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Making sense of the tax on parota vs roti debate: Read what the GST authority’s ruling exactly says

OpIndia Staff
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Making sense of the tax on parota vs roti debate: Read what the GST authority’s ruling exactly says

A recent ruling by the Authority of Advance Ruling in Karnataka saying that Parotas are not rotis, and hence they will attract 18% GST instead of 5%, have caused much outrage on social media. After the ruling was reported by various media houses, people assumed that they will have to higher tax if they consume parota in their favourite food joint, as compared to rotis, both being popular flatbreads that originated in the Indian subcontinent.

The kind of media reports which came out certainly made it look bizarre and unreasonable, causing outrage on social media. But the question is, was the decision bizarre or there is something more on the issue? Let us examine the facts.

On studying the order, it becomes clear that this case is a classic example of how misinformation and fake news spread, and how some media houses contribute to this by not reporting the full facts related to a matter. Because, the ruling of AAR is not at all related to the Parotas served at food stalls and restaurants. The decision by Authority of Advance Ruling is related to frozen packaged parotas manufactured by food processing industries, and it is not applicable to fresh Parotas prepared by eateries.

The ruling was issued after a Karnataka based food processing company ID Fresh Food Pvt Ltd applied to the AAR under section 97 of the CGST Act, 2017, seeking to classify their packaged Malabar parotas and whole wheat parotas (or Paranthas) under Chapter heading 1905. Items listed in chapter 1905 attract GST rate of 5%, and it includes items like khakhra, chapatti, roti, bread, pastry and other baked products. The company argued that parotas are similar to rotis, chapattis and khakhras, and they should be taxed at the same rate.

The AAR studied the matter in detail, and they ruled that the parotas sold by the company are not same as rotis and khakhras. They found that the heading 1905 covers completely cooked food products which are ready for consumption. The item Parota is not included in any list in the Customs Tariff Act, 1985 and the GST Tariff. Therefore, the authority had to analyse the item to determine the appropriate category for it under the tax rules.

Screenshot from AAR ruling on Parota

The AAR found that the parotas sold by the company are not ready to eat items in the heading 1905 like rotis and pastries, and they need further processing by the consumers before eating them. Therefore, they are not ready to eat products, and will attract tax rate as applicable with other ready to cook processed packaged food products.

The AAR has determined that the packaged Parotas will come under heading 2106, and accordingly it will be taxed at 18%. The order makes it clear that it is applicable to the parotas made in the factories of the food processing company, which are kept frozen, and they need further processing by consumers before consuming them. This also makes it clear that the order is not applicable to parotas served at food stalls and restaurants, which are completely cooked products and consumers can consume them directly without requiring any further processing.

Screenshot from AAR ruling on Parota

It is important to note that plain roti or parota served in a restaurant or provided in takeaway get same treatment in rates and attract 5% GST only, unlike what some sensational news reports conveyed.

It may be noted that the frozen parotas like the ones sold by the company are preserved, sealed packed, branded and are usually sold at higher price. It is not a staple food and is generally consumed by the class which could afford to pay taxes. Moreover, even items like cheaper biscuits, pastries, cakes, etc., attract GST at the rate of 18%. Frozen foods can’t be comparable to plain roti or plain parota served in restaurants.

It is a standard practise worldwide to tax processed or packaged foods at a higher rate. For example, milk is tax free, but tetrapacked milk is taxed at 5% and condensed milk is taxed at 12%.  The food processing companies make significant profits on sale of packaged food items by selling them at higher rates. These items are largely consumed by those who are economically better. That is why world over such items are taxed at a higher rate.

So, there is no need to worry before ordering a parota at a restaurant, the GST on it remains same as a roti or a pastry. And, this shows how unnecessary outrage and debates are triggered by media houses by simply hiding a small but important detail while reporting.

