Congress workers protesting against the recently passed Farm Bills burnt a tractor in Ambala, and then proceeded to carry the same burnt tractor in a truck to India Gate, Delhi and then burnt the same tractor there. ABP News has revealed that the tractor was first burnt in Ambala on the 20th of September. Eight days later, the half-burnt tractor was set on fire in Delhi.
The tractor was brought to Delhi by members of the Punjab Youth Congress and kept overnight at the residence of a Congress leader in Delhi. Five people have already been arrested related to the incident. Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh defended the conduct of the Congress workers. Responding to a question on the incident, the Punjab CM asked what problem existed if a person wanted to burn his own tractor?
That the tractor was not in a sound state was evident in the video shared by ANI portraying the burning incident in Delhi. The tractor was visibly damaged with parts falling off and its body severely burnt. It appears that the economic crisis unleashed by the Coronavirus is prompting the Congress party to take comical cost-cutting measures as well.
#WATCH: Punjab Youth Congress workers stage a protest against the farm laws near India Gate in Delhi. A tractor was also set ablaze. pic.twitter.com/iA5z6WLGXR
Prior to this, Congress had gone on to support the nationwide strike called by the Bharatiya Kisan Union and several other organisations on July 25. Most of the protests were seen in Punjab, where the ruling Congress government is joining the protests. Although the bills bring much-needed changes to the farm laws that are extremely beneficial for the farmers, which were proposed by the Congress party also when they were in power, now they are opposing the bills for political purposes.
You can read more about the recent agriculture Bills passed by the Parliament which got President’s assent here.
Sudarshan News channel today responded to the show-cause issued to the channel against the content of its programme ‘Bindas Bol’, which accuses Zakat Foundation of helping Muslims to infiltrate the civil services with the help of funding from terror-linked organisations abroad.
The Editor in Chief of the channel, Suresh Chavhanke, took to Twitter to announce that the channel had replied to the show-cause notice issued by the Ministry of Broadcasting for its show “UPSC Jihad”. Chavhanke also added that important sections of the 1000-page response would be shared on Twitter in the upcoming days.
“Today, we have given a reply to the show-cause notice issued by the Ministry of Broadcasting on #UPSC_Jihad. Sharing 5 pages of the covering letter of the response with you all. For the next few days, we will put up important portions of our 1000-page response to the show-cause notice. #BindasBol,” Suresh Chavhanke tweeted.
— Suresh Chavhanke “Sudarshan News” (@SureshChavhanke) September 28, 2020
“You had asked us 13 questions but we are answering 63 questions that were asked of us in the Supreme Court and social media forums. We thought it is our duty to address those questions as well. Please consider this earnest effort from us seriously and assist us in exposing the conspiracy that has been hatched against us,” the covering letter shared by Suresh Chavhanke and addressed to the Government of India read.
Citing the law of propaganda by Goebbels: “Repeat a lie often enough and it becomes the truth”, the covering letter mentions that a concerted effort has been undertaken to run down the channel’s UPSC jihad show, provoke people against it and deceive various state institutions.
Nefarious attempts by detractors to brand the channel anti-Muslim and cover their tracks
“As a result, a show based on investigative journalism got mired in legal disputes and the expose of the country’s biggest national security threat got stuck in between. By taking advantage of these circumstances, the accused related to the expose are trying to erase the evidence,” the letter read.
The letter further read, “We are the only channel against which coercive action is being taken because we are the only ones who have endeavoured to take on the enemy of the global humanity–’Radical Islamic Terrorism’.”
The channel also alleged that the detractors trying to pull its show “UPSC Jihad’ down are “Intellectual Sleeper Cells”, who are trying to distract the nation’s attention from the pressing issue of terror links behind the funding of Zakat Foundation.”
Chavhanke also lamented that the show was branded anti-Muslim just because he urged people to watch the show whose promo included views of rabid fundamentalists. “We discovered the nexus between Indian organisations and foreign-based terrorists. If those terrorists are Muslims, is it my fault?” Chavhanke asked.
Raising questions over the objections related to the unpalatable depiction of Muslims in his show, he claimed that, “Is it a crime to anchor a channel while sporting a tilak and wearing saffron clothes? I have immeasurable faith over my holy culture and our mighty ancestors. How did I become anti-Muslim for this?” Chavhanke questioned in the letter.
