United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres during an address at a Town Hall with young women from ‘civil society organisations’ on the 31st of August has claimed that the Wuhan Coronavirus pandemic has exposed the damaging effects of patriarchy. In the same speech, he also condemned nationalism and populism.
While citizens worldwide have come to realise the utter futility of global institutions in combating the pandemic, with the WHO choosing to serve the interests of the Chinese regime instead, the UNSG insisted that the real problem was patriarchy. He said, “The pandemic is only demonstrating what we all know: that millennia of patriarchy have resulted in a male-dominated world with a male-dominated culture which damages everyone – women, men, girls and boys.”
Antonio Guterres said, “Protecting the rights of women and girls during this time is a top priority for the United Nations. We issued a policy brief in early April, calling on governments to take concrete action to put women and girls – their inclusion, representation, rights, social and economic outcomes and protection – at the centre of all efforts to tackle and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“While statistics indicate that women and girls are at lower risk from the COVID-19 virus itself, they are suffering because of the redirection of health funding and services. It is simply counter-productive, for example, to deprioritize maternal and reproductive health services,” he added. While his concerns regarding current circumstances are legitimate, he appears to see it exclusively from the perspective of gender when, in fact, everyone is suffering the consequences of the chaos unleashed by the virus.
Antonio Guterres also appears intent on using the crisis to implement broad based revolutionary policies to completely restructure human society, with or without the consent of the governed. Despite their monumental failure in addressing the threat posed to the world by the Chinese regime, they appear convinced that the world ought to follow their lead.
The UNSG said, “It is clear that we cannot go back to the failed policies that have resulted in the fragility we see around us – in healthcare systems, in social protection, in access to justice. This is the time to rebuild more equal, inclusive, and resilient societies. Our roadmap is the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”
There is little doubt that the world will have to accommodate changes in order to make it more resilient in the event of another pandemic, the jargon employed by the the UNSG to convey his message appears to be riddled with leftist dogma. Furthermore, the UN has proven to be an extremely toothless organisation in recent times. Therefore, it is unclear whether it will be able to convince China to make the required changes, such as shutting down its wet markets.
The UNSG also found the time to condemn nationalism and populism. He said, “At a time of growing nationalism and populism, the forces ranged against global solidarity can seem overwhelming.” The UN appears unaffected by the fact that populism has seen a rise in the West because the elites in those countries have failed to improve the lives of the masses.
At a time when the credibility of global institutions such as the UN and WHO is at stake, it appears that the UNSG is doing itself no favours by making bizarre comments. And the recent comments made by Antonio Guterres linking the Wuhan Coronavirus pandemic with Patriarchy has earned him great criticism from people on social media.
Rhea Chakraborty’s arrest by the Narcotics Control Bureau has ruffled many feathers in the Indian film industry. One such so-called Bollywood ‘celebrity’ Farah Khan, mostly recognised for being related to actor Hrithik Roshan, has taken to Twitter to empathise with the actress.
Soon after Rhea was arrested for allegedly procuring and consuming drugs, Khan asked Rhea to ‘stay strong in the tough times’. “As long as your conscience is clean u will come out stronger”. Saying so, Khan asked Rhea to “have faith in God & pray every day”, as she opined that “if God put you here just know he will pull u out”.
Despite not knowing her personally, Farah Khan had conveyed her wishes to Rhea Chakraborty and her family.
Farah’s sentiments over Rhea’s arrest were so intense that she also cursed against Times Now journalist Navika Kumar, who had shared the news of Rhea’s arrest saying that she was first who had ‘smelt’ the story. Farah Khan lambasted at the senior journalist by saying: “One day you will be at the receiving end and then there will be people who will be as unkind as you have been to others. Mark my words.”
One wonders if she had never even met Rhea, why was she the first one to jump in support of Rhea Chakraborty. Probably she could feel Rhea’s pain. For the uninitiated, Farah Khan’s husband DJ Aqeel was in 2007 held in Dubai for allegedly possessing drugs. The Indian DJ was, however, let off after some days when authorities failed to find any trace of the drug in tests conducted on him. He was held for possessing Ecstasy.
