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Enraged over being ‘taken to Mosque for Talaq’, Kaleem slits his wife’s throat in Bengaluru: Read details

OpIndia Staff
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Enraged over being ‘taken to Mosque for Talaq’, Kaleem slits his wife’s throat in Bengaluru: Read details

A 48-year-old man, Kaleem Sharif was reportedly arrested for murdering his 46-year-old wife Nazneen at his residence in Vikas Enclave on Silver Oak Street in JP Nagar in Bengaluru in Karnataka.

According to Deputy Commissioner of Police ( South Bengaluru) Harish Pandey, the couple has been having frequent fights over money and the husband’s suspicions over the wife’s character. As per reports, when the relationship turned sour, the couple had approached a masjid in Bannerghatta where the divorce was recommended as a viable solution. Reportedly, the accused Kaleem was ‘humiliated’ by fellow Muslims after his wife approached the local mosque to seek separation.

Kaleem slit the throat of his wife

After returning from the mosque in Bannerghatta, the couple allegedly had a verbal confrontation following which the accused stabbed the victim. Reportedly, Kaleem took a knife from the kitchen, stabbed his wife and then slit her throat. This resulted in immediate death of the 46-year-old Nazneen. A case was registered under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the accused had been arrested.

Pakistan borrows $1 Billion from its all-weather ally China to repay $1 Billion Saudi Arabia loan to avoid default on international debt obligations

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistan borrows $1 Billion from its all-weather ally China to repay $1 Billion Saudi Arabia loan to avoid default on international debt obligations

Pakistan has once again turned to its all-weather friend China for help to avoid defaulting on international debt obligations. According to the Pakistani Ministry of Finance and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Pakistan has taken a loan of $1 billion from China to repay a $1 billion loan taken from Saudi Arabia. Desperate Pakistan did so because had it defaulted the payment, Saudi Arabia would have reduced its financial support, highly placed sources confirmed.

In October 2018, Saudi Arabia had agreed to provide $6.2 billion worth of financial package to Pakistan for three years. This included $3 billion in cash assistance and $3.2 billion worth of annual oil and gas supply on deferred payments.

According to the agreement between the two nations, the assistance provided by Saudi Arabia was for one year. It had an option to roll over the amount at the end of the year for a period of three years. Pakistan was paying 3.2 percent interest on the $3 billion loan. Pakistan had received the first tranche of $1 billion in November 2018, second $1 billion in December 2018 and third tranche of $1 billion in January 2019.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF), in its report in April this year stated: “Saudi Arabia also refinanced $3-billion BOP (balance of payments) support loans that matured in November (2019)-January (2020).” However, the repayment of $1-billion loan within six months of its renewal has come as a surprise.

It is believed that the Chinese government has provided $1 billion in loans to Pakistan to retain the official gross foreign currency reserves at their current levels. Unlike Saudi loan that had been taken on the books of the central bank, the Chinese loan has been taken on the books of the federal government due to another condition of the IMF.

China tightens its grip over Pakistan

This development came just a day after China had further tightened its grip over Pakistan by financing the most expensive Railway project in the country. On 5th August the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved the Mainline-1 railway project of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) worth $6.8 billion, 90% of which will be financed by China. Under the project, Pakistan’s existing 2,655 km railway tracks will be upgraded to allow trains to move up to 165km per hour, which will be double the speed of the capacity of the current network. Moreover, the line capacity will increase from 34 to over 150 trains each way per day.

China has pledged over $60 billion in various infrastructure projects in Pakistan, as part of the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) agreement. This project is part of Beijing’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to develop land and sea trade routes in Asia and beyond.

Pakistan owes China double the amount it owes to IMF

It’s surprising how the cash strapped nation is getting submerged deeper and deeper into China’s debt trap. According to an October 2019 report, Pakistan needs to repay China more than double the amount it owes the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in the next three years.

The PTI government took over $13 billion in foreign loans in the previous fiscal year. This is the second-highest amount in history. The loan was taken to repay maturing external debt and cushion the shrinking foreign exchange reserves. Since coming into power, the Imran Khan government received $26.2 billion in loans and out of that $19.2 billion was used to repay the maturing external debt and the remaining balance was added to the external public and publicly guaranteed debt.

