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Maharashtra government employee commits suicide over non-payment of salary for over two months

OpIndia Staff
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Maharashtra government employee commits suicide over non-payment of salary for over two months

As the coronavirus outbreak continues to intensify in Maharashtra, a government employee of the State Transport Corporation has committed suicide after being in depression for not receiving his salary for the period of the last two months.

According to Islampur police, Amol Mali was working in the mechanics department of ST’s Islampur depot. ST traffic is somewhat closed in the lockdown imposed due to coronavirus infection. ST employees did not get their due salary during this period. Amol was reportedly upset because of lack of work nonpayment of his salary.

The deceased, Amol Dhondiram Mali, 35, committed suicide by handing himself to the ceiling in his house on late Thursday night. He was working in Islampur depot in Sangli district and was reportedly under stress because of the non-payment of his salary from last 2 months.

The dilemma over how to financially support his family amidst the coronavirus induced lockdown grated on him. He had been working as a labourer for the last two months to eke out a living. However, he still remained under tremendous stress. According to the reports, owing to financial distress and frustration, he finally committed suicide. He is survived by his mother, wife, five-year-old son and three-year-old daughter.

Earlier it was reported that not just the Maharashtra government employees but even the salaries of the doctors and nurses requested from Kerala were inordinately delayed by the Maha Vikas Aghadi government. As a result, several of the doctors and nurses flew back to Kerala, alleging that the BMC had been interminably delaying their payments.

Maharashtra government sanctions funds for the purchase of 6 new vehicles

The coronavirus-induced lockdown in Maharashtra has harmed the economic activities in the state, thereby triggering a financial crisis for a large section of the underprivileged populace. The Maharashtra government is struggling to pay its own employees, let alone health care resources requested from other states. But while the state is floundering to make payments to the employees involved in the fight against the coronavirus, the government had recently given its authorisation for the purchase of 6 new vehicles for its ministers.

The approval from the Uddhav Thackeray government came at a time when the Maharashtra Treasury is in a bad shape in the wake of coronavirus induced lockdown in the state.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi government gave its nod for the purchase of Innova Crysta 2.4 ZX (7 seaters) worth Rs 22,83,086 from Madhuban Motors Pvt. Ltd., Lower Parel, Mumbai. It is pertinent to note that while the ceiling limit for the purchase of a car has been Rs 20 lakh, a special provision, with the approval of the state government’s finance department and chief minister Uddhav Thackeray was passed to pursue the purchase of the vehicles.

Jammu and Kashmir government to take action against employees involved in anti-national activities: Report

OpIndia Staff
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Jammu and Kashmir government to take action against employees involved in anti-national activities: Report

In a significant move, the Jammu and Kashmir government on Thursday constituted a committee to examine and recommend dismissal of employees from their services for partaking in anti-national activities, reported The Tribune.

As per the report, the said panel will be headed by Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam and will include the Home Secretary and the police chief besides other members. The report says that the committee will take notice of all cases, referred to it by the Home Departments and the police. Reportedly, action against such employees will be taken as per Section 311 of the Indian Constitution.

As per reports, disciplinary action will be taken against employees involved in anti-national activities, either overtly or covertly, based on the recommendation of the panel. Reportedly, action can also be sought against government employees who are currently serving detention without the need for an inquiry. According to the report, the anti-national activities of employees on social media, including those who operate using fake accounts, will also fall under the ambit of the provision.

No need for inquiry under the new provision

Once charges are pressed against the employees found involved in threatening the security of the Union territory by the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the cases will be scrutinised and recommended to the General Administration Department. Reportedly, the cops will back their case on the basis of investigative reports and ‘collateral evidence’, thus leaving out the need for any inquiry. The Department will then issue orders for suspension or even dismissal.