It’s not surprising that many haven’t heard of Farah Khan, but everyone knows Hrithik Roshan. This little-heard ‘celebrity’ is the sister of Susanne Khan, Hritik Roshan’s ex-wife and the daughter of Sanjay Khan who was known for the role of Tipu Sultan in a popular television series in the early 1990s.
She was one of those Islamists who had gone after actor Tushar Kapoor after he had urged everyone to be little cautious about spreading fake news and false narrative about the anti-Hindu Delhi riots. When the actor had expressed shock over fake one-sided news reportage about India in the international publications, it was her who had insinuated that people are dying due to ‘incitement’ by political parties. She then accused BJP MP Anurag Thakur of instigating riots.
Farah Khan had earlier supported fake propaganda by the Pakistani army, her ‘explanation’ was even more idiotic
Farah Khan, who has vociferously come out in support of Rhea Chakraborty, has once extended her support for Pakistan too. In her desperate attempt to appear secular and insightful, she had retweeted a fake propaganda tweet by the former Pakistani Army spokesperson that had called Kashmir as ‘India Occupied J and K’. When called out for her utter stupidity, she had replied with even more stupidity, claiming that she mistook Asif Ghafoor’s propaganda tweet as something worthy of support because his handle said ‘peace for change’.
The Enforcement Directorate has taken into custody Deepak Kochhar, husband of former MD and CEO of ICICI Bank Chanda Kochhar, till September 19. Deepak Kochhar was produced before the special PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) court earlier in the day. Kochhar was arrested late on Monday.
ICICI Bank-Videocon case: Deepak Kochar remanded to Enforcement Directorate custody till 19th September, by Special PMLA Court#Mumbaihttps://t.co/GPVfLUu5mZ
The ED had sought a 14-day custody of Kochhar which was opposed by his lawyer. “The arrest is illegal as my client has been cooperating in the investigation. The offence is punishable for imprisonment up to 7 years only. So, he cannot be arrested like this when he joined investigation on summons”, his lawyer Vijay Aggarwal said.
A preliminary enquiry was initiated by the CBI against Deepak Kochhar in 2017 after which an FIR was filed by the CBI last year in relation to the ICICI Bank-Videocon case. Based on the case registered by the CBI, the ED had initiated an investigation in the matter. The CBI had initiated an inquiry against the Kochhars after allegations were made that ICICI Bank had sanctioned credit facility worth over Rs 3 thousand crores to various entities against the rules.
Background of the case against Deepak Kochhar
An investigative report by Indian Express had revealed that in December 2008, a joint venture, NuPower Renewables Pvt Ltd, was set up by Deepak Kochhar and Venugopal Dhoot of Videocon Ltd. 50% of the shares were held by Dhoot through his family members and the rest of the 50% were held by Kochhar and his family members. In 2010, Dhoot resigned as director of NuPower and transferred his shares to Kochhar. Thereafter, Dhoot issued the company an amount of 64 crores as loan through one of his fully-owned entities. And then he transferred the ownership of the joint venture to a trust headed by Kochhar at Rs 9 lakhs only. This transfer of ownership took place 6 months after a loan of Rs 3,250 crore was issued to the Videocon Group by the ICICI Bank. It was declared NPA in 2017 after almost 86% of the loan remained unpaid.
Adhyayan Suman has posted a series of tweets and asked everyone not to drag his name in the ongoing turmoil within Bollywood. He has been actively raising his voice in support of Sushant Singh Rajput along with several other celebrities, media personalities, and netizens, including Kangana Ranaut and Arnab Goswami. Maharashtra Home Minister, Anil Deshmukh said that the Maha Vikas Aghadi government would investigate Kangana for allegedly taking drugs based on DNA’s interview with Suman in 2016.
Suman said that his name has sprung up because of an interview that he gave in 2016. He asked everyone to stop speculating and dragging him in the toxicity. “I have not filed any case against anybody! I don’t intend to visit that dark phase of my life! Please, please, I have moved on! Let me be!”
My name has sprung up relating to an interview which I had given in 2016 !!!! People stop speculating and dragging me in this toxicity ! I have not filed any case against anybody ! I don’t intend to visit that dark phase of my life ! Please please I have moved on ! Let me be !