CBI registers case against Rhea Chakraborty, her family and aides in Sushant Singh Rajput death case

OpIndia Staff
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CBI registers case against Rhea Chakraborty, her family and aides in Sushant Singh Rajput death case

On the day the union government handed over the actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death case to CBI on the request of Bihar police, the central agency registered an FIR in the case. The FIR names 6 persons including Sushant’s former girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty, apart from unknown persons. It has been registered in response to a complaint filed by Sushant’s father K K Singh with Bihar police.

The FIR has been registered under section 154 of the CrPC, and it invokes charges of criminal conspiracy, abetment of suicide, wrongful restrain, wrongful detention, theft, criminal breach of trust, cheating and criminal intimidation. CBI has registered the FIR in Delhi.

The FIR names the following persons:

  1. Rhea Chakraborty, Sushant’s former girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty, who has been accused of manipulating Sushant and misusing his money.
  2. Indrajit Chakraborty, father of Rhea Chakraborty
  3. Sandhya Chakraborty, mother of Rhea Chakraborty
  4. Showik Chakraborty, Rhea’s brother
  5. Samuel Miranda, Sushant Singh Rajput’s house manager hired by Rhea
  6. Shruti Modi, Sushant’s manager and Rhea’s former manager
  7. Unknown persons

All these persons were named by K K Singh in his FIR filed with Bihar police, which has been now transferred to the CBI by the central govt. The case has been filed under sections 341, 342, 380, 406, 420, 306, 506, 120B of the Indian Penal Code. Addition SP with CBI, Anil Kumar Yadav will lead the investigation.

The Department of Personnel and Training under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions had issued a notification on 6th August transferring the case to CBI with the consent of Bihar government. Before this on 4th August, the Bihar govt had given its consent for a CBI probe in the case.

Bihar police had decided to transfer the case to CBI after the Maharashtra govt and Mumbai police created hurdles for Bihar police officers investing the case after K K Singh’s complaint. While the Mumbai police had refused to cooperate with the Bihar police team that had gone to Mumbai, the local administration had also kept visiting police officials in quarantine, preventing them from conducting any investigation in Mumbai, where the actor was found death on 14th June.

The Enforcement Directorate is also probing the financial angle in the case after Sushant’s father had alleged that money from his son’s account was transferred to other accounts that do not belong to Sushant. ED has registered a money laundering case in the matter.

‘As a CM I have no problem with any religion, but as a yogi, I will not go for a Mosque’s ground-breaking ceremony’: Yogi Adityanath

OpIndia Staff
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‘As a CM I have no problem with any religion, but as a yogi, I will not go for a Mosque’s ground-breaking ceremony’: Yogi Adityanath

Ram Mandir’s Bhoomi Pujan in Ayodhya was successfully completed yesterday by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath had been very actively participating in the preparations of the historic event and was also present when Prime Minister Narendra Modi finally performed the Bhoomi Pujan ceremony at Ayodhya.

While addressing the luminaries, the elated CM had said: “The ‘Bhumi Pujan’ will not only mark the beginning of the construction of the Ram temple but also ‘Ram Rajya’ as envisaged by the Prime Minister”.

In an interview after the Bhoomi Pujan ceremony, when ABP News asked Yogi Adityanath whether he would attend the groundbreaking ceremony of the Mosque whenever it is constructed in Ayodhya, the CM candidly replied: “Neither will anyone call me nor will I go to the mosque foundation laying programme”.

As per the orders of the Supreme Court in the historic verdict handing over the Ram Janmabhoomi site to Hindus, the Uttar Pradesh govt has allotted 5 acres of land to the UP Sunni Waqf Board to construct a mosque in place of the demolished Babri structure. The board has recently constituted a trust to build a mosque on the land in Raunahi, Dhanipur Village, Ayodhya. The ABP journalist was asking the UP CM about the groundbreaking ceremony of this upcoming mosque.

Yogi Adityanath said, ‘if you ask me as a chief minister I have no problem with any religion, sect or tradition but if you want me to reply to you as a Yogi… I will never go”. Further explaining his stance, Yogi said that as a Hindu he has all the rights to express his faith and conduct himself as he wants.

“The day I will be invited, secularism will be in danger”: Yogi Adityanath

“I am neither a litigator nor a defender, therefore neither will someone invite me nor will I go. I know I will never receive any such invitation. The day I will be invited, secularism will be in danger”, said Yogi Adityanath lightheartedly. He also added, “I do not want secularism to be under any kind of threat, so it is best that I keep doing my job quietly and let everyone, irrespective of caste and religion, benefit out of my work and our government schemes,” said the fiery BJP leader.