Whatsapp group formed on Feb 25th to retaliate against Muslim mobs during anti-Hindu Delhi riots, chargesheet filed

OpIndia Staff
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Whatsapp group formed on Feb 25th to retaliate against Muslim mobs during anti-Hindu Delhi riots, chargesheet filed

The role of one WhatsApp group has now come forward in the anti-CAA riots that took place in Delhi in the month of February and a chargesheet has been filed in the case. The WhatsApp group was formed after Hindus witnessed large scale violence by Muslims the day before. It was formed between the afternoon of the 25th of February and the midnight of February 26.

It is pertinent to note that the anti-Hindu riots in Delhi started on the 23rd of February where Islamist mobs went on a rampage. It is also pertinent to note that IB staffer Ankit Sharma’s body was found from a Chand Bagh drain on the afternoon of 26th.

Members of the WhatsApp group are allegedly responsible for 9 murders that occurred during the riots. The group had Lokesh Solanki and others. It initially had 125 members when it began but 47 of them left it later on. The administrator of the group was one Ritik. The members of the group camped at a particular spot and allegedly murdered passers-by after checking their identities.

The victims of the said group include Amin, Hamza and brothers Hashim Ali and Aamir among others. Nine of the twelve accused have already been arrested. A chargesheet in the matter has been filed. It was reported earlier that the police had discovered that “during peak rioting, a WhatsApp group was created on the intervening night of February 25 and 26, which has 125 members”.

In a subsequent statement by the Delhi Police, it was said, “Two active members of the WhatsApp group were located and joined in the investigation. During the investigation, their mobile phones were scanned and the specific WhatsApp group created on February 25 was also identified”.

“It was revealed that while some members of these groups were only sending and receiving chats, few others were involved in active rioting,” said the statement. “Both the deceased were real brothers who were murdered on February 26 between 9 pm and 10 pm. All the accused persons are presently in judicial custody. Their several bail applications have been rejected,” it added.

Delhi Riots Chargesheets

The Delhi Police has filed multiple charge sheets in connection with the anti-CAA riots in the national capital in February while US President Donald Trump was on an official visit to India. The charge sheets highlighted the involvement of AAP Councillor Tahir Hussain in the murder of IB Constable Ankit Sharma, which was said to be a deep-rooted conspiracy.

The charge sheets also highlight the role of Islamist JNU ‘scholar’ Umar Khalid and the radical activists of far-left activist group Pinjra Tod. Numerous arrests have been made in this regard as well.

The Wire raves and rants, accuses Modi govt of ‘Patriarchal Authoritarianism’ to shield arrested women anti-CAA hoodlums

Jinit Jain
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The Wire raves and rants, accuses Modi govt of ‘Patriarchal Authoritarianism’ to shield arrested women anti-CAA hoodlums

Anger is a very powerful and fleeting emotion. However, anger that is channelised into a more sinister form—hatred is an all-consuming and enduring sentiment. Very few possess what it takes to be perennially saddled with this lingering feeling of vitriol. The folks at the lie and hate-mongering factory, The Wire, are few of those who have mastered the proficiency of preserving this hatred and transferring it along in their circles without any attenuation. It is an online congregation of hate-mongers where they firehose the platform with their animosity against the Modi government.

Recently, ‘The Wire’ published an article titled ‘Big Brother’s Patriarchal Authoritarianism’ which vilified the democratically elected central government as an authoritarian regime with patriarchal impulses. The article spuriously drew a parallel between the Communist regime in China’s despotic rule to the parliamentary rule in India citing the arrests of female anarchists such as Safoora Zargar, Natasha Narwal, Devangana Kalita, Gulfisha Fatima and others for inciting unrest in the country on the pretext of carrying out “peaceful protest” against the CAA.

The author of the article published on The Wire quotes the book-“Betraying Big Brother” which is based on the arrest of five women by the Chinese government in March 2015 to equate it with the recent arrest of women protesters in India in connection with the violent demonstrations that rocked several parts of the country, especially the national capital and culminated into full-blown communal riots in the northeast Delhi. The Wire article cautions that just like the arrest of Chinese women, apparently in a bid to crush the fledgeling Feminist movement, ended up touching off wider protests, similarly, the incarceration of women anti-CAA offenders might spark off widespread anarchy across the country.

