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‘Osama bin Laden is less reprehensible than Trump,’ claims ‘rational atheist’ Sam Harris who once described the terrorist as a ‘moral hero in a very bad game’

K Bhattacharjee
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‘Osama bin Laden is less reprehensible than Trump,’ claims ‘rational atheist’ Sam Harris who once described the terrorist as a ‘moral hero in a very bad game’

Sam Harris, renowned as one of the leading intellectuals of the ‘New Atheist Movement’ and a self-professed ‘rationalist’, said during the 30th October, 2020 edition of his Making Sense podcast that notorious Islamic terrorist Osama bin Laden appears less reprehensible to him than US President Donald Trump. The section of the podcast where he said it is available only to subscribers and was shared by popular political commentator Mike Cernovich.

In the audio clip shared by Cernovich, Sam Harris can be heard saying, “Osama bin Laden, as a person, is far more understandable to me and far less reprehensible, personally, psychologically, than Trump.” The entire context of the conversation is not yet known but that is not entirely necessary as the atheist has said the same thing in the past as well.

In an audio clip uploaded to his Facebook account on the 19th of February, he explains his position in detail. Sam Harris says, “I find Trump more despicable than I found Osama bin Laden… With Osama bin Laden, it’s just obvious to me that he could have been a mensch in some sense, right? He’s making serious sacrifices for ideas that he deeply believes in. He’s committed to a cause greater than himself.”

The deluded atheist continued, “I don’t doubt he had real ethical connections to the people in his life that he cared about. He’s a real person, right? And in some ways, he is kind of a moral hero in a very bad game. And so therefore, he’s kind of prototypically evil when viewed from my game. he’s a person of actual substance- he’s just committed to the wrong ends, whereas Trump is the negation of all those things.”

It is bizarre for Sam Harris to claim that Donald Trump does not have ‘real ethical connections’ with the people in his life. It only reveals the extent of dehumanization of Donald Trump that dominates liberal discourse in the United States. Liberals appear to genuinely believe that Trump is not even human and is not a ‘real person’ in some sense.

It is thus quite clear that ‘peak rational atheist’ Sam Harris believes that Donald Trump, under whose administration historic peace deals were signed between sworn enemies in the Middle East, is more reprehensible than the Islamic terrorist who brought down the Twin Towers and unleashed death, destruction and carnage across the world.

The dehumanization of Donald Trump has subsequently been used as a justification to justify all sorts of brutality against his supporters. Sam Harris surely does not personally endorse physical assault on Trump supporters but it has to be acknowledged that he engages in the same dehumanizing rhetoric that has led to an epidemic of attacks on Trump supporters.

When people are led to believe that their political adversaries are worse than Osama bin Laden, then it appears inevitable that the supporters will suffer the consequences for backing the said adversary. Sam Harris may not believe in Gods but if someone asked him to describe Satan, it can be safely said that he will draw a portrait of Donald Trump.

Sam Harris is recognised across the ‘atheist community’ as someone who oozes intellect and rationality. However, quite clearly, he is further evidence of the fact a lack of religious faith does not automatically translate into a more rational worldview or more rational opinions. In this particular instance, the atheist has clearly been consumed by the Trump Derangement Syndrome which has led him to conclude that a democratically elected president of the United States is worse than a sworn enemy of the civilized world.

The trademark of the ‘New Atheist Movement’ has been the arrogance with which they carry themselves and the disdain they reserve for religious people in general. They pretend to have a monopoly over rational discourse. Hopefully, this occasion, where Sam Harris has revealed himself to be a lunatic and utterly deluded individual, would implore at least some of them to learn some humility.

Facebook user Azharuddin Ansari announces bounty of Rs 1 Lakh to behead BJP leader Kapil Mishra

OpIndia Staff
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Facebook user Azharuddin Ansari announces bounty of Rs 1 Lakh to behead BJP leader Kapil Mishra

A social media user named Azharuddin Ansari has taken to Facebook to declare a bounty of Rs 1 Lakh on BJP leader Kapil Mishra. He said that he will pay Rs 1 Lakh to anyone who beheads Kapil Mishra. The BJP leader took to his official Twitter account to share the information.

Sharing the link of this youths Facebook profile, Mishra said that Azharuddin Ansari, who lives in Delhi, has issued open death threats to him. The BJP leader tagged Delhi police, the Delhi commissioner of police and the special cell of Delhi police to draw their attention towards the audacious act.

Kapil Mishra shared the screenshot of the hateful and abusive Facebook post where Azharuddin Ansari, directing abusive slang towards the BJP leader, declares that he would give Rs 1 lakh to the person who decapitates the BJP leader.