Centre issues show-cause notice to Sudarshan News
The Supreme Court on September 23 postponed the hearing in the ‘UPSC Jihad’ case after the Centre informed the apex court that it had sent a show-cause notice to the channel over possible violation of channel code. The centre had asked the failing which an ex-parte decision could have been taken by the government.
The programme themed UPSC Jihadalleged that Zakat Foundation, an NGO which provides training to largely Muslims students aspiring for civil services has received funds from various terror-linked organizations. The court had maintained the September 15 injunction on the broadcast of the show.
On Monday, the Supreme Court of Pakistan reportedly stayed the release of the prime accused in the 2002 murder of the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) correspondent Daniel Pearl. The journalist was kidnapped from Karachi and beheaded later while he was doing research on religious extremism.
The apex court of Pakistan had barred the release of Ahmed Omer Saeed Sheikh, in its order to the Sindh government. The Supreme Court is currently hearing appeals, challenging the Singh High Court’s decision to acquit the dreaded international terrorist. The appeals against the release of Sheikh came up before the three-Judge Bench of the Supreme Court, comprising of Justice Manzoor Ahmed Malik, Justice Mushir Alam, and Justice Qazi Amin Ahmed.
They had requested the Chief Justice that the appeals be heard throughout the day, keeping in mind that the detention of the terrorist, on the orders of the Sindh government, under Section 11 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) 1997 will expire on September 30. He was earlier detained under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law.
Underlying conspiracy in the killing of Daniel Pearl
During the hearing, Sindh government advocate Farooq Naek informed the Court that the accused was identified by taxi driver Nasir Abbas, receptionist Amir Afzal, besides 21 other witnesses during an identity parade in front of the Magistrate. Reportedly, the terrorist had met journalist Daniel Pearl at the Akbar International Hotel under the pseudonym of Bashir.
The State-counsellor Farooq Naek revealed an underlying conspiracy. He stated that the initial plan was to collect ransom from Daniel Peral and not to kill him. The Court pointed out that the body of the journalist was never found and no autopsy was ever conducted. The Supreme inquired as to how charges were framed against Sheikh. Naek informed, “Kidnapping charges were proven. The Sindh High Court should have ordered a retrial instead of overturning the death sentence.”
Sindh High Court dismissed murder and ransom charges, observes Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of Pakistan then pointed out as to how the case was made on the basis of the statement of taxi driver Nasir Abbas. Justice Qazi Amin remarked, “The taxi driver’s statement is the basis for the government’s case. His body was never found so how did the taxi driver identify Pearl.” Farooq Naek responded, “He identified him after looking at a picture.”
Justice Qazi Amin noted, “It looks like the high court wrapped up the matter after giving punishment only for the crime of kidnapping.” He added that the Sindh High Court acquitted the international terrorist on charges of murder and kidnapping for ransom. The Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered the Sindh government against releasing Sheikh until all appeals are heard in the case. The Court has been adjourned until Wednesday.
Sindh High Court overturns death sentence of Ahmed Omer Saeed Sheikh
Earlier in April this year, the Sindh High Court had overturned the death sentence and murder conviction of Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh. The lawyer for the terrorist had said that his sentence was reduced to seven years on the charge of kidnapping. Three other men who were handed over life sentences in the case have been acquitted by the Sindh High Court and released. The High Court overturned the verdict of an anti-terrorism court. Sheikh was one of the terrorists freed by India along with Masood Azhar in 1999 to secure the release of passengers of hijacked Indian Airlines flight IC-814.
Parents of Daniel Pearl appeal against Sindh High Court decision
Later in May, the parents of deceased Daniel Pearl had moved the Supreme Court against the overturning of death penalty for Sheikh. In a viral video, Pearl’s father Judea said that he was fighting not only for the justice of his son but also for his “dear friends in Pakistan” so that they can live in a society free of violence and terror and raise their children in peace and harmony. In his son’s memory, Judea stated that Daniel was committed to writing the truth and upholding principles of justice and humanity.
In a first, a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court has in Kochi on Monday awarded life imprisonment to terrorist Subahani Haja Moideen, a resident of Kerala and the kingpin of ISIS activities in South India.
The Special NIA court also imposed a fine of Rs 2,10,000 on Subahani Haja Moideen, who was arrested by the NIA in 2016 from Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelveli district in connection with the bust of an ISIS terror cell that was planning to carry out attacks at public places and eliminate certain prominent personalities, following a crackdown in Tamil Nadu with the help of central security agencies and other state police.
