar Patel, it was the birth anniversary of another great Indian stalwart, Maharishi Valmiki.
ये भी अद्भुत संयोग है कि आज ही वाल्मीकि जयंती भी है।
आज हम भारत की जिस सांस्कृतिक एकता का दर्शन करते हैं,
जिस भारत को अनुभव करते हैं,
उसे और जीवंत और ऊर्जावान बनाने का काम सदियों पहले आदिकवि महर्षि वाल्मीकि ने ही किया था: PM
“It is also a delightful coincidence that today is also Valmiki Jayanti. The cultural unity of India that we see today… The India we experience, the work of making it more vibrant and energetic was done centuries ago by Adikavi Maharishi Valmiki,” PM Modi said.
India has touched new heights of self-reliance in the area of defence: PM Modi
India has touched new heights of self-reliance, PM Modi said, while adding that its hawk eyes are always fixed on the borders to repel any expansionist designs. He further said that India is now moving towards becoming atmanirbhar in the area of defence and soldiers on the border have been granted complete autonomy to act as they deem fit to safeguard country’s territorial integrity.
“No one can step foot here or cast an eye on our country. The brave soldiers have the power in their hands to give a befitting reply to any intruders for the protection of pride and sovereignty. We are equipped. We are building roads and tunnels in the borders despite challenges,” he said.
The 31st of October is celebrated as the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) in India to commemorate the birth anniversary of one of the greatest political stalwarts of the 20th Century, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The decision to honour the Iron Man of India on his birth anniversary was taken after Prime Minister Modi assumed office in 2014.
Narendra Modi, on the occasion of Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, made a particularly significant statement that is oozing with symbolism. The Prime Minister compared the reclamation of the Ram Janmabhoomi following the Supreme Court verdict with the reconstruction of the Somnath Temple with the endorsement of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Prime Minister Modi said that the spirit of the Yajna for cultural revival that was initiated with reconstruction of the Somnath Temple again manifested itself in Ayodhya with the reclamation of Ram Janmabhoomi and the construction of the Bhavya Ram Mandir that has now begun. This is a significant statement considering the symbolism of it.
सोमनाथ के पुनर्निर्माण से सरदार पटेल ने भारत के सांस्कृतिक गौरव को लौटाने का जो यज्ञ शुरू किया था, उसका विस्तार देश ने अयोध्या में भी देखा है।
आज देश राममंदिर पर सुप्रीमकोर्ट के फैसले का साक्षी बना है, और भव्य राममंदिर को बनते भी देख रहा है।#RashtriyaEktaDiwas
The first and foremost conclusion that can be drawn from the statement is that the construction of the Bhavya Ram Mandir marks the establishment of the Second Republic in India. It is not far-fetched to assert that if Sardar Patel had lived longer, the First Republic would not have been fated for Fire and Blood.
The vision of India that Sardar Patel had for the country was significantly different than the one envisioned by Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India. The reconstruction of Somnath Temple was ample evidence of it. His continued presence in the corridors of power would have ensured that Indian politics did not devolved into an orgy of minority appeasement and everything else that comes along with it.
It has to be understood why the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh reveres Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel even though the two did not necessarily see eye to eye in most respects. One of the fundamental goals of the RSS has been to unite Hindus under a single political banner. What we take for granted seventy-three years after independence was very often the subject of a lot of uncertainty in the independence era.
Sardar Patel, by forging the Indian State as we know it today, ensured the consolidation of Hindus under a single nation-state. This meant that the foundation for the establishment of a Hindu Rashtra had been laid. All that remained for was for Hindutva-centric political entities to capture power. Thus, half the mammoth task was already completed. And for that, the Iron Man of India has the eternal gratitude of the Sangh.
The reconstruction of the Somnath Temple ought to be interpreted as the symbolic confirmation of that particular ideal. Of course, the removal of Hindu-centric political entities from the corridors of power in the years that followed meant that the remaining half of the task was delayed by decades. And the stranglehold of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty over Indian politics ensured that the First Republic was as against the interests of the Hindu Civilization as any regime could possibly be.