The abusive and hateful post by Azharuddin Ansari

After Kapil Mishra Tweeted, social media users demanded Delhi police to take cognisance of the matter and punish the culprit as soon as possible. Many people shared Azharuddin’s picture and tagged the Delhi Police and demanded his arrest. People opined that in view of what is happening in France currently, strict action is required against such Islamic fundamentalists because they could go to any extent. Many people expressed support for Kapil Mishra.

Kapil Mishra received death threats after the anti-CAA protests

It is pertinent to note here that BJP leader Kapil Mishra has always been a victim of criticism from Islamic fundamentalists for his unequivocal opinions. Recently he took to social media to vociferously support France post violent protests calling for the beheading of those who insult Islam. He also strongly voiced his disapproval against the Islamic terrorist attacks that have been taking place lately following French President’s resolute to tackle Islamic terrorism.

Earlier, in wake of anti-Hindu riots in Delhi that perpetrated in last week of February 2020, one Mohammad Amanatullah had sent him a threat that no one can save him from his impending doom. These threats to Mishra had come a day after AAP social media member Sanjay Raghav wished death upon Mishra.

IFCN certified fact-checking website throws a Hindu girl to wolves in Bangladesh in case where she went missing after alleged ‘insult’ to Prophet Muhammad: Read how

OpIndia Staff
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IFCN certified fact-checking website throws a Hindu girl to wolves in Bangladesh in case where she went missing after alleged ‘insult’ to Prophet Muhammad: Read how

The religious persecution of Hindus in the Muslim-majority country of Bangladesh is not a new phenomenon. Frivolous allegations of blasphemy are used by Islamists to harass and maim the minority Hindu community. In one such recent incident, a Hindu girl named Tithy Sarker went missing on October 25 after she was accused of making blasphemous comments against Islam and Prophet Muhammad.

Following social media outrage, she was issued a temporary suspension order by her college on October 23 for 10 days and was asked to explain reasons for not expelling her permanently. Tithy went to the Pallabi police station on Sunday morning and was then supposed to visit the nearby Durga Puja mandap, but has not return home since then. Kazi Wazed Ali, the station-in-charge, informed that the search for Tithy was underway and added that the girl had come to the police station on Sunday to file a complaint about her Facebook account being hacked.

However, an Indian ‘fact-checking’ website Newschecker.in made a firm resolve to throw her to the wolves, who are in the hunt for opportunities to harass Hindus. The shady website has been accredited by ICFN, a unit of the Poynter Institute, which claims to identify and support fact-checkers worldwide through promotion of best practices. However, in reality, it has been accused of observing dual standards in granting its “code of principles” to the applicants.

Screengrab of the IFCN badge

Debunking the misleading factcheck of Newschecker

In the case of Tithy Sarker, the ICFN certified Newschecker resorted to peddling one-sided narrative to implicate that Tithy Sarker was guilty of blasphemy and therefore invited the wrath on herself. The website published an article in Bengali on October 27, two days after Tithy’s disappearance, to ascertain that she had indeed made objectionable remarks against Islam. The article titled, “Tithy Sarkar has not been framed falsely, she has been suspended from university for anti-religious comment on social media” went on to fact-check a Facebook post by Bangladesh Jatiya Hindu Jubo Mohajot (Khulna Jela).

The Facebook page had alleged that the girl was being falsely implicated in the blasphemy case. The post had published her side of the story. She informed that her father had been sick for several days and that she had been busy looking after him, amidst Durga Puja. Tithy clarified that she did not get time to login into Facebook. She had alleged that a miscreant, belonging to the anti-Hindu lobby, hacked her account and posted derogatory anti-Islamic comments on several Facebook groups from her account.

Screengrab of the Newschecker article

Under the garb of ascertaining the truth, Factchecker quoted only the first two lines of the Facebook and left out the testimony of Tithy Sarker. The website then cited reports from mainstream media to claim that she was not framed and that she herself made those remarks. It is important to point out that the Facebook post by the Hindu group and the testimony of the girl did not imply that objectionable comments were not made against Islam and Prophet Muhammad. The post had highlighted that Tithy’s Facebook account was hacked and that the comments were made by an anti-Hindu miscreant to frame her.

By ignoring Tithy’s assertion that her Facebook post was hacked, newschecker.in seemed to imply that the girl, who is missing now, had lied, as they claimed that she herself had posted the objectionable posts.