Complaints of police inaction against employees involved in anti-national activities

Reportedly, the government had received several complaints about police inaction and administrative negligence in the past, owing to political pressure, against employees complicit in threatening the security or inciting people against the armed forces. As per the report, 5 government employees were dismissed from service for indulging in anti-national activities in August 1990 but they were reinstated, following political intervention and a 73-day-long-strike by other employees. Reportedly, about 130 policemen were also fired after a police mutiny in 1993 but they were placed in Fire Department and other services.

‘This house is on sale due to fear of members of a particular community’: Posters come up on houses of Hindus in riot-affected areas of Delhi

OpIndia Staff
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‘This house is on sale due to fear of members of a particular community’: Posters come up on houses of Hindus in riot-affected areas of Delhi

In its reports, OpIndia painstakingly chronicled the horrors meted out to the Hindus from December 2019 and which finally culminated into the gruesome riots in Delhi in February this year. The areas that witnessed the communal flare-up have scarred the lives of the Hindu residents, who are living under the constant fear of reprisal from one particular community and are forced to sell their houses.

As per media reports, Hindus living in Mohanpuri, Maujpur and Noor-e-Ilahi areas have put up posters of ‘The house is on sale due to fear of members of a particular community’. These areas fall under Babarpur assembly constituency. From here, Gopal Rai, a minister of AAP government in Delhi, is the MLA.

North-East Delhi MP and former BJP President Manoj Tiwari also tweeted in this regard. He also visited the affected areas on Friday (31 July 2020).

After visiting Mohanpuri and Maujpuri, which falls under his parliamentary constituency, Tiwari has written a letter to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, expressing his commitment for working together to ensure peace and harmony in the region.

In the letter, Tiwari has also accused the Delhi government of discriminating against Hindus. He said that during the tour, it was found that in some parts, people had to get gates installed with their own money to ensure their safety, while in the neighbouring areas, the Delhi government had installed gates with taxpayers’ money.

Tiwari further added that the areas visited by him were dominated by members of a particular community. Victims told Tiwari that till date the local MLA and other ministers have neither taken care of them, nor they have received any compensation amount.

In the letter, Tiwari has also accused the Delhi government of providing legal help to people belonging to the same aforesaid community. He has questioned Kejriwal for this discrimination. Tiwari said that victims from both communities have been killed and injured in the violence, so why are double standards being adopted for compensation. He has also alleged that the government is discriminating through face and name.

According to reports, Hindu families are troubled by the threats from one particular community. As per the local people, people from that particular community knock the door of Hindus at night and issue threats.

Significantly, thought the anti-Hindu riots took place in North-East Delhi on 24 February, 2020, the conspiracy of setting off the riots was hatched in the January itself. On 23 February, the first incident of violence took place in Zafarabad and the next day, pre-planned riots erupted.

However, elaborate efforts were made by the so-called liberals to perpetuate the eternal victimhood of Muslims, shield the Islamic fundamentalists who incited the riots and paint the Hindus as the aggressors. But the charge sheet filed by police in this case and the ground reports of Opindia have exposed the vile propaganda floated by the liberals.

The mainstream media, along with their liberal counterparts, have unscrupulously chalked up the cause of the riots to the resentment among the Muslims with regards to India’s Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 that provides fastrack means for applying for India’s Citizenship to the persecuted minorities from the neighbouring countries.

OpIndia’s detailed report on the chronology of the event that led up to the riots is now available on Kindle. It has a comprehensive account of the loss of life and property in riots and how Hindus were targeted.

President Donald Trump hints at banning TikTok in the United States, the decision may be taken today

OpIndia Staff
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President Donald Trump hints at banning TikTok in the United States, the decision may be taken today

On Friday, US President Donald Trump informed that he might ban TikTok, a Chinese video-sharing social media app, in the country. The move comes in the backdrop of stalled trade and escalated tensions between the United States and China, amidst the Coronavirus pandemic.

“We are looking at TikTok. We may be banning it… A lot of happening. We are looking at other alternatives with respect to TikTok,” President Donald Trump said addressing the media.