NIA Special Court Ernakulam Sentences ISIS Terrorist Subahani Haja Mohideen to Life Imprisonment pic.twitter.com/7LsWHnqVdf
Shockingly, the press release by NIA says that after returning to India, the Islamic terrorist had attempted to get hold of explosive chemicals from Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu based on instructions from his ISIS handlers. This was done to carry on attacks in India at the behest of ISIS.
The convicted Kerala terrorist had confessed of joining ISIS to wage a war against Indian and Iraqi Govts
The Kerala terrorist was convicted on September 26, under IPC Sections 120(B) (Criminal Conspiracy), Section 125 (waging war against Asiatic power in alliance with the Government of India) and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Section 20 (Punishment for being a member of terrorist gang or organisation). The Special Court also held him guilty under Section 38 (Offence relating to membership of a terrorist organisation) and 39 (Offence relating to support given to a terrorist organisation).
It was reported that Subahani Haja Moideen had Moideen confessed of having waged Jihad in Iraq for ISIS. Subahani joined that ISIS and waged a war against the Government of Iraq, an Asiatic country having ties with India. It is for this reason that NIA invoked Section 125 of the IPC against the terrorist, which is a very rarely invoked section that deals with waging war against an Asiatic country. He was one of the few Indians to get training for waging Jihad directly in Syria. He was trained with Russian arms to wage a battle.
The ISIS terrorist had further told the NIA that after he came back to India, he was tasked with the responsibility of building the ISIS terror cell and spreading the terror network of the organisation in the Indian subcontinent. He was planning to collect explosives and precursor chemicals from Sivakasi to conduct the attacks but was arrested by the NIA just in the nick of time.
The landscape of the mainstream media has changed drastically since Narendra Modi was elected as the Prime Minister of the country in 2014. Things that were silenced earlier cannot be silenced anymore. With the advent of digital media, cultural issues of great import to the disenfranchised masses find their way through in the mainstream narrative as well. In this particular context, one journalist stands out head and shoulders above everyone else. We are speaking, of course, about Arnab Goswami.
Arnab Goswami has been at the forefront of the campaign against the drug racket in Bollywood. While others have been more circumspect in their criticism, the Republic Editor-in-Chief has not pulled any punches. While others have tried to provide a cover for the degenerate entertainers, he has proceeded to label them ‘Pudiya Gang’, ‘Pudiya Waale’, ‘Aafimchi’ (opium consumers) and other such terms of endearment.
Thus far, during the entire discourse over the whole Bollywood drug racket, the cultural aspect of the impact of the film industry has been largely ignored. Truth be told, the adverse cultural impact of Bollywood has never been discussed in mainstream media. There is good reason for this. The cultural values of top journalists and the film industry was largely the same. But that appears to be changing. And the person spearheading it is the most influential Indian journalist of his generation: Arnab Goswami.
Some might argue that he is doing it for TRP and TRP alone. It very well could be. But Rajdeep Saredesai could also have done the same for ratings. Rahul Kanwal or Barkha Dutt or anyone else could have done it but no one has. In fact, Arnab Goswami is the only journalist who has highlighted the culture war that has thus far been ignored.
During the Saturday night debate, Goswami thundered, “Today, I want to tell the fake Angrez of Bollywood, leave India cinema. The influence of Bollywood on our culture and traditions has been increasing. Attempts are being made to ensure that its influence on the next generation of the country goes on increasing. The way they speak, the way they walk, the way they dress, such mannerisms are being imitated.”
He continued, “Where is our mentality going? The dirty water that flows in the drains of the West, some people here consider it to be Gangajal. They are applying the dirt of the West on their forehead as Tilak. This is against our Sanatan Sanskriti and Sabhyata (Culture). The essence of Bharatiya culture is Sanatan Dharma but they do not recognise the importance of it. Kyuki inke rom-rom me Italy waala Rome basa hai aur hamare rom-rom me Maryada Purshottam Shri Ram basey hain (In their heart of hearts, it is Italy’s Rome that resides but Maryada Purshottam Shri Ram resides in ours).”
“Our worldview is inspired from Ayodhya, Kashi, Mathura of Sanatan Sanskriti. But theirs is derived from Rome and Paris. That is why they consider insults to Sanatan Dharma as an achievement. Those who come to India and spread vulgarity, consume drugs, they cannot summon the courage to do the same abroad,” he added.
All of this is quite unprecedented. Only a few years ago, it would have been unimaginable for anyone to assume that a mainstream media channel would be airing such views during prime time. And it was not just anybody voicing such opinions. It was the most popular journalist at the moment speaking his mind on the matter. And Arnab Goswami did not stop there.