Yogi Adityanath slams the “merchants of Muslim vote bank”

Slamming all those political parties who indulge in the proverbial vote bank politics, Yogi said that all these “merchants of Muslim vote bank” has never fought any battle honestly. He said that the leaders of these party are completely unaware of the constitutional values. 

Further, taking a dig at the politics of appeasement, he said: “When politically motivated leaders wear skull-caps and attend Roza-Iftar, it is not secularism but just a gimmick. Even the public knows it very well”. 

Congress never wanted the controversy to end

Launching a direct attack at the Congress party, he said that Congress never wanted that the Ram Janmabhoomi dispute should end. “Vivaad bane rehne dena chahate the”, he said, adding that they wanted that the controversy should never end. The UP CM further said that they are the ones who had questioned the mere existence of Lord Ram. They tried creating as many obstacles as they could, said the CM slamming the Congress party for its hypocrisy over the construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

He added the power of Indian democracy and the judiciary has shown the world how solutions to problems could be found through democratic and constitutional means.

Yogi concluded by saying that the construction of the Ram Mandir will create immense job opportunities and open up many avenues for the people of Ayodhya. It will be the beginning of a new era, said the Uttar Pradesh CM.

Complaint filed against Maulana Sajid Rashid for inciting Muslims to demolish Ram Mandir at Ayodhya

OpIndia Staff
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Complaint filed against Maulana Sajid Rashid for inciting Muslims to demolish Ram Mandir at Ayodhya

A complaint has been filed against Islamic cleric Maulana Sajid Rashidi – the President of All India Imam Association– for making provocative statements against Hindus and for issuing threats to demolish the yet-to-be-built Ram Mandir at Ayodhya.

On Thursday, BJP leader Tajinder Pal Bagga registered a complaint with the Delhi Police against the Islamic cleric Maulana Rashid for inciting communal hatred, ill-will and also for provoking mob violence and riots. The complainant has also filed a complaint against the Islamic cleric on charges of contempt of court.

In the complaint, BJP leader Tajinder Pal Bagga accused Maulana Rashidi of undermining the authority and the law laid down by the Supreme Court by attempting to incite communal hatred and negative religious feelings to disturb peace and harmony of the society, with intentions to provoke religious riots and terrorism.

Image Source: Tajinder Bagga

“As it clear from the statement of Sajid Rashidi that he is trying to undermine the 5-judge bench decision of the Supreme Court of India, and at the same time he is threatening to incite mob violence to commit any damage to the temple structure at Ayodhya,” the complaint read.

Demanding action against the Islamic cleric, the complaint further stated that the statement made by Maulana Sajid Rashidi should not be taken lightly and non-seriously as it has been issued by one of the highest seats of the Muslim community of the country and also has potential to invoke religious disharmony amongst the Muslim community members.

The complainant filed a complaint under the sections – 153A, 153B, 295A, 298, 504, 505 of the Indian Penal Code.

Maulana Sajid Rashidi threatens to demolish Ram Mandir at Ayodhya

A day after the Bhoomi Pujan of the Ram temple at Ayodhya, the president of the All India Imam Association Sajid Rashidi made a provocative statement on Thursday saying that a mosque will be rebuilt after demolishing the Ram Mandir.

The Islamic cleric had asserted that the Babri Masjid was not built after demolishing a Hindu temple at the disputed site.

The controversial Islamic cleric also went on to claim that Prime Minister Modi has ‘violated the constitution’ by visiting Ayodhya temple event. He went on to claim that the land in which the temple is being built belonged to the disputed structure, which according to him was demolished by forces similar to German dictator Adolf Hitler’s forces.

15th EU-India Summit: Promising an opportunity for India in the post-COVID world

Shishir Bajoria
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15th EU-India Summit: Promising an opportunity for India in the post-COVID world

The 15th EU-India Summit was held in the virtual space, which can be called the Covid-19 era normal. Before the pandemic made its presence felt, this Summit was planned to be held in March in Brussels. Accordingly, preparations were starting for the Summit and a few programs on the sidelines of the event were on anvil. Abruptly COVID brought an end to all the plans. 