Speaking to Fox Business, a TikTok spokesperson said, “Hundreds of millions of people come to TikTok for entertainment and connection, including our community of creators and artists who are building livelihoods from the platform. We’re motivated by their passion and creativity, and committed to protecting their privacy and safety as we continue working to bring joy to families and meaningful careers to those who create on our platform.”

Press Briefing by Donald Trump (Video Credits: CNBC)

Reportedly, President Donald Trump could impose a ban on the Chinese app TikTok as early as Saturday, the 1st of August 2020.

Security threat to the US

The operations of the said Chinese app have been under the scanner of the secretive Committee on Foreign Investment in the US. As per the report, lawmakers in the country had also raised privacy concerns and accused TikTok of sharing user data of Americans with the Communist Party of China (CCP). The security concerns surrounding the app has forced the US military to direct its soldiers to stop using it.

India bans TikTok

In June, the Government of India banned TikTok and 58 apps over security and privacy concerns. The Ministry of Information Technology, invoking its power under section 69A of Information Technology Act, with the relevant provisions of the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking of Access of Information by Public) Rules 2009 has ordered a block on the use of 59 apps saying that these apps are “engaged in activities which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, the security of the state and public order”.

Irrfan Khan’s son Babil goes from being ‘Dara Hua Musalman’ to ‘I was raised without a religion’

OpIndia Staff
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Irrfan Khan’s son Babil goes from being ‘Dara Hua Musalman’ to ‘I was raised without a religion’

Days after Babil Khan, the son of Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan, took to social media to declare himself a ‘Dara Hua Musalman’ and misled people on having a state holiday for Raksha Bandhan and not having one for Eid, he has now backtracked from his earlier rhetoric to claim that ‘he had no religion’ as he was raised without one.

On Wednesday, Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan’s son, Babil had taken to Instagram to express fear of not being able to post anything on social media against the ‘people in power’ as it may ruin his career. In a series of posts on his Instagram stories, Babil said that having a holiday for Raksha Bandhan and not having one for Eid is against the secular fabric of our nation.

Image Source: Babil Khan

Babil Khan had claimed that he did not want to be judged by his religion and said that he is a human being just like rest of the Indians. Further, Khan also said he was upset that the mandatory state holiday for Bakra Eid which falls on Friday is cancelled and Raksha Bandhan, which falls on Monday is a holiday. He claimed that secular India is having a relapse of ‘religious divide’ and is getting scary.

However, Babil Khan, who was busy playing his victim card, was caught peddling misinformation regarding mandatory holidays for Hindu festivals and none for the Eid. According to the govt notification, while Eid ul-Adha (Bakri Eid) which falls on Friday, is declared a central government holiday but Raksha Bandhan is not one. Even Maharashtra government has declared Bakri Eid as a government holiday.

Babil Khan takes a u-turn, says he does not belong to any religion

As Babil Khan’s act of pushing ‘Dara Hua Musalman’ narrative failed to garner any sympathy from the ‘liberal-secular’ establishment, he has now taken a u-turn from his earlier rhetoric to now claim that he did not belong to any religion as he was raised by his parents without any religion.

Days after associating himself with Islam, Babil on Friday took a u-turn to write a series of emotional Instagram stories about not wanting to be judged on the basis of religion.

“All of this hate for misplacing Raksha Bandhan and Eid, you missed my point: I am talking about a mindset that is developing which is of a divide between our people. I am trying to speak up against the divide, not when Raksha Bandhan and Eid is. I’m just trying to tell you that l love you, no matter where you come from or what religion or what your past has been, love you because you are human,” wrote Babil Khan in his Instagram post.

Babil Khan, whose mother is a Hindu, responded to a user on the ongoing controversy, “My mom is Hindu, I was raised as a man without a religion. I have enjoyed the festivities of Diwali and Holi and Raksha Bandhan and Eid and I’ve also been to a church and paid my respect. Bro you are talking with so much hate for so long, I think you must question if the hate is in me or you. Hate against Hindus, I LOVE PEOPLE, I’m trying to stand FOR PEOPLE, it is people like you trying to bring me down.”