He stated, “They consider drugs to be a cultural marker of high society. Damn the ways of your high society. Jisko nahi apne desh aur parampara par abhimaan hai, woh jeeteji mritak samaan hai (Those who do not take pride in their country and traditions, they are as good as dead). We have to strongly embrace Sanatan Dharma and shun Western culture.”
The debate featured authentic individuals who voiced conservative opinions. It is something that had never happened. Mukesh ‘Shaktimaan’ Sharma spoke out against advertisements that promote the destruction of the institution of family. Two Sadhus were also invited to share their opinions and Arnab Goswami treated them with utmost deference.
Arnab Goswami went to the extent of scolding a panellist for her lack of manners when she interrupted one of the Sadhus saying that it is against Indian culture. The Sadhus spoke on the war against our culture by vested interests and the manner in which criminals are being glorified in movies. It was also suggested that Sadhus are given a place in the censor board. And all the while, the Editor-in-Chief nodded his assent.
The Saturday night debate did reflect a breaking of a dam, a definitive shift in the Overton Window of the country. But Arnab Goswami has, for some time, paying odes to Sanatan Dharma on his show. Ahead of a debate not too long ago, he thanked “Adi Shakti Maa Kamakhya, Devi Jagdamba, Ishtdev Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh” for their blessings as a consequence of which Republic Bharat has been the top Hindi channel for a couple of months.
This is a significant development as it highlights the fact that now the difference between Arnab Goswami and others in the mainstream media is not just political but also cultural. And as a wise man once said, politics is downstream from culture. It could very well be that there has not been any personal transformation that Goswami has gone through, all of it is purely showmanship.
it could very well be that Arnab Goswami recognised that there is a wide market for the endorsement of Sanatan culture and he decided to capitalise on it. But that is irrelevant to the current context. The point of the matter is, the most popular Indian journalist is openly deriding western culture and exalting the Indian way. This has never previously happened in India mainstream media. It could open numerous avenues for others to follow suit which could usher in a new normative in public discourse. And that is all that matters.
Recently, Uttar Pradesh’s Sonbhadra witnessed a case which shocked the nation due to the sheer nature of its brutality. A 23-year-old Hindu woman has been brutally murdered by two Muslim youth after she refused to convert to Islam after marriage.
The police had nabbed the main accused Ejaz Ahmed and his accomplice Shoaib Akhtar, after the beheaded body of the Hindu girl Priya was recovered from the forest area near Preet Nagar under the Chopan police station area on September 21 (Monday).
The youth pressurised the Sonbhadra girl to acquire father’s property
OpIndia decided to delve into the case further and reached out to Janardhan Prasad, the Sonbhadra district president of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, who has been following the case closely.
Reiterating that accused Shoaib Akhtar and Eijaz Ahmed are a part of an organised syndicate working to lure Hindu girls into marriages and forced conversions in various parts of Uttar Pradesh, Janardhan Prasad said that prime accused Ejaz Ahmed was also eying at the girl’s fathers property. He informed us that after marriage, which was not solemnised as per law, instead was a just a notary marriage, the youth had started creating pressure on Priya to get her father to transfer the property in her name.
The girl succumbing to the pressure requested her impoverished father, who does menial jobs at an eatery in the locality for a living, to transfer his house- his only asset in her name, to which the father had firmly refused. Seeing his effort failing, Ejaz started pressuring her to convert to Islam if she wanted to be excepted in his family, Janardhan Prasad stated.
Priya however, had refused to convert to Islam. Miffed by his failing attempts, Ejaz hatched the conspiracy of killing Priya.
The VHP activist said that this murder did not happen in the heat of the moment but was well thought of, calculated and a cold-blooded one. Ejaz picked up Priya, who was living at a lodge in the Obra area in a hired Alto car. He was accompanied by his friend Shoaib Akhtar. The two took Priya to a secluded forest area where the gagged her and raped her. They then hit her hard on her head with a rod. After Priya lost consciousness, the accused neatly carved out Priya’s head from shoulder to shoulder and threw it away from the rest of the body which they tried and hid in the area of crime.
The next morning, when the women of the village went to the forest, they came upon a dog roaming around with a human hand in his mouth. They informed villagers about the same, who in turn informed the police.
Muslim youth’s father works for gangster turned politician Mukhtar Ansari
Speaking about the youth’s family, Janardhan Prasad confirmed that Ejaz’a father, on the face of it, runs a puncture repairing shop, but he is actually involved in the unlawful trade in live animals and that his business is spread till Kolkata in West Bengal. He furthered that he also works for gangster turned politician Mukhtar Ansari.