This romanticism with anarchy has become a cornerstone of liberal narrative against the Modi government. Decisions take by the Modi government are opposed on the flimsiest of grounds so that hostility against the centre remains ignited. The protesters are rallied on the street to amplify the visibility of their demonstrations while painting the government as cruel and oppressive.

Any corrective action taken against the leftist hoodlums by the central government or the police machinery is stridently opposed, initially by tackling it with legal recourse through a battery of bushy-tailed advocates who feel no compunction in wasting the precious time of judiciary. When all the judicial remedies at their disposal are exhausted, the leftists indulge in psychological warfare, writing elaborate opinion columns, citing obscure books and equating fundamentally distinct events to galvanise a groundswell of opposition against the disciplinary action taken against the leftist delinquents.

After multiple refusal from various courts in India, including the Supreme Court, to grant the anarchist protesters any respite by the form of allowing them bail, the leftists organisations have swung into action to activate their psychological battle with a two-pronged strategy—generating sympathy wave for the protesters lodged in jail by deviously humanising them while continuing their anti-Modi bashing unabated.

A few days back, an article published on ‘The Wire’ invoked the prized notion of ‘motherhood’ hailed by Indians to make a case for Safoora Zargar’s release while raining criticism on the Indian society and political class for allowing the incarceration of a pregnant woman. Criminality or innocence of Safoora Zargar, who is accused of inciting mob on Jafrabad Metro Station in Delhi that led to Delhi riots, was of no consequence for the author of the article. All she cared about was slamming the government for imprisoning a pregnant lady, regardless of her culpability.

The article about the ‘Patriarchal Authoritarianism’ is part the psychological warfare that the left has unleashed against the Modi government. The left seems to have too many aces in the hole that they pull out periodically to mount their attack against PM Modi. “Fascism”, “Authoritarianism”, “Despotism”, “Patriarchy”, “Motherhood”, “Communalism” are such aces that the liberals draw out to malign their nemesis–PM Modi. In the above article too, the author has unscrupulously compared two fundamentally different countries–China and India, to allege that they are similar in exercising “Patriarchal Authoritarianism”.

Like in the case of invoking motherhood of Safoora Zargar to shield her from the consequences of indulging in patently criminal activities, the author in this article calls to attention the imaginary “Patriarchal Authoritarianism” by the government to plead innocence of the women arrested by the police in inciting protests across the country. Perhaps, according to the author’s liberal lexicon, when a democracy with an independent judiciary acts against women perpetrators, it suddenly transmogrifies into “Patriarchal Authoritarianism”.

One of the reasons why the liberalism in India is on the wane and is scoffed at by the majority of the country is because of its inherently contradictory set of beliefs that do not jibe with each other. On one hand, the liberals in India profess that the men and women should be equally treated while on the other hand, they indiscriminately pull out cards such as “patriarchy”, “anti-feminist” and “misogynists” to besmirch those try to uphold equality in the society. The principle of gender equality states that there should not be differential treatment meted out based on one’s gender. Then why are the liberals accusing the government of “Patriarchal Authoritarianism” when the police are arresting female offenders who ginned up violent protests?

The Wire has, undoubtedly, mastered this act of double-dealing. The author of the article in The Wire refers to the arrest of anti-CAA riots protesters–Safoora Zargar, Pinjra Tod protesters-Devangana Kalita and Natasha Narwal, Gulfisha Fatima and others a result of the centre’s patriarchal authoritarianism. One of the most inconspicuously treacherous pursuits the folks at The Wire and similar organisations undertake is to extenuate the alleged crimes committed by painting these anarchists as victims while characterising the government which acts against these offenders as oppressive. There’s damning evidence in possession of Delhi Police in the form of Whatsapp chats and video footage that conclusively prove that the Delhi riots convulsed the national capital in February this year were a part of a deep-rooted, well-planned conspiracy to throw the national capital into a state of anarchy.