Adhyayan Suman further said that media channels are frantically calling him. “I said what I had to in 2016 I have nothing else to say. I was ridiculed back in 2016 for speaking out by these media channels, and now I am sorry I have nothing to say!” he added.
Media channels frantically call me to talk to me please don’t call me if it is in regards to this matter I said what I had to in 2016 I have nothing else to say.. I have had a huge struggle in regards to my work a dan finally I have seen a ray of hope. If u can’t support me
Please do not drag my name in this!! I was ridiculed back in 2016 for speaking out by these media channels and now Iam sorry I have nothing to say ! Regards
In his interview with DNA in 2016, while talking about the spat between Hrithik Roshan and Kangana Ranaut, Adhyayan Suman, ex-boyfriend of Ranaut, made some shocking allegations. He said that Kangana invited him to do drugs. He also alleged that Ranaut was involved in black magic and forced him to sit with her in some puja. The interview has now started making rounds again after Maharashtra Minister Anil Deshmukh mentioned it as the base for probe against Ranaut.
Actor Rhea Chakraborty and her brother Showik Chakraborty have reportedly revealed names of about 25 top Bollywood celebrities who may have links with the drug cartel. The development came amidst the ongoing interrogation of Rhea Chakraborty for the third day in a row by the Narcotics Control Bureau in connection with the drug angle in the actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death. The actress has been arrested in connection with drugs-related allegations in the Sushant Singh Rajput case today afternoon.
According to the sources quoted by the Republic TV, NCB has made a list based on the names revealed by Rhea and Showik Chakraborty suspected of being related to the drug cartel. Sources claim that the names of the list mentioned by Rhea and her brother involve Bollywood celebrities belonging to A, B and C category. The NCB is soon going to issue summons to the celebrities named in the list.
The digital evidence recovered from the house of Rhea Chakraborty and Showik and her phone records establish their connection with top 20-25 Bollywood celebrities and hint at their alleged link with the drug cartel. As per reports, Rhea Chakraborty has confessed of partaking in marijuana dealings. Earlier in an interview with India Today, Rhea had denied saying that she had never bought or consumed any banned substance.
9 arrests, including Rhea Chakraborty, made so far in the case
Investigations in the drug angle of the late actor’s death probe have so far resulted in the arrest of 9 individuals, namely, Rhea Chakraborty, Abbas Lakhani, Karan Arora, Abdel Basit Parihar, Samuel Miranda, Showik Chakraborty, Dipesh Sawant, Kaizan Ebrahim and Zaid Vilatra. They have been booked under sections 20, 27 and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS).
Besides, two parallel investigations—by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate—are also being conducted in connection with Sushant Singh Rajput’s death. Earlier yesterday, Rhea had filed a case against Sushant Singh Rajput’s sister Priyanka Singh with Mumbai Police, for allegedly prescribing drugs to the actor without any consultations.
After over two days of grilling, when Rhea Chakraborty has been finally arrested today by the NCB for an alleged role in ‘narcotics trafficking’. Soon after her arrest, Rhea’s old tweet went viral on social media where netizens wondered if she had predicted her own future.
Today, when the struggling actress is straddling the fence on this entire drug racket, it’s uncanny how her decade-old eerie prophecy has come to pass. In 2019, Rhea Chakraborty had taken to the microblogging site to drop a note on how an ‘engrossing’ story of an Indian girl who was sentenced to four and a half years of jail for narcotics trafficking had intrigued her.
In a major development, Rhea Chakraborty has been arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau for her alleged links to the purported drug cartel, which is one of the many angles surrounding actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death case. Rhea Chakraborty admitted that she was consuming not just marijuana, but also hard drugs, as per media reports. The agency would now dig deeper into Rhea’s role in not just consumption but procurement, facilitation, transportation and also the dealing of the narcotic drugs.
Rhea Chakraborty’s arrest coming almost 85 days after the shocking death of actor Sushant Singh, has brightened up the mood of all Sushant Singh Rajput’s fans, who are considering her arrest as a positive step in the probe into the actor’s sudden and mysterious death. The elated fans of the late actor, shared various memes and one-liners to celebrate Rhea’s arrest.
To express his euphoria, a twitter user shared pictures of an assortment of sweets he’s ordered to celebrate the arrest of Rhea Indrajit Chakraborty, while one paid his condolence to ‘journalist’ Rajdeep Sardesai’s relentless efforts to whitewash Rhea’s image.