The VHP activist opined that arresting the youth was not enough. His family are also equally to be blamed. Prasad said they would not rest until the youth’s family which had coerced the Hindu girl into adopting Islam are also not punished.
Love Jihad menace spreading across entire state
The VHP leader spoke on how such incidents are becoming extremely common in Uttar Pradesh especially the western fringe of the state. He said that many cases go unnoticed because it transpires in the interiors of the state. But this is a menace which has engulfed almost all parts of Uttar Pradesh. Evidently, a systematized syndicate has been operating to execute this ‘organised crime’ with financial and logistical support from various Islamic organisations, he said.
It may be recalled that the police officials had said that the father of the deceased, Laxminarayan, identified the deceased as Priya Soni from her shoes and clothes. Sonbhadra SP Ashish Srivastava had informed that the two accused were nabbed from Baggha Nala Pul early September 24 (Thursday) morning, the SP said.
The police officials said that they have recovered the mobile phone of the deceased along with a knife, iron rod and car. The National Security Act will also be invoked against them, the SP added.
In July 2020, OpIndia had reported the disclosure statement made by Tahir Hussain where he, in details, explained how he had planned the Delhi anti-Hindu Riots and how he had made attempts to evade the law by making false PCR calls, to pretend as if he was a victim of the riots and not the mastermind. Now, the Delhi police, in the chargesheet pertaining to FIR number 59, has filed another disclosure statement made by Tahir Hussain that gives a glimpse into just how well organised the Delhi riots were and how they were actually a culmination of the violence that had been unleashed since mid-December.
In the supplementary disclosure statement that has been submitted to the court by the Delhi Police in their ‘Final Report’ pertaining to FIR number 59, Tahir Hussain makes additional disclosures regarding his role in the Delhi violence that were hitherto unknown. In the disclosure statement, Tahir Hussain has said that he was the one who had organised the crowd that had set a bus on fire in Bhajanpura on the 16th of December, got a mob to pelt stones at Hindus on the 17th of December and revealed his role since the 15th December Jamia Milia Islamia protests and the subsequent police action.
The supplementary disclosure statement by Tahir Hussain starts with him narrating how he, after the 15th December Jamia protests and the subsequent police action against the rioters, had grown increasingly angry and decided to talk to the Muslims of his area about how the Citizenship Amendment Act is a law against the Muslim community and how because of it, Muslims would lose their citizenship and will have to flee India eventually.
On the 16th December, he started speaking to the Muslims of his area and asked them to assemble near Farukhia Masjid, Brijpuri Pulia at 12 o’clock that day. Tahir Hussain himself reached Farukhia Masjid at about 12:30 PM and he says that by 1 PM, at least a 1,000 Muslims had assembled to hear him talk about how CAA was anti-Muslim.
In his Supplementary Disclosure statement, he says that suddenly, while he was talking to the crowd on the 16th of December, the police arrived. Thereafter, many people went inside to Masjid to hide, making the excuse of reading Namaz and the others receded into several lanes and by-lanes.
Tahir Hussain says in his disclosure statement that after the police went away, Muslims against assembled in Lane 10 of Jama Masjid and the meeting about how CAA is ‘anti-Muslim’ started again. 50-60 people were present for these meetings, and then at 8 PM, Tahir Hussain says that they decided to meet at Al Hind Nursing Home to discuss the future course of action with one Dr. MM Anwar.
He then makes a shocking revelation. He says, to “mark his presence”, he got his men to pelt stones at a bus in Bhajanpura.
Excerpt from the disclosure statement by Tahir Hussain
The statement where he says he wanted to “mark his presence” is rather interesting and can point towards several things. He could mean that he wanted to use this opportunity as a show of strength so the masterminds of the violence would take him seriously as someone who can be depended upon. One must remember that we had previously reported how the earlier Chargesheet revealed a meeting between Tahir Hussain, Khalid Saifi and Umar Khalid at Shaheen Bagh on 18th January where Umar Khalid had promised support in the riots to Tahir Hussain. It is entirely possible that by creating a violence situation on the 16th of December, Tahir Hussain wanted to “mark his presence” and show his strength for the subsequent plans of violence. It could also mean that he literally wanted to “mark his presence” is there was already a pre-conceived plan that he was in on.