The last 2 Summits were held in Delhi in 2017, and in Brussels in 2016 which paved the way for strengthening the trade between EU and India.  European Union is only second to the USA as India’s trading partner.  Hence the importance of this relationship.  

The birth of European Union dates back to 1952 when six countries – Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg – got together to form European Coal and Steel Community to protect their steel and coal industry.  In 1957 this was transformed to become European Economic Community (EEC). It is only in 1973 that the UK, Ireland and Denmark joined taking the total to 9. The EEC was also known as the European Common Market (ECM).

Since the 1993 Maastricht treaty, the Community became a Union. One can say it was an economic growth model, without a fiscal and political union. Introduction of borderless trade followed by borderless travel within the Union, except a few countries went a long way in giving a boost to economic activities within the union and outside. 

There are many complexities in the EU, few countries are in the visa treaty (Schengen) but not in the currency union and some part of a sub-regional group with free movements with countries not in the EU. The introduction of Euro €in 19 of the 27 countries on the midnight of 1st January 2002 and withdrawing the existing one was a unique feat. The ‘demand’ for EU membership was so high that in a few years the Union expanded to 28 countries that got reduced to 27 post Brexit. 

Brexit has come as a dual opportunity for India. While Britain loses the Single Market, the EU’s GDP will be taking a 17% hit.  Both these occurrences offer an opportunity for India. 

This summit was very timely especially in the midst of the pandemic keeping in mind our quest to Atmanirbhar Bharat based on the call given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While the pandemic has challenged the entire humanity both physically and economically, it has thrown up new opportunities and also the need for countries to come together. 

There are short term challenges of rekindling the economies and putting it back on track, in the long term challenges like climate change and increasing the use of renewable energy. To finally emerge out of the pandemic, access to COVID tools, including the advent of a vaccine and the close cooperation between the pharmaceuticals companies on both sides will be crucial. 

Emerging from the Summit a very positive Joint Statement and a five-year Roadmap 2025 augers very well.  The emphasis on a high-level trade and investment dialogue and the formation of a digital investment forum will further strengthen the relatively balanced trade, with India enjoying a surplus. EU accounts for 14.4% of India’s exports (€41.4 billion). A leading investor in India, about €10 billion, 22% of the total FDI inflows in 2019-20. On the other hand, EU the third-largest recipient of Indian FDI, €2.5 billion, 14% of outflows. Close to 4,500 EU companies in India employ 60 lacs people (directly and indirectly).  

Another important outcome of this Summit was a comprehensive Road Map for 2025 covering multiple subjects Security, Foreign Policy, Human Rights, Trade and Investment, Business & Economy, Climate change and Clean Energy, Environment Urban Development, Information and Communication Technology, Transport, Outer Space, Health and Food Security, Research and Innovation, Artificial Intelligence,  Effective Multilateralism, Connectivity, Indian Ocean and the Pacific, Global Economic Governance, Ocean Governance, Development Partnership, Migration and Mobility, Employment and Social Policy, Education and Culture, Parliaments, Civil Society and Local/Decentralised Authorities, Institutional architecture of the EU-India Strategic Partnership.  

For Trade and investment, Business & Economy – as part of the Road Map for 2025 a detailed plan was laid which will go a long way to enhance the much-needed market access, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Also addressing issues of existing trade barriers and preventing the emergence of new ones, seeking alignment to international standards and best practices, easing up the assessment of conformity and improving investment conditions.  

This road map envisages strengthening the regulatory dialogue on pharmaceuticals, medical devices and biotechnology.  This will be fostering alignment with international standards and practices; ensuring the quality of pharmaceutical and the much-needed market access. 

Engaging in the bilateral Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) dialogue, working out ambitious and mutually beneficial trade and investment agreements and the optimal use of the Investment Facilitation Mechanism (IFM) established in 2017 will greatly facilitate EU investment flowing into India. 

The success of a summit is assessed by the emerging joint statement and its comprehensiveness.  In exceptional cases, when ‘issues’ do not get resolved such a joint statement is missing. This happened in a very recent EU summit (June, 22) with a major country. In this instance, the emerging statement read – ‘Defending EU interests and values in a complex vital partnership’. 

EU and India is a natural partnership between 27 democratic countries with the world’s largest democracy. India is a country which houses in its bosom multiple religion, languages, cultures, so does the EU in its group of 27. EU and India are very important not only to each other’s’ economic prosperity but the world at large. It is therefore important to see this EU-India Partnership with a lens of economic revivalism of India post-COVID which promises flow of investment and a boost in the manufacturing sector in India. 