The regime that has been in power since 2014 and is likely to be for the foreseeable future has a markedly different worldview. In fact, the views are so divergent that it is entirely legitimate to consider the transfer of power in 2014 as the establishment of a New Republic. For this New Republic, Ayodhya is its crowning glory.
The ‘New India’ burns with the same fire that fuelled the reconstruction of the Somnath Temple. Of course, the latter did not amount to much as there was no successor to assume the mantle of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel but this time around, the situation is markedly different. Narendra Modi has a host of extremely capable leaders to carry forward his legacy. And that is so because he is only the figurehead of a vast network of Hindutva-centric organisations forming the backbone of the Second Republic.
That we are living in the age of the Second Republic is evident from the conduct of Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Prime Minister of India, during the Somnath Temple reconstruction when compared with that of the sitting Prime Minister of India, Narendra Damodardas Modi. Nehru opposed what he called ‘Hindu Revivalism’ and considered then President Rajendra Prasad attending its inauguration as a violation of the tenets of Secularism.
This is in stark contrast with the events of the Bhoomi Pujan at Ayodhya. The Prime Minister of India not only attended it but participated in it himself. The rituals broadcast live on television all over the country reminded one of the heydays of Hindu Civilization when ruling Monarchs would organise grand Hindu ceremonies for the prosperity of their Kingdoms. The August of 5, 2020 settled all remaining doubts that we are indeed in the age of the Second Republic.
Thus, the reconstruction of the Somnath Temple and the reclamation of Ram Janmabhoomi are both manifestations of the great Hindu Civilization and Prime Minister Modi is keenly aware of it himself. On the 5th of August, 2020, Narendra Modi compared the Ram Janmabhoomi Movement (RJB-M) to the Indian struggle for Independence.
He was extremely accurate, of course. For the founders of the Second Republic, the RJB-M was the mass movement that propelled them to power. Just as the founders of the First Republic established a regime with minority appeasement as its cornerstone based on the Indian Independence Movement, those of the Second Republic banked on RJB-M for their success.
In the grand scheme of things, the Somnath Temple reconstruction symbolizes a path India could have taken since independence itself but one it refused to tread. The reclamation of the Ram Mandir, on the other hand, marks the rekindling of the ancient fire that inspired our ancestors to victory. Ideally, the time frame between the two ought to have been minimal. But as the Gods have fated it to happen, it took us seven decades. However, as the wise men say, better late than never.
There is one other important aspect that the Somnath Temple is symbolic of. The continued existence of the Somnath Temple reflects the undying valour of the Hindus to rise again and again from the funeral pyre of their civilization in order to usher in a new era of grandeur and prosperity. Similarly, the Ram Mandir, which is set to be constructed after five centuries, reflects the growing Hindu assertiveness and their relentless pursuit of the continued worship of our Devas. If the former is reflective of the famed Hindu resilience, the latter symbolizes that Hindus are now stronger than they have ever been in recent memory.
The invocation of the sacred link on Rashtriya Ekta Diwas is emblematic of one other aspect that has not received adequate attention. While interfaith relations during the First Republic was based on minority establishment and Nehruvian Secularism, the basis for the same in the Second Republic will be unabashed Hinduism, confident in its ability to shine as the beacon of harmony in the world. It is, again, a significant departure from the KoolAid of secularism that we were forced to swallow during the previous regime.
French opposition leader Marine Le Pen has called for a ban to be imposed on Pakistan and Bangladesh immigrants amidst largest scale protests in the two Muslim nations against France and its President Emmanuel Macron after he vowed to stand against Islamic terrorism.
Le Pen’s Tweet roughly translates to: “In view of the new ultra-violent demonstrations today in Bangladesh (demonstrators who called to behead our ambassador), and Pakistan, I call for an immediate moratorium on immigration from these countries, in the name of national security. MLP.”