It may be noted that the Facebook post by Bangladesh Jatiya Hindu Jubo Mohajot was posted on 26th October, where they said that they contacted her earlier in the day, that would mean one day after she went missing. This discrepancy is there as the people who run the page actually didn’t contact her, they just copy-pasted the post which was originally posted on 24th October by someone else, one day before Tithy went missing.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/430648120884560/permalink/723459401603429/

It was posted by one Facebook user named Anukul Bromon in multiple Facebook groups, after which the same was copy-pasted by several others in the subsequent days, including the page fact-checked by Newschecker. The post said that Tithy had told the user that her Facebook account was hacked and she didn’t post any blasphemous comment on social media as alleged.

Newschecker paved the path for the harassment of the Hindu girl

Without evaluating the hacking angle and deliberately ignoring the girl’s testimony, Factchecker passed a verdict on the case based on its predispositions and media reports. The selective cherry-picking of facts thereby gave an opportunity to radical Islamists in Bangladesh to discredit her side of the story, as the so-called fact check had been done by an ICFN-credited website. Despite being well aware that the lives of Hindus are threatened in the fanatic society of Bangladesh, this Indian fact-checking website has given way for Tithy’s harassment. To add salt to the wound, Newschecker has not even bothered to update their article with the latest developments in the case and thereby endangering the life of the missing girl.

The price of unproven allegations of blasphemy is death

Radicalism is on the rise in the Muslim-majority nation of Bangladesh. Taking the dangerous route of its erstwhile Muslim brother nation Pakistan, Islamists are killing fellow Muslims on unproven charges of blasphemy. On Thursday, a man was lynched to death by a fanatic mob on the premises of Burimari Union Parishad at Patgram Upazila in Lalmonirhat district of Rangpur Division in Bangladesh over charges of blasphemy.

As per reports, the deceased was identified as a 50-year old Shahidunnabi Jewel. A resident of Rangpur and an ex-employee of Rangpur Cantonment Public School, Jewel was said to be suffering from a mental condition. The victim, accompanied by his friend Sultan Jubaer Abbas had gone to Burimari Jam-e Masjid to offer Asr Namaaz. They had claimed that Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen terrorists were hiding inside the mosque. The duo wanted to check the bookshelf inside the mosque. However, the locals alleged that they failed to uphold the ‘sanctity’ of the Quran and detained the two. Activist Taslima Nasreen said on Facebook that the crime was triggered after the victim accidentally stepped on the Quran.

Pakistan blocks Indian ex-Muslim atheist YouTuber for videos criticising Islam and its prophet, asking Muslims to leave the religion

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistan blocks Indian ex-Muslim atheist YouTuber for videos criticising Islam and its prophet, asking Muslims to leave the religion

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.

Watch: Pro-Hindu Netizens gate-crash Zoom meeting of top Pakistani Army officers, play ‘Sri Ram Janki’ and Indian National Anthem

OpIndia Staff
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Watch: Pro-Hindu Netizens gate-crash Zoom meeting of top Pakistani Army officers, play ‘Sri Ram Janki’ and Indian National Anthem

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.

Gujarat: Alam, obsessed with factory owner Ramu Goswami’s wife, stabs him to death in front of wife and three-year-old child

OpIndia Staff
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Gujarat: Alam, obsessed with factory owner Ramu Goswami’s wife, stabs him to death in front of wife and three-year-old child

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.

Congress leader holds protest after Friday Namaz, demands Telangana bans French products, blames PM Modi for ‘inciting Indian Muslims’

OpIndia Staff
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Congress leader holds protest after Friday Namaz, demands Telangana bans French products, blames PM Modi for ‘inciting Indian Muslims’

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.

‘Building Ram Mandir is an extension of Sardar Patel’s vision of restoring country’s cultural pride’: Key takeaways of PM Modi’s speech in Kevadia

OpIndia Staff
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‘Building Ram Mandir is an extension of Sardar Patel’s vision of restoring country’s cultural pride’: Key takeaways of PM Modi’s speech in Kevadia

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.

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,” 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.

“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.

“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 Second Republic: Why Narendra Modi drawing a comparison between Somnath Temple and Ram Mandir on Rashtriya Ekta Diwas is significant

K Bhattacharjee
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The Second Republic: Why Narendra Modi drawing a comparison between Somnath Temple and Ram Mandir on Rashtriya Ekta Diwas is significant

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.

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 politician calls for ban on immigration from Bangladesh and Pakistan post violent protests calling for beheading of those who insult Islam

OpIndia Staff
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French politician calls for ban on immigration from Bangladesh and Pakistan post violent protests calling for beheading of those who insult Islam

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.”

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.

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