Dalit organisation lodges a complaint with MHA seeking an FIR against AIMPLB for intimidating and hurting the faith of Hindu Dalits

OpIndia Staff
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Dalit organisation lodges a complaint with MHA seeking an FIR against AIMPLB for intimidating and hurting the faith of Hindu Dalits

A day after All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) issued a threat against the construction of Ram Mandir, Dalit Positive Movement, an organisation fighting for the rights of the Dalits, have lodged a complaint against the former with the Ministry of Social justice and Empowerment and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

In the complaint, the organisation has sought an FIR against AIMPLB and all its leaders as per SC/ST act for “hurting the sentiments of the Hindu Dalits and Hindus at large by threatening to overturn Hon. Supreme Court’s Judgement and overtake Prabhu Shree Ram Janmabhoomi temple site to build a mosque”.

The Dalit organisation asks MHA to take cognisance of the “vicious, poisonous and incendiary material” circulated by AIMPLB on social media

Urging the government departments to take cognisance of the “vicious, poisonous and incendiary material” circulated by AIMPLB on social media on the eve of Ram Janmabhoomi’s Bhoomi Pujan ceremony, which has hurt, threatened and enraged the Dalits who have “unshakable faith in their beloved Bhagwaan”, the organisation has requested that the FIR be filed under the SC/ST Atrocities Act against AIMPLB, it’s President and all its leaders.

It has also sought contempt proceedings and enquiry on the fundings of the controversial Islamic body.

Saying that Islamic body seems to be having a larger ploy to discredit constitutional institutions and democratic process and create a constitutional crisis in our country, the Dalit organisation has also sought contempt of court proceedings against AIMPLB.

“We also kindly request the Hon. Supreme Court of India to take cognizance of this clear case of Contempt of Court and take punitive actions against the above accused and their organization at the earliest to set a precedence and set the record straight”, read the complaint.

“Information about the alleged organization available on Wikipedia clearly states that they (AIMPLB) have unconstitutional motives of running a parallel constitution of the Islamic “Sharia Law”. Hence, it is our humble request for you to take immediate and necessary actions to maintain the rule of law and credibility of our democratic system based on our constitutional principles which in under clear and present threat from such non-state actors who are looking to destabilize the peace and harmony of our society”, the complaint stated.

The Dalit organisation finds finances of the Islamic body “to be very fishy”

Speaking to OpIndia, the convenor of Dalit Positive Movement, P Ravi, said that since their organisation finds the finances of AIMPLB “to be very fishy” it has also urged MHA to “investigate the finances and funding of AIMPLB, its leaders and all its cadres along with scrutinizing their international travels in the last as many years and any business or criminal liaison, which may be detrimental to our National security and interests”.

In its complaint the Dalit organisation said that considering the Muslim body’s obvious intentions of stoking religious riots, as a precautionary measure, the MHA should freeze the bank accounts of the organisation and bar the party leaders and cadres from making any international travel.

P Ravi, told OpIndia that he feels that since there is a lot of merit in thier complaint, they believe that action will be taken against the Islamic organisation.

AIMPLB issues a menacing threat on the eve of Ram Mandir Bhoomi Pujan

Yesterday, the controversial Islamic body had taken to Twitter to not only issue menacing threat over the construction of the temple but also hinting at converting back the temple into a mosque in the future. Comparing Babri Masjid to Turkey’s newly converted mosque ‘Hagia Sophia’, the Muslim Personal Board said, “Babri Masjid was and will always be a Masjid”.

Furthermore, attacking the Supreme Court for its judgement in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case, the AIMPLB claimed that the Supreme Court’s verdict allowing the construction of a Ram Temple was “unjust and unfair”.

The AIMPLB which was among the litigants in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case in the Supreme Court, also noted that according to the Islamic Shariah, “at whichever place a masjid is established, it remains a masjid there forever till eternity. Hence the Babri masjid was a masjid before, is a masjid today and shall Inshallah remain a masjid”.