Au regard des nouvelles manifestations ultra-violentes aujourd’hui au #Bangladesh (manifestants qui ont appelé à décapiter notre ambassadeur), et au #Pakistan, je demande un moratoire immédiat sur l’immigration originaire de ces pays, au nom de la sécurité nationale. MLP
Earlier, Pen had also thanked India for showing support to France and the French President Emmanuel Macron, whom Pakistan, Turkey, and many others have targeted for upholding the French people’s right to freedom of expression.
With a representational flag of both the countries, Pen tweeted on October 26, “Thanks to India and to its government who have just given their support to France facing intimidation to give up its values.”
French President’s resolute to tackle Islamic terrorism has infuriated many Islamic nations like Pakistan, Turkey, which took the lead to denounce the French President. Muslims in the Middle East and the Arab world also joined Pakistanis in their calls for boycotts of French products. Recently, Bangladesh also joined the other Islamic nations to protest against France and its president.
Bangladesh joins other Islamic nations protesting against France and the French President
Ten Thousands of Muslims hit the streets of Dhaka Friday, calling for a boycott on French products. The protest erupted after French President Emmanuel Macron vowed to stand firm to guard French values following knife attack in the city of Nice.
The crowd were seen carrying banners calling Macron “the world’s biggest terrorist”. One of the radical fundamentalists who was part of the protest said: “Macron is leading Islamophobia. He doesn’t know the power of Islam. The Muslim world will not let this go in vain. We’ll rise and stand in solidarity against him,” he furthered.
On October 27, the protesters had gathered in the morning in front of Bangladesh’s main Baitul Mokarram Mosque in Dhaka and later started marching toward the French Embassy, which is located a few kilometres away from the mosque.
The protesters belonging to the Islami Andolon Bangladesh (a group that advocates for the introduction of Islamic law in the Muslim-majority country), carried banners and placards reading “All Muslims of the world, unite” and “Boycott France.” They also carried a large cut-out of a photo of French President Emmanuel Macron and hung shoes around its neck.
In Pakistan, police briefly fired tear gas at protesters on Friday who broke through security blockades in Islamabad in a failed attempt to demonstrate at the French Embassy against the printing in France of images depicting the Prophet Mohammad.
Why has the French President come in the line of fire?
The attacks against French President comes days after Macron had made a sensational speech saying that “Islam is a religion that is in crisis today all over the world”,” plagued by radical temptations and by a yearning for a reinvented jihad which is the destruction of the other”.
Macron had made a historic statement following the beheading of French teacher Samuel Paty’s killing, who was beheaded by an Islamic terrorist for showing Charlie Hebdo caricatures to his students.
After the barbaric beheading of teacher Samuel Paty on the streets of Paris by a terrorist for showing the cartoons of Prophet Mohammad to his students, support poured in for the deceased teacher across the French communities who took to streets to condemn the killing of Samuel Paty.
However, the historic speech by Macron and his pronouncements to tackle Islamic terror had infuriated many Islamic countries, with many Islamic countries, especially Turkey and Pakistan took the lead to denounce the French President.
Not just Muslims in Pakistan and the Arab world but even radical Islamic organisations in India such as Raza Academy had initiated a campaign demanding that Muslim countries issue a fatwa against French President Emmanuel Macron after cartoons on Prophet Mohammed by Charlie Hebdo were projected onto government buildings.
India expresses solidarity with France
As France continued to get attacked by Islamic countries over its resolve to fight the radical Islamic terror, majority of Indians stood in solidarity with France and its people earlier this week.
Several Indian social media users expressed their support to France and trended #IStandWithFrance. Several social media users tweeted with this hashtag people to convey their support to Macron’s strong decision to take a stand against extremism in France.
The government of India also in an official statement said that it “strongly deplores the personal attacks in unacceptable language on President Emmanuel Macron in violation of the most basic standards of international discourse”.
The Ministry of External Affairs, also condemned “the brutal terrorist attack that took the life of a French teacher in a gruesome manner that has shocked the world”.