Espousing “selectivity” is another such trait endemic to liberal intelligentsia. As the concept of “Patriarchal Authoritarianism” dictated the author to only include select incidents where the government appears to have targeted the women protesters, leaving out the punitive actions undertaken by the government against Shaheen Bagh protest co-organiser Sharjeel Imam, who had launched a diatribe against the territorial integrity of India and urged Muslims to cut off Assam from the rest of country, and others such Akhil Gogoi, Bittu Sonowal, Manas Konwar, Dhairjya Konwar—who are all charged under UAPA for stoking unrest under the garb of leading anti-CAA protests. The Modi government has veritably upholded gender-equality in punishing the miscreants exhibiting seditious proclivities.

Besides, the Modi government has also worked furiously in empowering women and reducing gender disparity. In 2015, the Modi government launched “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” scheme to create awareness among the masses about the importance of educating a girl child. A year later, it launched Mahila-e-Haat, a bilingual online marketing platform to help aspiring women entrepreneurs, self-help groups, and NGOs to display their products and services. ‘Mahila Shakti Kendra’ was instituted in 2017 to equip rural women with opportunities for skill development, digital literacy, health and nutrition. Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana empowered deprived women by providing them with clean fuel. This list isn’t remotely comprehensive. There are other schemes, policies and measures adopted by the government aimed at women empowerment.

However, these facts are conveniently ignored by the author lest they would disembowel his rickety assertion that the Modi government displayed “Patriarchal Authoritarianism” by subjugating women protesters engaging in inciting violence. For far too long, The Wire and its writers have shown blithe disregard for the facts and have brazenly defended the wrongdoers despite overwhelming evidence suggesting their culpability. They have not let reality impede their attempts to perpetuate propaganda. When the sole aim of their existence is to vilify the Modi government, facts are too inconsequential a thing to curb their shenanigans.

Hindu organisation challenges Place of Worship Act in Supreme Court, criticises Parliament for transgressing its legislative power

OpIndia Staff
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Hindu organisation challenges Place of Worship Act in Supreme Court, criticises Parliament for transgressing its legislative power

A Hindu organisation, Vishwa Bhadra Pujari Purohit Mahasangh, has reportedly moved the Supreme Court of India challenging Section 4 of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 that calls for maintaining status quo of all places of worship, except the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya. They claim that the said law is a hindrance in the path of legally reclaiming disputed religious structures, such as Kashi and Mathura.

Section 4(1) of the Act states, “It is hereby declared that the religious character of a place of worship existing on the 15th day of August 1947 shall continue to be the same as it existed on that day.” As such, no mosque can be converted into a temple and vice-versa. The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the Hindu body has sought for declaring the contentious section of the Act as ultra vires and unconstitutional. The move may open the legal route to reclaim disputed religious sites other than the Ram Mandir.

“The impugned Act has barred the right and remedy against encroachment made on the religious property of Hindus exercising might of power by followers of another faith,” the petition said. The Hindu organisation argued that the said provisions of the Act prevented aggrieved parties from resolving their grievances through civil suits or invoking High Court’s jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Indian Constitution.

Prevents Judicial Remedy

The petition stated that the contentious Act prevented the restoration of the religious character of the Hindu religious structures that have been encroached upon by ‘followers of other Faith’, prior to August 15, 1947. The Hindu body argued that the Parliament had acted in an unconstitutional manner by making an ‘impugned provision’ and as such had ceased the resolution of disputes through court proceedings.

Read- Places of Worship Act- A hurdle in reclaiming ancient Hindu heritage destroyed by Muslim invaders

The petition argued that the Parliament had ‘transgressed’ its power of making laws by barring judicial remedy, a basic tenant of the Constitution. The Hindu body further stated that under Article 32 (Remedies for enforcement of rights) and Article 226 (Empowers the High Courts to issue directions), the Parliament cannot take the power of aggrieved citizens to approach appellate Courts and Courts of the first instance.