Just ordered all this Mithai to celebrate thd arrest of Rhea Indrajit Chakraborty….!!
And since Arnab Goswami has been vociferously speaking about Rhea Chakraborty’s alleged role in Sushant Singh Rajput’s death case, he too found some space in the celebrations.
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has arrested late actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s rumoured girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty today under various sections of NDPS. Media reports suggest that the agency has sufficient evidence against Rhea Chakraborty.
Reportedly the NCB had filed a separate case in which Rhea was also an accused, after her brother Showik during interrogation on Friday named her as the one for whom he bought drugs.
Rhea’ brother, Showik Chakrabarty has already been placed under arrest. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Saturday was granted 4-day custody of Showik Chakraborty and Samuel Miranda by the Mumbai court. The duo was arrested in connection with the drug probe related to Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death. The two will be in NCB remand till September 9, 2020.
Hours after the Indian army categorically refuted allegations made by China about breaching the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and firing ‘warning shots’, the Chinese state-sponsored media Global Times suffered a meltdown.
Taking to Twitter, the CCP mouthpiece played the typical ‘victim card’ and claimed that China did not want the border standoff to prolong. It further claimed that India should not confuse its ‘goodwill’ as its weakness. Global Times wrote, “China doesn’t want a border war with India. But if the Indian side misinterprets China’s goodwill and intends to deter the PLA with warning shots, its moves will backfire. China will never concede for the sake of avoiding a war.” Interestingly, it was China who initiated the current border stand off at LAC by moving its soldiers to the Indian side under the pretext of a military exercise.
The tweet by Global Times was accompanied by a threatening message. The news publication has warned India against crossing the ‘line’ and reiterated that provocation of any kind would have serious consequences. The message read, “We must warn India seriously: You have crossed the line! Your frontline troops have crossed the line! Your nationalist public opinion has crossed the line! Your policy toward China has crossed the line! You are over-confidently provoking the PLA and Chinese people — this is like doing a handstand on the edge of a cliff!”
The overdose of exclamation marks in their message stirred up mocking and jokes in India.
The desperation of the Chinese-State owned media
Global Times’ meltdown was not without reason. The desperate attempt to portray China as a victim of ‘Indian aggression,’ by falsely claiming that India ‘illegally’ crossed the LAC and fired ‘warning shots’ at Shenpao mountain near the south bank of Pangong Tso in Eastern Ladakh, fell flat when the Indian army dismissed its claims. The aggression and the threats to India via the State-owned media is their last resort to face-saving. It re-establishes the illusion of Chinese supremacy, invincibility, and helps pacify the home crowd.
For days now, Global Times has been issuing threats to India, even to the extent of hinting that China may start a war against India.
India army dismisses Chinese claims
In its statement, Indian Army had claimed that it was China’s PLA troops, who were trying to close-in on one of the Army’s forward positions along the LAC and when dissuaded by the Indian forces, they resorted to firing in the air, so as to intimidate the Indian Army personnel. The Indian Army further added that it is committed to de-escalation and disengagement on the LAC while China continues to undertake activities that heat up the simmering tensions.
“At no stage has the Indian Army transgressed across the LAC or resorted to using any aggressive means, including firing,” the statement issued by the Indian Army said. The Indian Army further added, “It is the PLA that has been blatantly violating agreements and carrying out aggressive manoeuvres, while engagement at a military, diplomatic and political level is in progress.” The statement added that despite the grave provocation by Chinese troops, the Indian troops showed great restraint and behaved in a mature and responsible manner.
On Tuesday, China had alleged that the Indian army ‘illegally’ crossed the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and fired ‘warning shots’ at Shenpao mountain near the south bank of Pangong Tso in Eastern Ladakh. The Communist-ruled country further claimed that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) took ‘countermeasures’ to stabilise the situation.
Global Times and its daily threats
CCP mouthpiece Global Times and its editor have been issuing daily threats to India ever since the Galwan standoff started in mid-June. They have been fuming and venting hot air on every issue, from TikTok ban to cancellations of contracts with Chinese firms and Ladakh.