CBI starts the process of registering a case in Sushant Singh Rajput’s death case, forms SIT for the probe

OpIndia Staff
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CBI starts the process of registering a case in Sushant Singh Rajput’s death case, forms SIT for the probe

On 6th August, Central Bureau of Investigation informed that they had received a letter from the of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions to start probe in Sushant Singh Rajput’s death case. They are in the process of registering the case in the matter. Yesterday, the Supreme Court made it clear that CBI can take up the case and dismissed the arguments by Maharashtra Government against the CBI probe. The central govt had informed the apex court that they have accepted the Bihar police request to hand over the case to CBI.

Center issued the letter to CBI on Bihar Police’s request on 5th August. A case was registered by Sushant’s father KK Singh with Bihar Police on 25th July in which he alleged that Rhea Chakraborty, Sushant’s ex, pushed him to the point that he committed suicide. Ankita Lokhande, Rajput’s ex-girlfriend and co-actor, provided crucial information to Bihar Police. She also offered chat history between her and Sushant, where he claimed he wanted to end a relationship with Rhea.

CBI has formed an elite SIT (Special Investigation Team) will probe the Sushant Singh Rajput case. According to reports, the SIT will be led by IPS officer Manoj Sashidhar. DIG Gagandeep Ghambir and SP Nupur Prasad are also part of the team.

Sushant Singh Rajput case has become a fight between police departments of two states. Bihar Police registered a case and sent a team of four officers to Mumbai to investigate. The officials at Mumbai Police did not provide any support, rather BMC sent one of the officers with Bihar Police in quarantine as soon as he landed in Mumbai. Although Mumbai police are probing the matter, they have not registered any FIR in the matter, and they are ruling out any foul play in the alleged suicide case.

The Enforcement Directorate is also probing the financial angle in the case after Sushant’s father had alleged money from his son’s account was transferred to other accounts that do not belong to Sushant. ED has registered a money laundering case in the matter.

Is being a Hindu acceptable but having faith in Hindutva ‘dangerous’? Quite the contrary

Maria Wirth
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Is being a Hindu acceptable but having faith in Hindutva ‘dangerous’? Quite the contrary

Is being a Hindu acceptable while faith in Hindutva is not? Is it even dangerous? Many Hindus seem wary to be associated with Hindutva, in spite of the fact that Hindutva simply means Hindu-ness or being Hindu. They tend to accept the view which mainstream media peddled for long: ‘Hindutva is intolerant and stands for the ‘communal agenda of an extreme right Hindu party that wants to force uniform Hinduism on this vast country which is fully against the true Hindu ethos.’ 

“Hindutva is indicative more of the way of life of the Indian people. …Considering Hindutva as hostile, inimical, or intolerant of other faiths, or as communal proceeds from an improper appreciation of its true meaning.”

From personal experience, I also came to the conclusion that Hindutva is not communal and dangerous.

For many years I lived in ‘spiritual India’ without having any idea how important the terms ‘’secular’ and ’communal’ were. The people I met valued India’s great Vedic heritage. They gave me tips which texts to read, which Sants to meet, which mantras to learn, etc., and I wrote about it for German magazines. I thought that all Indians are proud of their ancestors, who had stunningly deep insights into what is true and who left a huge legacy of precious texts unparalleled in the world. 

However, when I settled in a ‘normal’ environment away from ashrams and connected with the English speaking middle class, I was shocked that several of my new friends with Hindu names were ridiculing Hinduism without knowing anything about it. They had not even read the Bhagavad-Gita but claimed that Hinduism was the most depraved of all religions and responsible for the ills India is facing. The caste system and Manusmiti were quoted as proof. 

My new acquaintances had expected me to join them in denouncing ‘violent’ Hinduism which I could not do as I knew too much, not only from reading but also from doing sadhana. They declared that I had read the wrong books and asked me to read the right books, which would give me the ‘correct’ understanding. They obviously didn’t doubt that their own view was correct.

My neighbour, a self-declared communist, introduced me occasionally to his friends as “the local RSS pracharak”. It was half in jest, but more than half intended to be demeaning. My reaction at that time: “If RSS is in tune with my views, then it must be good.”

Standing up for Hindu Dharma indicted me as belonging to the ‘Hindutva brigade’ that is shunned by political correctness. My fault was that I said that Hindu Dharma is the best option for any society. I did not make a baseless claim, as Christianity and Islam do and which goes mostly unchallenged. I explained why Hindu Dharma is inclusive and not divisive, whereas Christianity and Islam divide humanity into those who supposedly have the ‘true faith’ and those who are wrong and will pay for it eternally in hell, if not already on earth. 