Babil Khan is the son of late Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan who recently lost his life after battling with a terminal illness. Islamists celebrated his death for his progressive views and called his untimely demise a ‘punishment in Ramzan’. Khan himself criticised the practice of killing a goat for ‘Qurbani’ on Eid, the non-existent ‘cancelled holiday’ his son is so worked about.

Following controversy surrounding Ekta Kapoor and ‘XXX’ series, MoD writes to CBFC: Depicting Armed forces in web series or films to require NOC

OpIndia Staff
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Following controversy surrounding Ekta Kapoor and ‘XXX’ series, MoD writes to CBFC: Depicting Armed forces in web series or films to require NOC

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has written a letter to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) directing and production houses to obtain a non-objection certificate (NoC) from the Ministry before releasing movies and web series, featuring the armed forces, online. The decision has been taking after several complaints were received about the depiction of the Indian Army XXX Uncensored (Season – 2), for which, an FIR was filed against Ekta Kapoor.

In the serial, it is said that the uniform of the Indian Army was distorted and depicted in a bad light that hurt the sentiments of serving Army personnel and veterans.

As per the report, the MoD has taken notice of the films that ‘distort the image of the Indian Army.’ The Defence Ministry further reiterated that a no-objection certificate will ensure that movies, which show the armed forces in a bad light, can be prevented from being telecast.

Letter from the Ministry of Defence to the CBFC after complaints were received Army uniform was distorted in XXX Uncensored by Ekta Kapoor
Letter from the Ministry of Defence to the CBFC after complaints about Army uniform being distorted in XXX Uncensored

The Ministry of Defence has also communicated about the same to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for consideration. Reportedly, the MoD has received complaints about the ‘insulting manner’ in which the men in uniform are portrayed in several web series/movies that are streamed online.

FIR against Ekta Kapoor for insulting armed forces in XXX

Earlier, an FIR was registered against Producer Ekta Kapoor and others for hurting religious sentiments, insulting army personnel, and improper use of the national emblem in the web series ‘XXX’ streaming on ALTBalaji by one Neeraj Yagnik. As per police, the FIR had been lodged under several sections of the Indian Penal Code and IT act at the Annapurna police station.

Station House Officer Satish Dwivedi said, “After an initial inquiry, police registered an FIR against Ekta Kapoor for hurting religious sentiments and insulting the national emblem in the web series under several sections of the IPC and IT act.”

BMC allows sacrifice of 150 buffaloes per day for Eid, Muslim organisation fumes, to move HC for permission to slaughter 5,000 buffaloes

OpIndia Staff
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BMC allows sacrifice of 150 buffaloes per day for Eid, Muslim organisation fumes, to move HC for permission to slaughter 5,000 buffaloes

Ahead of the Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha, the Mumbai civic body – Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has issued a fresh circular on Friday permitting religious sacrifice of 150 water buffaloes per day from August 1 to August 3 for Eid between 6 am and 6 pm only at the Deonar abattoir.

According to reports, the BMC issued such a notification to restrict the slaughter of buffaloes ahead of the Eid after Bombay high court issued a direction to the civic body on the same.

A bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Sarang Kotwal on Friday, while hearing a PIL, asked special civic counsel Anil Sakhare to submit a circular to the court regarding the number of buffaloes allowed to sacrifice for Bakra-Eid festival from this Saturday.

The BMC circular has now restricted slaughtering to 150 buffaloes at the abattoir due to coronavirus guidelines and this would continue till further orders. The circular by BMC has now asked for strict compliance of social distancing and other norms under coronavirus pandemic guidelines, including compulsory masks, and ensure the use of hand sanitizers.

The bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Sarang Kotwal, who heard the PIL filed by Al-Quraish Human Welfare Association and others seeking its intervention after pointing to a July 25 BMC order restricting the slaughter to take place at the abattoir alone.