Justice V. Parthiban, Madras High Court has caught the bull by the horns and concluded that Mr A. Balaji was unfairly and unjustly denied the benefit of employment, despite clearing the requisite stages for selection as Grade – II Police Constable, conducted by TN Uniformed Services Recruitment Board, Chennai, being held disqualified on the allegations of ‘bursting of crackers during Diwali festival in 2018.’
The learned judge, in a brilliant exposition of the four corners of an offence under Section 285, Indian Penal Code, and adverting to a host of decisions, including the leading one in Avatar Singh (2016 – SC), has come down heavily on the appointing authorities for rejecting his selection by relying upon ‘Victorian standards’ and ‘utopian expectation’, ignoring that ‘bursting of crackers is an integral part of the Diwali festival, having its roots to a hoary and hallowed civilization, unique to this land and is celebrated by all age groups across the nation with great fervour and ardour.’
The verdict, written in purple prose, has come not a day too soon, with Diwali round the corner and the expectation of PILs, annually a routine, seeking to ban the bursting of crackers. This decision is one for celebration.
It would be appropriate to extract the relevant portion of this 30-page, 24-para order dated 05/09/2020, made in A.Balaji v. The Chairman, TN Uniformed Services Recruitment Board, Chennai, to communicate the lovely message from a Constitutional Court, which is long overdue, with regard to the bursting of crackers during Diwali – which is seemingly an offence under Section 285, IPC, even when it is meant to be in celebration of the festival in the most harmless way, with no intent whatsoever to endanger human life or cause hurt or injury to any person.
‘The broad contours of the above Section ( 285 IPC) may appear to be having criminal element, nevertheless, this Court cannot shut its eyes to the facts of this case which attracted the mischief of the above provision. Mere bursting of crackers by an individual that too during festival time, can be termed as a criminal offence at all, is for the competent Court to decide. However, for the purpose of the issues on hand, can the incident land the petitioner in an irretrievable situation, wherein he is debarred from seeking recruitment to the Police Force by applying the so-called strict standards of discipline and a high degree of integrity. In this regard, the submissions made by the learned Additional Advocate General may look attractive, apparently though. But the said submission pales into insignificance when the facts of this case are juxtaposed to the application of the Rule with the fossilized mindset of the jaded authority. It looks like, the Recruitment Board is only looking for candidates conforming to the Victorian standards of conduct and discipline. Such utopian expectation is a matter of pretentious and wishful idealism, divorced from mundane pragmatism. Bursting of crackers is an integral part of the Diwali festival, having its roots to a hoary and hallowed civilization unique to this land, and is celebrated by all age groups across the nation with great fervour and ardour. If the display of festive mood and exhilaration during the celebration would amount to attracting disqualification in the understanding of the authority, it only exposes his hollowness and in that view of the matter, the rejection is nothing but a caricaturing of fair play in administrative action.’
By orders dated 09/04/2020, the appointing authority had rejected the candidature of A.Balaji for the post of Grade – II Police Constable on the solitary ground that the candidate had suppressed the factum of his being charge-sheeted for an offence under Section 285, IPC for ‘bursting crackers during Diwali festival’. In an illuminating pronouncement drawing the subtle and substantive nature of the need for disclosure of ‘criminal antecedents’ of the candidate, the learned judge has pointed out that there is absolutely no issue of involvement of any moral turpitude, in the so-called offence of ‘bursting crackers during Diwali festival’.
Without diluting the need for honest and transparent disclosure of criminal antecedents of the candidates, Justice V. Parthiban has alluded to the decision of the top court in Avatar Singh in these words –
The Hon’ble Supreme Court has succinctly observed in paragraph 37 in the above-referred decision, that McCarthyism ought not to be adopted by the authority in the exercise of the power. Therefore, the suppression per se is not to be treated as a criminal intent to withhold information and authorities are expected to draw a significant line as to when the suppression is material and when the same is immaterial in the larger perspective of things, as outlined by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India. The authority is not expected to be very officious and wooden in his approach when the fundamental right of the petitioner is involved in seeking an opportunity for employment in public service. Adopting an unwanted sanctimonious approach in the present consideration, in the opinion of this Court, is nothing but a display of poor sagacity by the officialdom. Therefore, as reasoned by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, there has to be a proper reconciliation of various factors without being pigeonholed into a stereo-typed and cliched discharge of the discretion. On the other hand, the exercise of power, in the given circumstances, reflecting a larger understanding of the contemporary contextual social-mores would enhance the prestige of the good governance, in securing the ends of its objectivity.