Cannot make laws with retrospective effect

Seeking restoration of all proceedings abated due to Section 4 of the Places of Worship Act, the Hindu body stated that devotees have their Right to Religion guaranteed under Article 25 of the Constitution. It reiterated that the Parliament cannot stop devotees from getting the custody of their religious sites through the Court of law. The Parliament cannot restrain Hindu devotees to get back their religious places of worship through the judicial process and cannot make any law which takes away or abridges the vested religious right of devotees and cannot make any law with retrospective effect,” it said.

Fresh cases of coronavirus reported from the Chinese capital city Beijing, markets, schools shut

OpIndia Staff
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Fresh cases of coronavirus reported from the Chinese capital city Beijing, markets, schools shut

Fresh cases of coronavirus have been reported from Chinese capital Beijing this week resulting in authorities shutting six major wholesale food markets and locking down few residential blocks on Friday.

According to the reports, the fresh cases have now raised fears of a resurgence of the pandemic in the Communist country after China had claimed that it had brought domestic coronavirus infections under control. 

The six new cases were reported in Beijing on Friday and another one was reported on Thursday. The new cases in Beijing comes after no new cases for nearly two months.

According to the city officials, two new cases were reported on Friday are colleagues from a meat research centre in Beijing’s Fengtai District. Both the cases had not come contacted any confirmed or suspected coronavirus carriers. They are now receiving treatment at a local hospital. 

Beijing put on high alert; markets, schools closed

The local government has also locked down the residential areas where the three other patients were found. The local Xinfadi meat wholesale market and Jingshen seafood market have also been closed on Friday for disinfection and environmental sample collection after both the patients had visited the market.

Beijing’s Education Commission said on Friday it had cancelled first, second and third-graders’ planned return to school on Monday — affecting some 5,20,000 students

Meanwhile, Beijing has been put on high alert and emergency response has been readied to prevent a new spike after fresh cases were detected in the city within two days.

China’s dubious data on coronavirus cases

China, which is the epicentre of the Wuhan coronavirus from where the pandemic spread to the rest of the world, had earlier claimed that the country only saw 84,000 infections and just over 4,600 deaths from coronavirus.

However, the figures published by the Chinese government has been rejected by the rest of the world resulting in widespread scepticism over the authenticity of claims made by the Chinese establishment. Even in China, discontent among people had risen after the Communist Party of China released numbers indicating that the contagion has been brought under control. 

Additionally, a database leak from a Chinese military-run university had exposed dubious claims made by China regarding the number of the affected person due to the coronavirus as the leaked data had suggested that at least 640,000 people have affected contrary to the claims of only 84,000 coronavirus infections in the country.

Former CPI(M) Rajya Sabha member from West Bengal booked 63 train tickets in January, used only 7

OpIndia Staff
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Former CPI(M) Rajya Sabha member from West Bengal booked 63 train tickets in January, used only 7

The Rajya Sabha secretariat noted in a report that a former CPI(M) Rajya Sabha member from West Bengal booked 63 train tickets in January 2019 but used only seven of them. The issue was raised in the report when the said parliamentarian sought reimbursement of all 63 tickets. The government has to pay Rs.1,69,005 for these tickets in total while the cost of tickets on which he travelled was only Rs.22,085. That makes an extra payment of Rs.1,46,920 that could have been easily avoided if the former Rajya Sabha member cancelled the tickets on time.

Travel benefits for former Parliamentarians

Former Parliamentarians get travel allowance from the government and can travel for free in the first AC coach if travelling alone. If they are with a companion, they can ask for reimbursement for an AC Tier-II ticket.

Not an isolated case

The Rajya Sabha secretariat noted in the report that this is not an isolated case. They have found several instances when former and current Members of Parliament book multiple tickets but do not use all of them. However, they do seek reimbursement for all the tickets. In another similar case, a sitting member of Rajya Sabha used on 15 per cent of the tickets booked during January 2019 but sought reimbursement for all.

Railway sent bill worth Rs.7.8 Crore

For the calendar year 2019, Railway has sent bills totalling to Rs.7.8 Crore for ticket expenses of former and sitting lawmakers. It covers one-third of the total bill amount raised for the tickets bought by former and sitting lawmakers, their companions, and their spouses. Lok Sabha will pay the remaining two-third bill.