Petitioners reject court order, to move to High Court

Imran Qureshi, the Vice-President of All-India Jamiat, said it was shocking that BMC put a restriction of 150 cattle despite us mentioning 5,000 in our PIL. We will move the high court for contempt of court on Saturday, Qureshi added.

The PIL petitioners Mohammad Asif Qureshi and Haji Kudratullah Quereshi contended that usually during Bakra-Eid about 15,000 sacrifices would take place at the abattoir but during the pandemic given financial difficulties the number of sacrifices would be less than 40 per cent. The petitioners had said since the abattoir was closed, without a special order, sacrificing water buffaloes there would not be possible.

The PIL, however, said that the Deonar Abattoir was permitting 150 to be slaughtered each day during the lockdown and on general days more than 6,000 water buffaloes would be slaughtered each week at the abattoir.

However, while disposing of the PIL, the High Court noted, “The civic administration and police shall ensure there is no remissness in abiding by terms of the circular”.

Maharashtra govt gives relaxation to Muslims ahead of Eid

Earlier, the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra headed by ‘secular’ Shiv Sena had reportedly announced certain restrictions imposed in the coronavirus guidelines ahead of Eid.

Initially, the Maha Vikas Aghadi government had issued a set of guidelines for celebrating the Muslim festival of Bakra Eid on July 31 and August 1 amid the coronavirus pandemic. As per the guidelines, people were asked to offer namaz at home instead of thronging nearby mosques and asked to purchase animals online or over the phone. The guidelines called for a symbolic celebration of Bakra Eid, which rankled a raft of Muslims, including Muslim legislators.

However, a group of disgruntled Muslim leaders of Maha Vikas Aghadi government raised their grievances against the restrictions placed by the Maharashtra government ahead of Eid al-Adha, leading Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to relax these norms to benefit Muslims ahead of the Eid.

Karnataka state government puts on hold the deletion of the chapter on Tipu Sultan from history textbooks

OpIndia Staff
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Karnataka state government puts on hold the deletion of the chapter on Tipu Sultan from history textbooks

On Thursday, the Karnataka government reportedly halted its decision to drop chapter on Tipu Sultan from the class 7 curriculum in the State. Besides, the chapter on the ruler has also been retained in the syllabus for class 6 and class 10.

As per reports, the Education Minister S Suresh Kumar informed that the proposal to drop the chapter on the 18th-century tyrant of Mysore will be finalised after estimating the remaining days in the current academic year. An official statement, regarding the issue, read, “On the instructions of primary and higher education minister, the announcement on the revised syllabus (is) on temporary hold. After reviewing the trimmed lessons, details will be announced on the website.” 

According to Madde Gowda, the managing director of Karnataka Textbook Society, a committee comprising of history experts were tasked to recommend ways to reduce the syllabus for the current academic year, as schools and educational institutes had been shut until August 31. “The syllabus for classes 1-10 was reduced to 120 days from 240 days for the academic year, as 60 days (June and July) have already gone without schools reopening due to the COVID spread,” he was quoted as saying.

At the time the decision was taken to drop the chapter due to the Coronavirus pandemic and schools remaining shut, Madde, talking about the removal of several chapters from the textbooks, had said, “The chapter on Tipu Sultan for Class 7 has been dropped to reduce the syllabus by 30 per cent for this academic year due to delay in reopening of schools due to no let-up in coronavirus spread.”

Karnataka Education Minister gives assurance to stakeholders

The Education Minister assured that no content will be removed from the curriculum without the consent of stakeholders. He further informed that teaching modules are being created to specially cater to the new form of digital teaching.

Besides Tipu Sultan, the Karnataka government had also dropped chapters on the Indian Constitution, Jesus Christ, Prophet Mohammed, and the history of Mughals and Rajputs. Reportedly, the move had drawn criticism from several quarters, including the Opposition parties, teachers, and students.