The implication of this statement by Tahir Hussain is, however, not entirely clear by his statement.
Further in the disclosure statement, Tahir Hussain says that on the 17th of December, along with Dr Anwar, he had planned to take out a rally against the Citizenship Amendment Act. During the rally, in front of the Farukhiya Masjid, Tahir Hussain had spoken to 70-80 Muslims saying that under PM Modi and Amit Shah, if CAA is passed, then all Muslims would have to leave India and run away. He also told them that if they don’t want to run away from India, they should be ready to “bring them down to their knees”.
Tahir Hussain discloses that at that time, the police again showed up and the plan for the rally was cancelled with the crowd dispersing in different directions. However, he says that due to the rally being cancelled, he was enraged. At around 8 PM on the 17th of December, he assembled 200-250 people near the Tirpal Factory and taking advantage of the electricity being gone, got the mob to start pelting stones against the Hindus. He admits that for over 30 minutes, they kept attacking Hindus and at that time, the police had also fired tear-gas at the Muslims attacking Hindus. When a larger police force reached the spot, the crowd dispersed and Tahir Hussain ran away.
Interestingly, the chargesheet further says after the disclosure statement of Tahir Hussain that both incidents confessed to by Tahir Hussain were confirmed from the local police station.
The FIRs pertaining to these two incidents on the 16th of December 2019 and the 17th of December 2019 have been filed at the time in the Dayalpur police station.
16th December: FIR No. 510/19 dated 16th December.
17th December: FIR No. 512/90 dated 17th December.
The implications of the Supplementary Disclosure statement made by Tahir Hussain regarding Delhi violence
OpIndia, since the beginning, has maintained that the violence that erupted on the 24th and the 25th of February cannot be seen in isolation. The Delhi anti-Hindu riots were a culmination of the violence that had been unleashed, in a planned, calculated manner by elements like Umar Khalid, Tahir Hussain etc, since mid-December. Tahir Hussain’s statement now only confirms these worst suspicions. The violence that erupted in December against the State and Hindus was not spontaneous but was a calculated move to unleash violence by the very same elements that unleashed violence on the 24th and 25th of February.
The narrative that has been woven by the ‘Liberal’ intelligentsia is that the Delhi Riots were a planned “pogrom” against the Muslim community. However, every detail that we know so far points to a planned conspiracy to target Hindus in an attempt to “bring this government down to its knees”.
To this effect, it is important also to recall what was alleged against Tahir Hussain in the previous chargesheet that was filed by the Delhi Police.
Tahir Hussain had planned the riots with Umar Khalid and Khalid Saifi back on 8th January during a meeting at Shaheen Bagh
There were several transactions from shell companies that were suspicious. The chargesheet details several such transactions from Tahir Hussain’s account that indicates that he had started receiving money to organise the riots. Some of the money was even routed through shell companies
Umar Khalid had assured Tahir Hussain that financially, Islamist outfit PFI (Popular Front of India) was ready to help in organizing the riots.
Police say that Hussain, who had deposited his licensed pistol with 100 rounds in the Khajuri Khas police station in January, got it released only on 22 February – that is, just before the riots broke out. The chargesheet says that during the investigation, Hussain failed to give a satisfactory reply to the police regarding the release of his weapon. The chargesheet says, “Only 64 live cartridges and 22 empty cartridges were recovered at his instance. During interrogation, he could not give an account of the remaining 14 live cartridges and 22 empty/fired cartridges, when and where the same were fired/used.”
During the intervening night of 24 and 25 February, Hussain had shifted his family to his parental house in Mustafabad citing safety, but continued to stay at his building “so that he could keep an eye on the whole situation and stand with the Muslims against the Hindus on the next day as per plan and criminal conspiracy”.
Tahir Hussain made several PCR calls as a decoy, to ensure that his involvement in the riots is not revealed
Tahir Hussain had ensured that the CCTV cameras were turned off so the evidence is not recorded
The disclosure statement made by Tahir Hussain earlier had a detailed account of how he had unleashed terror against Hindus during the Delhi anti-Hindu riots. The details of that can be read here.
December: The Beginning
The violence began on the 15th of December when Muslim mobs rampaged through the national capital. Amanatullah Khan, a prominent MLA of the Aam Aadmi Party, and Delhi’s Sunni Waqf Board chief was spotted leading the riots in Jamia Nagar. Chants of ‘Hinduon se Azadi’ were raised in the same area that very day. Buses were also set on fire during those violent protests. On the same night, the Delhi Police cracked down on the Jamia Milia Islamia University and entered the campus to flush out the miscreants.