Inquiry initiated on Vice President’s orders

When Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu came to know about the issue, he asked Rajya Sabha secretariat to initiate and inquiry. The Rajya Sabha secretariat has issued an advisory in which they asked the sitting and former members to cancel unused tickets. If they fail to cancel the tickets on time, the amount will be recovered from the lawmakers.

Maharashtra Coronavirus cases cross 1 lakh mark, Mumbai alone records 55,000 cases

OpIndia Staff
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Maharashtra Coronavirus cases cross 1 lakh mark, Mumbai alone records 55,000 cases

The coronavirus pandemic has shown no signs of a slowdown in Maharashtra as the total coronavirus cases in the state has now crossed the 1 lakh mark on Friday as the total tally stood at 1,01,141 after 3,493 fresh cases were reported.

According to the reports, with a total of over 1 lakh cases and 3,717 deaths, Maharashtra contributes one-third of the total cases in India. The capital city of the state – Mumbai alone accounts 52,667 cases and 2,044 deaths. The coronavirus cases in Dharavi, Asia’s largest slum located in Mumbai, crossed 2,000-mark.

Out of these total cases 47,793 patients have recovered till date, however, active cases are at 49,616.

The Maharashtra Police have also reported 129 new coronavirus cases taking the total number of positive cases to 3,388. So far, 36 policemen have died due to the deadly virus disease, while 1,945 Maharashtra policemen have recovered from the pandemic.

The total Coronavirus cases in the country has also crossed the 3 lakh mark. According to latest health ministry data, 3,08,993 persons have tested positive for Coronavirus so far. Among them, 1,54,330 people have recovered and 8,884 succumbed to the infection.

Maharashtra Minister tests positive

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Social Justice Minister Dhananjay Munde has tested positive for coronavirus. However, his condition is stable as he is asymptomatic.

He is the third minister in Maharashtra to contract the virus. Jitendra Awhad of the NCP and senior Congress leader Ashok Chavan had earlier tested positive earlier and both recovered from the infection.

Earlier this week, Munde had attended a state cabinet meeting and had also taken part in the NCP’s foundation day event two days ago in Mumbai.

Public Health Minister Rajesh Tope has added that social distancing was observed on both the occasions and if anyone develops symptoms, the person will be tested as per the Indian Council of Medical Research’s guidelines.

The Minister also added that Munde’s private staff including the cook, drivers and personal assistant contracted coronavirus before him.

Rituparna Pegu brutally murdered in Guwahati after argument over a seat, Hussain and 4 others arrested: Details

OpIndia Staff
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Rituparna Pegu brutally murdered in Guwahati after argument over a seat, Hussain and 4 others arrested: Details

The Assam Police had reportedly arrested 5 individuals in connection to the gruesome murder of a man named Rituparna Pegu on Saturday. The incident took place in the Noonmati area of Guwahati, Assam. The victim, who was a resident of the Commerce College area, was killed during an argument over a chair. The arrested have been identified as Dulal Ali, Ibrahim Ali, Manowara Khatun, Hussain Ali and Arman Ali.

According to the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Debaraj Upadhyay, the victim was killed following an argument over a seat. Rituparna Pegu was at a shop named Armaan Home Furnishing which belonged to one Armaan Ali. The murderer, Hussain Ali, was an employee at the store. A heated argument ensued between the victim and Hussain, over a chair. Reportedly, Pegu slapped the accused who then called his family members and thrashed the victim. Hussain then stabbed Pegu with a knife from behind. The victim immediately collapsed on the roadside and died. He was rushed to the hospital but it was in vain.

The disturbing incident took place in broad daylight and was caught on a CCTV camera in front of the shop. The store owner, Arman, in his defence, said that he tried to pacify both sides but Hussain had already stabbed the victim with the knife. The video of the incident had gone viral on social media. In the said clip, the victim could be seen lying unconscious on the road, soaked in blood. Police officers then carried Pegu on all fours into the ambulance.