Karnataka CM BS Yeddyurappa had earlier claimed of removing references to Tipu Sultan

Tipu Sultan has been a polarizing figure in the state of Karnataka where people’s opinions about him range from him being a fierce freedom fighter to a tyrannical despot. Last year, chief minister of Karnataka, BS Yediyurappa had asserted that his government was contemplating expunging references to Tipu Sultan from textbooks. Yediyurappa said that Tipu Sultan was not a freedom fighter and he doesn’t deserve a place in the school textbooks.

Parwez Parvaz, who had once moved court seeking FIR against Yogi Adityanath, gets convicted in a gangrape case and is awarded life imprisonment

OpIndia Staff
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Parwez Parvaz, who had once moved court seeking FIR against Yogi Adityanath, gets convicted in a gangrape case and is awarded life imprisonment

Parwez Parvaz, who had moved the Allahabad High Court in 2007 seeking an FIR against Yogi Adityanath, has been convicted in a 2018 gangrape case. According to reports, the 65-year-old Parvaz has been sentenced to life imprisonment along with another co-accused in a 2018 gangrape case by the district sessions court of Gorakhpur.

Parvaz and another person were accused of gang-raping a 40-year-old woman on June 3, 2018. In her complaint, the victim had said that she had visited Jumman Baba on June 3, 2018, for “seeking remedies” for her marital problems. However, the accused had taken her to an isolated place and raped her at gunpoint along with a person who Jumman called Parvez Bhai.

“District and Sessions Judge Govind Vallabh Sharma on Tuesday sentenced the two accused – Parwez Parvaz and Mehmood alias Jumman – to life imprisonment. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 each on both and ordered that Rs 40,000 from the fine be given to the gangrape victim,” government counsel Yashpal Singh said.

Meanwhile, Parvaz’s lawyer Miftahul Islam said that they will be challenging the conviction in a higher court.

The lawyer alleged that they were not allowed to submit written arguments on Tuesday. The judgment was pronounced without any arguments, Islam said. The government counsel has however said that Parvaz’ lawyers were given enough time to submit their arguments.

Parvaz’s allegations against Yogi Adityanath

In 2007, Parvaz had moved the Allahabad High Court seeking registration of an FIR against Yogi Adityanath, who was then an MP from Gorakhpur, alleging that he delivered a hate speech. 

An FIR was lodged by Parvez Parwaz in 2008, in which he had accused the then Gorakhpur MP Yogi Adityanath, mayor Anju Chaudhri, then MLA Radha Mohan Agarwal and one more person of inciting communal violence.

Parvaz had alleged that the clashes had broken out in the city after Yogi Adityanath had allegedly incited the public outside the railway station. Yogi Adityanath was speaking in response to the killing of a Hindu youth Raj Kumar Agrahri, who was stabbed to death in a clash between Hindu and Muslim groups during Moharram processions. 

Yogi Adityanath was also arrested and sent to jail for 15 days. In May 2017, the Uttar Pradesh government refused to give sanction to prosecution against Chief Minister in the case in the 2007 hate speech case. In 2018, The petitioners had then filed a petition in the Allahabad High Court challenging the UP government’s refusal to grant sanction to prosecute Adityanath in the hate speech case.

However, the Allahabad High Court had dismissed the writ petition filed by Parvaz against Yogi Adityanath after it allowed the UP government to not prosecute Adityanath.

American Organisation to protest against ‘Hindu Fascists’ at New York during Bhoomi Pujan of Ram Mandir, supports ‘liberation of Kashmir’

OpIndia Staff
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American Organisation to protest against ‘Hindu Fascists’ at New York during Bhoomi Pujan of Ram Mandir, supports ‘liberation of Kashmir’

The South Asia Solidarity Initiative (SASI), a far-left group with links to dubious anti-India organisations, has called for people to join them in their bid to disrupt what it called a ‘vile spectacle of fascism’. The announcement came after it was revealed that images of Shri Ram and 3-D images of the model of the Ram Mandir at Janmabhoomi will be displayed at the Times Square on 5th August.