The Modi government also offered its condolences to the family of the deceased and the people of France. “There is no justification for terrorism for any reason or under any circumstance,” the MEA statement added.
In the ongoing attack on Republic TV by Mumbai Police, now the police have set its target on the media buying agencies that place ad in the channel, in an attempt to financially cripple the channel. The first target of Param Bir Singh led Mumbai police is Hansa Vision, a such media buying agency.
The reason for police to target Hansa Vision is that its group company Hansa Research managers the Bar-O-Meters of Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC), which measures the viewership of TV channels. According to Mumbai police, Hansa Research or associate companies can’t do any business dealings with any TV channel. A Mumbai police officer on Friday claimed that under general business ethics and guidelines issued by the Union government, Hansa Research or its associate companies cannot engage in business with any TV channel.
This claim by Mumbai police raises several questions, as it is not clear whether such condition is placed by the guidelines issues by the central govt. Hansa Research and Hansa Vision is completely separate entities, while the former can’t do dealings with TV channels as it works with BARC to manage the Bar-O-Meters, the later is a media buying agency, which means its primary businesses is to deal with TYV channels. If such a rule existed, the company should not exist at all.
The second and more important point is, if Hansa Vision is not allowed to deal with TV channels, why Mumbai police is targeting only Republic in the matter. The company itself has said that they do dealings with 55 TV channels. A statement issued by Hansa group CEO Shekar Swamy had said, “In the past two years, as part of its business, Hansa Vision has purchased TV advertising time from 55 TV channels for a total value of Rs 13.42 crs on behalf of its clients. In 2019 and 2020, Hansa Vision has not bought any advertising time from Republic TV.”
Therefore, Mumbai police should be questioning all those 55 channels if the dealings are illegal, but there is no such sign, they are only questioning Republic.
Hansa Vision has published its financial statements showing that it bought ad slots on Republic in 2017-18 and 2018-19, and made payments to the TV network as per normal business practice. The company has not bought any slot in the network after that, while it remains in business buying ad slots in other TV channels, and making payments for the same.
“Hansa Vision purchases advertising time from Television Channels, advertising space from publications on behalf of its clients,” a statement issued by Hansa Vision had said.
Hansa Research had also placed the same fact, that its group company Hansa Vision buys ad spots in TV channels, and it does not do any such dealings. In fact, both Hansa Research and Republic Network had said that Hansa Vision had paid Rs 108 Lakh to Republic for buying ad spots, much more than Rs 32 Lakh claimed by Mumbai Police. Republic had also published the audited financial statements in support of this fact.
Now if indeed it is true that Hansa vision, being a group company of Hansa group, can’t do dealings with TV channels, then it would mean that the entire business of the company is illegal. Now it remains to be seen whether Mumbai police bring all other 54 TV channels under probe for this ‘illegal’ business with Hansa Vision.
On Thursday, social media platform Facebook removed three ‘Love Jihad’ groups for violating their community guidelines, reported Times of India. ‘Love Jihad’ refers to a well-thought-out strategy of religious proliferation wherein Muslim men entrap women of a different faith (particularly Hindus) under the pretext of love and marriage.
As per the report, the action of Facebook against the said groups comes after Times of India sent a questionnaire containing specific details about the pages to the social media giant. The said groups were allegedly involved in sharing hate speech, adult nudity, and revealing personal contact information of inter-faith couples.
Facebook groups had asked Hindus to be wary of Jihadi men
Times of India reported that one such ‘Love Jihad’ group with 18000 members would regularly post ‘guidelines’ asking parents to remain vigilant about their daughters’ university timings and their phone calls, in case her friend is from a ‘minority’ community.
The newspaper also reported about another group, which warned Hindus to remain wary of ‘jihadi’ men. The group has now been deleted by Facebook. Other groups also called for an economic boycott of those who tend to deceitfully convert the religion of a Hindu girl under the pretext of marriage.