Rituparna pegu being taken to the hospital (Photo Credits: The Sentinel)

Police Action in the Rituparna Pegu murder case

On the basis of the CCTV footage, the Noonmati police had arrested Hussain along with four others, namely, Dulal Ali, Ibrahim Ali, Manowara Khatun, and Arman for the murder of Rituparna Pegu. The cops also informed that a charge sheet would be filed very soon. A case was registered under Indian Penal Code Sections (IPC) Sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with a deadly weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), and 302(murder).

‘Selfless comrade’: Kerala CM pays tribute to CPI(M) leader convicted in murder of party rebel who was stabbed 51 times

OpIndia Staff
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‘Selfless comrade’: Kerala CM pays tribute to CPI(M) leader convicted in murder of party rebel who was stabbed 51 times

The Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stoked a controversy on Friday after he, along with the CPI(M) leaders in Kerala, gave a hero’s farewell to a murder-convict party leader, PK Kunjananthan, who died on Thursday.

According to reports, Kerala CM and CPI(M) leaders gave a glowing farewell after the death of 72-year-old PK Kunjananthan, leader from Kannur district. PK Kunjananthan, who was an influential leader and also an aide of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was in 2014 convicted in a political murder case and sentenced to life imprisonment.

PK Kunjananthan, a member of CPI(M) area committee at Kannur, died of an intestinal infection at Medical College Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram, on Thursday night.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan condoled Kunjananthan’s death and hailed the deceased leader as “a comrade who had selflessly loved the party and exhibited concern towards society. As a social worker, he had won the acceptance and love of all sections of people in Panur”.

In a Facebook post, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan claimed that PK Kunjananthan was a committed social worker who spent his entire life for the society. He also added that people in Panur liked Kunjananthan irrespective of the political differences.

However, the incumbent Chief Minister hailing and praising a murder accused was not received well as various social media users and also citizens criticised him for supporting a murder convict.

Not just Pinarayi Vijayan, several Communist party leaders including CPI(M) central committee members visited the hospital and shouted slogans hailing the deceased as a “martyr who will never die”.

At Panur, several CPI(M) leaders and workers paid tribute to the deceased leader and observed a hartal to pay respects for Kunjananthan.

PK Kunjanathan convicted for murder, granted parole several times

PK Kunjanathan was on bail on health grounds at the time of death. Kunjananthan, along with 11 others, was held guilty in the murder of CPI(M) rebel leader TP Chandrasekharan in 2012 in Kozhikode district. Kunjananthan who was a close associate of Pinarayi Vijayan has been serving a life sentence for conspiracy charges in the murder of TP Chandrasekharan.

In 2012, that TP Chandrasekharan, a former CPI(M) member who had quit the party over ideological differences was brutally murdered by Communist party workers. The investigation had revealed that TP Chandrasekharan was stabbed 51 times by the accused.

Later, during the investigation, the police found out that it was PK Kunjananthan who was the mastermind behind the murder of TP Chandrasekharan. The CPI(M) leader was later convicted by the court in July 2014. However, his jail term was surrounded by controversies.

Soon after the CPI(M) led the LDF back to power in 2016, Kunjananthan was granted parole frequently, which was even flagged by the Kerala High Court. On March 14 this year, he was given the parole once again Kunjananthan bail for three months for treatment. Since his conviction for six years, Kunjanathan had enjoyed more than 400 days of parole.

During his parole days, Kunjanathan had attended party events and conferences and eventually got elected to the CPI(M) area committee even after he was convicted in a murder case.

Story of Lakshmi, the humble elephant of Manakula Vinayagar Temple in Puducherry: What PETA alleged, what devotees say

Anurag
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Story of Lakshmi, the humble elephant of Manakula Vinayagar Temple in Puducherry: What PETA alleged, what devotees say

Someone has rightly said that the best way to kill a tree is by destroying its roots. Sanatan Dharma has a history of more than 5000 years. The organic form of this ancient and beautiful religion is still alive and flourishing because of the traditions that the devotees follow. From Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu to temple elephant Lakshmi, there have been countless attacks against traditions and customs of Hinduism.