In a stinging decision in worthier prose, the learned judge has set aside the decision of the appointing authority to reject the candidature of the petitioner and ‘directed them to consider the claim of the petitioner to the post of Grade – II Police Constable, Jail Warder and Fireman in the appropriate post, as per his rank and eligibility, without reference to the involvement of the petitioner in the criminal case an indication in the impugned proceedings, if he is otherwise fit in all other respects.’
One is particularly delighted that a secular and constitutional court has boldly assumed its responsibility in the peculiar circumstances of this case, and come to the rescue of an innocent victim, who was indulging in no more than bursting crackers in celebration of Diwali festival. The learned judge deserves our appreciation for admitting the onus cast on it, in such a case where gross injustice was done to the petitioner, in this sterling language which hopefully would send the appropriate message to the powers that be in dealing with celebration of Diwali by bursting of crackers.
Once, admittedly, the competent authority is clothed with the ultimate responsibility of assessing the suitability of the candidates, when such responsibility is discharged in a particular manner to the detriment of the candidates, the onus shifts on this Court to review the decision taken by the authority, on the touchstone of fair play and good conscience. So much so this Court, while undertaking such review of the impugned action of the fourth respondent, primarily finds that the impugned decision is the result of the callous and apathetic application of the Rule as mentioned in the impugned order in so far as the case on hand is concerned. Sticking to the rigours of the letter of the Rule than to the spirit of the Regulation for which it was intended and enacted is a poor reflection of tunnel vision of officious disposition.
This Court is conscious of, of course, the objective of the relevant Rule is intended to weed out the elements with criminal antecedents, involved in serious criminal offences, to protect the Police Force from infiltration of such creepy elements. The intention apart, in the matter of implementation of the Rule in the given situation, the authority expected to act wisely and judiciously. The authority cannot blindfold himself and implement the Rule unmindful of the fact situation, allowing the vice of arbitrariness to take precedence in the decision-making process, exposing the eventual decision to judicial interference. The authority notwithstanding the Rule is empowered to assess the suitability of the candidate concerned, in a given situation, in furtherance of the spirit of the Rule and such discretion cannot be discharged uniformly across the Board, although the Rules are meant to be applied uniformly to all persons, the uniformity requirement in the decision making the process of the authority is meant to be applied in homogeneous circumstances and not in respect of dissimilar situations across the spectrum as reasoned by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the “Avtar Singh’s case (cited supra). It will be a travesty of justice if the authority who is invested with the power of deciding the suitability of the candidates embarks upon painting all the candidates with the same brush. Such exercise of power with mindless uniformity would only lead to a miscarriage of justice. The discretion so vested under the Rule and the leverage provided would then become inane and pointless.
‘McCarthyism is the antithesis to Constitutional goals’, as opined by the apex court and McCarthyism be damned, as it ought to be, by the learned judge. This order, from a constitutional court by an erudite judge, is as much a celebration like the bursting of crackers during Diwali time.
Concerns have been raised in recent times with regards to the conduct of the Zakat Foundation and the influence it has over recruitment into civil services and other government jobs. While the foundation provides coaching for multiple government recruitment initiatives, its crown jewel remains its efforts to help Muslims crack civil services entrances.
In our previous reports, we have highlighted ties of the Zakat Foundation with Zakir Naik and other international Islamic organisations. We have also reported on the extremely problematic ideology that foundation propagates. In the past, its president Syed Zafar Mahmood has also demanded reservations for Muslims in recruitment for government services apart from several other ridiculous demands in order for Muslims to concede the Ram Janmabhoomi to Hindus.
It is time for us to discuss the beliefs of the Zakat Foundation that motivates them to spend an inordinate amount of their resources into helping Muslims get recruited into civil services. In a presentation at the India Islamic Cultural Centre at New Delhi in July 2016, Syed Zafar Mahmood elaborated on the necessity of Muslims to crack civil services entrances in emphatic terms.