Image Credit: SASI/Twitter

In a statement on Twitter, SASI also said that the VHP is a ‘hate group’ that is one of the ‘many fascist organisational branches’. It was also claimed that the VHP is best known for “instigating mob violence in the name of cow protection, religious conversions, temple renovations and “love jihads”.”

Going a step further from the usual demonisation of Prime Minister Modi, SASI claimed that Narendra Modi has been responsible for “massacres across generations”. “Modi was among the key organizers of the demolition of the mosque in 1992. He would again play a significant role a decade later in Gujarat, where he incited a genocide. Today he is being celebrated by fascists in New York City,” its statement said.

Needless to say, these are baseless accusations that do not have an iota of truth in them. Narendra Modi does not have any charges against him for the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992, and he was not a well known national leader at that time. The key accused in that particular case are other politicians. Furthermore, the Indian Judiciary has absolved Narendra Modi of all accusations levelled against him in connection with the Gujarat Riots of 2002. Thus, quite clearly, that SASI is raising such allegations in the current context throws some light into their political outlook.

As it so happens, their activities demonstrate quite evidently their anti-India slant quite effectively. In a statement on the ‘Kashmir Liberation Movement’, SASI said that “ASI is in complete solidarity with the Kashmiri liberation movement. Kashmir is not an integral part of the state of India, but it is a nation under occupation. Kashmiri voices must always be centered as well as the right for self-determination.” “SASI stands in solidarity with Kashmiris resisting occupation by the Indian state, and we echo calls for azaadi — for liberation,” it added.

In its statement on the Pulwama Terror Attack, SASI said, “Hindu nationalists are using the Pulwama attack to fuel anti-Muslim violence and war-mongering.” It stated further, “Shortly following the Pulwama attack, terrifying violence erupted against Kashmiri Muslims in the Jammu region of Jammu-Kashmir (JK) as well as several states in India. Even though a curfew was imposed on Jammu, Hindutva mobs were allowed to roam freely and attack Muslim colonies, targeting homes and burning vehicles.”

The statement said further, “We fear for and are in solidarity with Indian and Kashmiri Muslims living in the region, facing an accelerated and terrifying political climate. Anyone with a sense of decency and conscience must now be forceful, more than ever before, on the urgency of ending the occupation and withdrawing all army personnel from the occupied territories of Kashmir.” Nowhere in the statement did SASI condemn the terror attack or even call it an act of terrorism even as it spread falsehoods against India.

Furthermore, SASI also works in close collaboration with Stand With Kashmir, a Kashmiri separatist organisation that we have reported on extensively. SWK was active during the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act as well and is known to the Pakistani line on Kashmir. It places the entire blame for trouble in the valley on India while maintaining a stoic silence on Pakistan sponsored terrorism and downplaying the genocide of Kashmiri Pandits.

Image Source Twitter

From its name, it is evident that individuals from Bangladesh and Pakistan are associated with SASI as well. They are also quite vocal during the ongoing social upheaval in the United States. In a podcast, SASI collective members Chaya, Nufail, Sheila and Theresa discussed “the ongoing Black Lives Matter movement, our experiences with the protests in New York City during a pandemic, thoughts on the numerous solidarity groups in formation and how Hindutva groups have been using #blm to further fascist agendas.”

Individuals with origins in Bangladesh and Pakistan trying to defame India in the West is nothing surprising. Ziad Ahmed, an American Muslim student of Bangladeshi origin, has been working overtime through an organisation he floated along with others, Students Against Hindutva Ideology, to demonise Hindutva and Hindus in the United States. We have reported on that organisation extensively as well.

Thus, the antecedents of SASI is quite evident from its actions thus far. Thus, it is not surprising at all that they are trying to tarnish India’s reputation on an occasion that is auspicious for Hindus worldwide. For an organisation that does not consider Kashmir to be an integral part of India, despite all historical evidence, it is only natural that they are resorting to spreading Hinduphobia on the day of the Bhoomi Pujan event at Ram Janmabhoomi as well.

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