Of course, my stand is not communal or dangerous. Hindu Dharma is indeed not only inclusive but also most beneficial for the individual and for society and needs to gain strength at the expense of Christianity and Islam, which are exclusive and therefore harmful. And yes, politicians, too, need to base their lives on Hindu Dharma if they want to be efficient in serving society. Propagating blind belief has no place in politics, but following Dharma is in the interest of all.

Hindu Dharma was never based on unreasonable dogmas and did not need blasphemy laws to keep its followers in check. It is helpful to society as it imparts profound wisdom and gives guidelines for an ideal life that acknowledges the invisible, conscious Essence in this visible universe. It allows freedom of thought and many parallel streams with different ways to connect to this essence emerged which co-existed harmoniously. 

Humanity needs to win over the madness that the Supreme Being loves only those humans beings, who believe in a certain book and condemns all others to eternal hellfire. But how to make them see sense?

Even some staunch ‘secular’ Indians occasionally declare themselves as Hindus. It’s a good sign, but they usually get something wrong: They believe that being Hindu means that everything goes – believe in a god or not, be vegetarian or not, go to temples or not. It even seems to imply: be truthful or not. They portray Hindu Dharma as having no fundamentals.

That’s wrong. Hindu Dharma has also fundamentals, but they are benign and helpful.

Being Hindu means to know and value the profound insights of the Rishis and follow their recommendations in one’s life. These insights may not be obvious to the senses, like the claim that everything, including nature, is permeated by the one consciousness (Brahman), but it can be realised as true; similarly, as it is not obvious that the earth goes around the sun, but it can be proven. Being a Hindu does not require blind belief.

Being Hindu also means having the welfare of all at heart, including animals and nature, because each part is intimately connected with the Whole. Especially the cow is revered and the Rishis gave good reasons why it must not be killed. 

Being Hindu means following one’s conscience and using one’s intelligence well. It means diving into oneself, trying to connect with one’s Essence. It means trusting one’s own Self, Atman, and doing the right thing at the right time.

Being Hindu means being wise – not deluded or gullible or foolish. This wisdom about the truth of this universe and about how to live life in the best possible way was discovered and preserved in India. Yet its tenets are universal and valid for all humanity. 

Isn’t it time for our interconnected world to realise this and benefit?

Mumbai faces massive flooding and destruction due to heavy rain, rainfall in one day exceeds the season’s average

OpIndia Staff
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Mumbai faces massive flooding and destruction due to heavy rain, rainfall in one day exceeds the season’s average

Heavy rainfall in 24-hour span has caused major floods and destruction in Mumbai. The winds reached a top speed of 100 kmph, trees were uprooted, cranes deployed in construction work got damaged, hoardings were torn down and the water gushed in houses across Mumbai. The Colaba observatory recorded 293.8 mm rain till 8:30 PM on Wednesday that was the highest rainfall recorded for the month of August in 46 years.

The annual seasonal average rain for Mumbai is 2,206.4 mm. The city so far has received 2,319.7 mm rain. On Wednesday night, PM Modi also posted a tweet assuring the residents of the City that centre will provide all possible support. He talked to CM Uddhav Thackeray for the same.

The city received the heaviest rain during the nine-hour period of 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM. The observatory reported 229.6 mm rainfall that was highest recorded in the last 22 years. The iconic signage mounted on the top of the Bombay Stock Exchange also got damaged due to rain and strong winds. Ashish Chauhan posted a photo of the damaged signboard and wrote, “The signage on top of the BSE building toppled due to very heavy wind and incessant rain today. We are seeking the help of fire brigade to ensure that the signage doesn’t fall to the ground and injure any one or create property damage for any one. Please bear with us.”

Damaged BSE sign board

Around 200 passengers were stuck in waterlogged areas including railway stations who were rescued by the NDRF team. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has reviewed the situation in Mumbai and the adjoining regions including Palghar that has received 383.1 mm rain in 24 hours.

Media agencies and Netizens posted several videos showing the devastation rains have caused in Mumbai.

Mumbai Mirror shared a video of a house that was flooded by rainwater that entered via the kitchen window.

A user shared grim video showing JJ Hospital flooded with rain water.

In another video, a tree was seen waving vigrously due to high intensity wind.

A user shared video in which someone was satirically saying, “it feels like being in Itlay.”

This is the first time since 2005 Mumbai floods that the city has received such devastating rainfall.

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