Two days later, massive riots broke out in Seelampur. Delhi turned into a war zone. A school bus was attacked and set on fire as well. The mob taunted the policemen to run after them following which stones were pelted. Peace returned at the national capital following the escalation on the 17th of December but it was an uneasy peace. Police presence was still high given the security concerns. On the 27th of December, security was again heightened at Seelampur and drones were deployed for surveillance. Amidst all of this, the road continued to be blocked by the protesters at Shaheen Bagh.
Essentially, the supplementary disclosure statement by Tahir Hussain only reveals how the plans to unleash violence had taken shape right from the 15th of December and the aim behind the violence was two-pronged – to attack Hindus and to bring the central government to its knees.
On Friday, a plea was filed in the court of Civil Judge Senior Division Chhaya Sharma in Mathura district, by Supreme Court advocates Harishankar Jain and Vishnu Shankar Jain on behalf of Shri Krishna Virajman. In the petition, a claim has been filed on the land on which The Shahi Idgah Mosque stands next to Krishna Temple at Katra Keshav Dev, Mathura.
The hearing has been postponed till 30th September on which the court will decide the maintainability of the petition. It was supposed to take place on 28th September but the petitioners could not appear in the court.
Krishna Janmabhoomi-Idgah Row: Court admits Hindu Groups’ plea, matter to be heard on Sept 30. On Sept 30, Court to take a call on maintainability of plea.
The petitioners have asserted in the petition that Mughul invader Aurangazeb had demolished the Krishna temple in Mathura during his rule. The temple that stood at the birthplace of Lord Shree Krishna at Katra Keshav Dev was demolished in 1669-70. The existing Eidgah was built on the plinth of the Krishna Janmabhoomi temple. The petitioners have asked to court to transfer the ownership of 13.37 acres of land to Shri Krishna Virajman.
The agreement between Sri Krishna Janmasthana Seva Sansthan and Shahi Idgah Management Committee
Five decades ago, Sri Krishna Janmasthana Seva Sansthan and Shahi Idgah Management Committee agreed that the mosque would remain at the disputed land. The devotees have dubbed the agreement illegal and demanded the mosque should be removed. According to the petitioners, the land belongs to Shri Krishna Virajman.
Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Nirman Nyas
On the lines of Ram Mandir Trust, a group of around 80 saints from 14 states formed ‘Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Nirman Nyas’ for the sole aim of reclaiming land in Kashi and Mathura along with other temples. The group wants to connect to other seers to seek their support in the movement.
Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991
When PV Narasimha Rao was the Prime Minister of India, the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, was passed. The controversial law prohibits converting places of worship – like churches, mosques, and temples – into places of worship of a different religion.
To date, only the class action suit of Shri Ram Janbhoomi was allowed an exception. In November 2019, the Supreme Court of India passed the judgment in favor of Ram Lalla Virajman and gave the disputed land to Hindu organizations to build a Bhavya Ram Mandir. The judgment in the Ram Mandir case paved the foundation for reclaiming lands where temples once stood in India.
Actress Kangana Ranaut has been at loggerheads with the Shiv-Sena ruled Maharashtra government. Following a war of words between the actress and Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut, the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) proceeded to demolish the office of Ranaut. The actress alleged the act was out of vengeance and then moved the Bombay High Court, seeking a stay on the demolition and compensation of ₹2 crores for damages.
During the hearing of the case, the Bombay High Court asked advocate Dr Birendra Saraf, to play the audio recording of Sanjay Raut, wherein he made misogynistic remarks against his client Kangana Ranaut. The Court’s direction came at the backdrop of advocate Saraf’s argument that the Maharashtra government conducted the demolition in response to the remarks of Kangana Ranaut.
Sanjay Raut had earlier referred to the actress as a ‘Haramkhor’ but later justified it by suggesting that it implied being ‘naughty’ in Mumbai’s lingo. Saraf pointed out the misogyny in the statement and how Sanjaya Raut wanted to teach the actress, a lesson. He also informed the Court how the Shiv Sena leader had rejoiced about the demolition in an editorial in Saamna.
Lawyer of Sanjay Raut defends his misogynist statement
Sanjay Raut’s lawyer, Pradeep J Torat, countered the allegations by claiming that Raut did not name Kangana in his statement. The Bombay High Court then asked Torat whether he was ready to record his statement that his client Sanjaya Raut did not make those comments targetting Kangana Ranaut. Justice Kathawalla asked, “Are you saying your client has not called her a haraamkhor ladki? Can we record the statement that you(Raut) have not called the petitioner ‘haraamkhor’? In response, Torat stated that he will file an affidavit, the following day.