Facebook responds to Times of India
While responding to the questionnaire sent by Times of India to Facebook, a spokesperson informed, “We have clear policies against hate speech and remove hateful content that targets anyone based on their religion, nationality, ethnicity or caste. We have made significant investments to keep hate off our platforms.”
While Times of India gets Facebook pages deleted, Love Jihad cases rise in India
There has been an overall surge in the number of ‘Love Jihad’ cases. On Monday, 21-year-old Nikita Tomar was shot to death in broad daylight by Touseef after she repeatedly turned down his advances. He had allegedly repeatedly asked her to convert to Islam as well. The shocking incident was caught on camera, visuals of which have now gone viral. Touseef and his accomplice Rehan were arrested.
Earlier, an e-rickshaw driver named Dildar Qureshi entrapped a 13-year-old Hindu girl in a love affair posing as a Hindu. He then eloped with the minor on October 18. When the family of the minor Hindu girl came to know about the incident they lodged a complaint against the Muslim youth.
Mewat, the Muslim-dominated district in Haryana, has hogged the limelight after the news of the brutal murder of Nikita Tomar by one Tauseef, belonging to an influential family of Congress politicians, from the district came to the fore. Now, another incident of abduction and alleged forced conversion of a Hindu nurse has been reported from Nuh in Mewat, Haryana.
The father of a nurse has lodged a complaint at the Bichhor police station against a man identified as Muhammad Iqbal, a resident of Neemka village. Om Prakash, the father of the woman, alleged that Iqbal, who was stalking his daughter for the last six months and pressuring her to convert and marry him, abducted her as she refused to submit to his demands.
Iqbal was stalking the nurse and forcing her to convert for the last six months
Om Prakash, a resident of Mahindergarh, complained to the police on Thursday that his 24-year-old daughter was kidnapped from her workplace on October 26 and that her mobile was found to be switched off since the incident. He alleged that his daughter had told him last month that the suspect was stalking her and forcing her to convert and marry him.
Relevant sections of the IPC and SC/ST Act invoked for abducting and threatening the Nuh nurse
Based on the complaint a case has been registered and the 27-year-old Muhammad Iqbal, who works as an advocate, has been booked under sections 363 (punishment for kidnapping), 365 (kidnapping), 506 (criminal intimidation) and relevant sections of the SC/ST Act on Thursday for allegedly kidnapping and threatening a woman employed as a nurse at a primary health centre at Singar village in Nuh’s Punhana, earlier this week, since the Nurse was a Dalit.
Om Prakash, the father of the woman, said that when his daughter had visited them last month she appeared scared and stressed. She had asked him to speak to the police as she claimed that Iqbal was stalking her and was threatening her to marry him. “The man was forcing her to convert and marry him. She has been refusing his moves for the last six months but he often intercepted her way and forced her to speak to him,” he said.
Meanwhile, the additional station house officer (SHO) of Bichhor police station- Attar Singh said on Friday that they had conducted raids at suspected locations but were yet to recover the victim and the suspect. “We had gone to the village of the suspect. However, his father told us that although his son had come with a woman, they both left after staying in the village for a day. He has no idea where they have gone. We have taken the records of the call details of the suspect and the victim and are scanning them to get some leads in the case,” he said.
According to Hindi daily Amar Ujala, the couple were in love with each other and had solemnised a court marriage in Rajasthan HC on October 13.
Meanwhile, the Nuh police said that the last location of the two were in Nuh. However, since October 27, their mobile phones have been switched off.
Nuh police trying to crack the case
Singh said they were questioning the staff members of the hospital and villagers to know the exact details of the abduction and if the woman was held hostage in the village before the suspect shifted her to another location. “We will add more sections once we record the victim’s statement. Based on her statement, it will become clear whether the suspect stalked her and forced her to convert,” he said.
The SHO conformed that a six member team has been constituted to conduct the investigation into the case. He furthered that nine family members of Muhammad Iqbal have been interrogated until now and the police are also tracking their call details to trace the suspect, if he ever tries to contact them.