“In India who rules the nation?” The presentation asked before proceeding to answer the question. It stated, “More than 90 % of Policy Formulation & Law Making & Decision Making is done by the Bureaucracy.” One slide showed the Secretariat Building in New Delhi. The building houses the Cabinet Secretariat which is responsible for the administration of the Government of India.
The South Block of the Secretariat houses the Prime Minister’s Office, External Affairs Ministry and the Defence Ministry while the North Block houses the Finance and Home Ministries and the Personnel. Zakat Foundation tells Muslims, “For the next 35 years this office can belong to our boys & girls”.
Zakat Foundation urges Muslims to capture the Government of India through the bureaucracy
The Zakat Foundation proceeds to tell Muslims that the corridors of power can belong to them. It says, “Larger purpose of joining Civil Services is not employment but Empowerment of the Community”. In that, they appear to share the same sentiments as Radical Islamic preacher Zakir Naik who made similar comments recently.
The foundation states further, “You can surely become doctor, engineer, chartered accountant, advocate, teacher, professor, computer expert But on top of each one of them is sitting a Government Officer”. “Through getting into the Civil Service You don’t only obtain a suitable job You also empower the deprived community,” it added.
The Zakat Foundation continued, “Our boys & girls can sit in the HRD & Law Ministries and retain AMU’s Minority Character. Our boys & girls can be the District Magistrate and don’t let injustice be meted out to anybody. Our boys & girls can be the Superintendent of Police and don’t let any undeserving arrest be made. Our boys & girls can sit in various ministries and ensure implementation of Sachar Committee’s Recommendations.”
It stated further, “Our boys & girls can sit in the PMO and help the PM oversee the Prevalence of Development across India. Our boys & girls can be in the Chief Minister’s office and get Waqf properties be vacated from Government occupation”. With such declarations, the Zakat Foundation exhorted Muslims to work hard to become bureaucrats.
Thus, quite clearly, the foundation believes that one way for Muslims to capture the state is through the bureaucracy and is of the opinion that greater control of the bureaucracy would give them better access to resources to strengthen the cause of Islam in India. It explains why Syed Zafar Mahmood was willing to concede the Ram Janmabhoomi to Hindus is return for reservations in government recruitment.
The Zakat Foundation has also helped in the settlement of Rohingyas across the national capital. Access to bureaucracy will undoubtedly help the organisation carry out such activities more smoothly. Given its highly problematic ideology and its connections to pan-Islamist organisations, it’s increasing influence over recruitment into civil services is indeed a grave cause for concern.
The Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday issued a statement, calling the reports in the Chinese state media that has attributed statements to NSA Ajit Doval as ‘false’.
The Ministry further urged the media to refrain from such “speculative reporting”.
“We have seen reports in Chinese state media, including in China Daily and Huanqiu Shibao (Global Times), which had attributed some comments to NSA Ajit Doval. These reports are completely false and are not based on facts. We urge the media to refrain from such speculative reporting,” the statement from the MEA read.
The statement was presumably in response to an editorial published in the China Daily dated September 3, 2020, which said that NSA Ajit Doval had said that “Indian Army is ready for a long-drawn standoff with China”.
Chinese PLA troops fire warning shots after being repelled by Indian Army in India’s Ladakh
The clarification issued by the MEA came against the backdrop of the ongoing border standoff between China and India along the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh. Last night, the Chinese PLA troops’ attempt to unilaterally alter their tactical inferiority in the Southern Bank of the Pangong Tso Lake were deterred by the Indian forces perched at the strategic heights, keeping a strict vigil on the devious Chinese manoeuvres.
Chinese forces had then attempted to intimidate the Indian Forces by firing warning shots in the air. But, on the predictable lines, the Chinese propaganda machinery swung into action, blaming the Indian Forces for the transgression of the Line of Actual Control and opening fire in the air.
In its statement, the Ministry of External Affairs had stated that it was China’s PLA troops, who were trying to close-in on one of the Army’s forward positions along the LAC and when dissuaded by the Indian forces, they resorted to firing in the air, so as to intimidate the Indian Army personnel.
“At no stage has the Indian Army transgressed across the LAC or resorted to using of any aggressive means, including firing,” the statement said.