Kangana Ranaut’s lawyer accuses BMC of not following protocols
During the hearing in the Bombay High Court, Ranaut’s lawyer, Dr Birendra Saraf exhibited the photographs of the property that was demolished by the BMC. He had also submitted photographs of the property, prior to the demolition. Saraf informed the Court that the demolition order violated the orders of both the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court of India, wherein it urged authorities from undertaking demolition activities in light of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Advocate Saraf stated that the actions of BMC were not in ‘consonance’ with Section 354A of the BMC Act (which allows for the civic body to demolish properties where construction work is continued in the absence of requisite permission). He cited cases where BMC had permitted property owners to retain the ‘entirety of floors’, following regularisation.
He argued that no construction was being undertaken at Kangana Ranaut’s property and that the BMC notice did not mention of any ongoing construction at the site. He added that even if new construction was being done at the property, yet, the civic body had to first issue a notice. Saraf highlighted that the aggrieved person was to be given an opportunity to produce the required permit and that demolition couldn’t be undertaken straightaway. He emphasised that the BMC did not act as per rules before undertaking the demolition work and invoked a provision that was ‘ex-facie not applicable’ in the case.
Face-off between Kangana Ranaut and Maharashtra govt
The faceoff between the Maha Vikas Aghadi government and Kangana was triggered after the latter had compared Mumbai to Pakistan Occupied Kashmir in the wake of Azaadi graffiti seen on the streets of the city, and the subsequent inaction of the Mumbai Police.
Since then, the ‘Queen’ actress has been subjected to threats of violence, and even derogatory words by Shiv Sena leaders. Sanjay Raut had called her ‘haramkhor ladki’ while Pratap Sarnaik had threatened to ‘break her mouth’. Even Mumbai Police commissioner Param Bir Singh had joined the Shiv Sena-led government in bullying Kangana Ranaut and he was caught liking tweets wherein she was shamed.
In addition to the abusive tirade against Kangana, the Maharashtra government had also decided to launch a probe into the alleged consumption of drugs by actor Kangana Ranaut. Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh had said that the Maha Vikas Aghadi government will investigate Kangana for allegedly taking drugs
A controversy has erupted in the Tennessee state of the United States of America after a high-schopl athlete was disqualified from a volleyball match for wearing a hijab.
The incident happened on September 15 when Najah Aqeel, a freshman at Valor Collegiate Prep in Nashville, was training before the match when her coach told her that she has been barred from playing the match by the referee because of her headscarf.
Muslim girl was barred because she had not sought authorisation for wearing a hijab during the match
Citing a casebook rule mandating athletes who wear a hijab to have an authorization from the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA), the referee asserted that Najah was not granted the authorisation to wear a headscarf in the match. Najah, on the other hand, admitted that she had not sought an authorisation for wearing a hijab but claimed that it wasn’t an issue during her previous matches.
When given the choice of removing the hijab to play the match, Najah decided to sit out. Wearing hijab is an orthodox Muslim practice and conservative Muslim women strictly adhere to it only remove it either in front of their family members or in presence of other women.
Stating that she had the right to wear whatever she deemed appropriate, Najah said that she was appalled by the association singling out Muslim women for wearing a hijab of their own volition and which is also a custom ordained by their religion.
“I was indignant, sad and also shocked just because I had never heard of the rule before that. “The rule has no business being in the casebook. It singles out hijabis. I don’t see why I need the approval to wear my hijab when it is a part of my religion,” Najah said in an interview with CNN.
Disqualification of the Muslim girl prompts statewide demand for changes in the rules governing sports competitions
The disqualification of the girl from a volleyball match has prompted statewide outcry, with many organisations calling for the changes in the casebook rules that prevents hijab wearing girls from participating in volleyball matches.
Karissa Niehoff, executive director for The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFSH), an organisation which formulates competition rules for most US high school sports, said that the rules are not set in stone that exceptions cannot be made to accommodate special cases.
She also added that NFSH is going to introduce new language to its casebook in connection to religious headwear so that it will no longer be an issue in the future, unless it poses a danger to the player or other athletes.
The American Muslim Advisory Council has asked for the invalidation of the rule that caused a Muslim volleyball player for a Nashville school to miss the match because she was wearing a hijab.