The history of attacks against Hindu traditions

The court cases revolving around Jallikattu almost snatched the centuries-old tradition of Bull racing from Tamil Nadu. Similar attacks have been happening against temples in India that have elephants in their premises. PETA, which claims to raise voice for animal rights, has been trying to remove elephants from the temples since the organisation first came to India. In some cases, they succeeded using their strong international connections and ocean of money donated to them by many Indian and International organizations.

The story of temple elephant Lakshmi

This is the story of Lakshmi, the humble elephant of Manakula Vinayagar Temple in Puducherry. Following the orders issued by the Directorate of Forests and Wildlife, she was forcibly shifted to Krishi Vigyan Kendra at Kurumamber. Animal Welfare Board and PETA raised the complaint alleging the deteriorating health condition of Lakshmi to Maneka Gandhi. She further requested Kiran Bedi and Directorate of Forests and Wildlife to remove the elephant from the temple and shift her to a ‘safer’ location.

Complaint raised by Animal Welfare Board of India

The complaint and coverage in MSM put all the blame on temple administration, stating that the temple has repeatedly abused and violated the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Also, there are some rules set by the Government of Tamil Nadu under Tamil Nadu Captive Elephants (Management and Maintenance) Rules, 2011 that every owner of an elephant has to follow. The complaint alleged the temple did not follow that many rules and regulations under the said act in case of Lakshmi that had an adverse effect on her health.

Temple’s side goes unheard

However, when OpIndia reached out to the devotees and activists from the temple side, the case looked a lot different. We approached Mr Subrat Goswami from Gurugram, who is trying to bring Lakshmi back to the temple. He said that temple adopted Lakshmi after she was abandoned by her herd in 1997. She was living in the temple premises ever since. After they received a complaint from the Directorate of Forests and Wildlife to furnish all the details of Lakshmi’s wellbeing, the temple administration provided all documents except the blood test report that was still pending.

Orders issued by Directorate of Forests and Wildlife

The pressure from PETA continued while waiting for the blood reports and the Forest department passed the orders to remove Lakshmi from the temple premises on 4th June 2020. In the orders, the department alleged that temple had not furnished any documents or details about Lakshmi’s health. They also alleged that the temple failed to provide records such as disease and treatment register, movement and work register, and vaccination to the department. When the devotees came to know about the orders, BJP workers and Hindu Munnani activists organized protests at the Vedapureeswarar temple. Forest officials came back empty-handed that day, but they executed the orders on 8th June with the police’s help.

A similar case of Kanchi temple elephants

This is not the first time PETA and anti-Hindu forces have tried to remove elephants from temples in India. A similar case took place in 2016 when forest officials removed three elephants from Kanchi Mutt. The administration decided to use deadly force against the innocent animals when they refused to go with the forest officials without a fight, resulting in severe injuries. As per the reports, Sandhya, one of the elephants, was profusely bleeding, and there were deep injuries on all three elephants after being loaded in the trucks. After a lengthy legal battle, the mutt got the elephants back, but the whole fiasco left a scar on the temple administration as animal rights activists hounded them for years.

The nexus against Hinduism

During the conversation with Satya, from Indu Makkal Katchi and Murlidharan S, freelance animal rights activists, some unsettling details came to light. They alleged that there is a nexus of so-called animal rights groups, missionaries and high-profile individuals operating in India that is trying to destroy the very fabric of Hinduism. They not only file false claims against Hindu temple administrations that keep animals but also take them away using several loopholes in the legal system. They then allegedly starve these “rescued” elephants and use their photos and videos to misguide people from around the world about Indian temples. These organizations receive millions of dollars in donations to “save the elephants” from “cruel Hindu temples.”

The devotees and Hindu animal rights activists have come forward to help the temples in maintaining the good health of the animals. The bond between the devotees and elephants like Lakshmi is unbreakable and it is visible on social media via posts on the hashtag #GiveOurLakshmiBack.

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