Home Blog Page 5283

Shiv Sena’s U-turn: After protesting against felling of trees in Aarey for metro shed, BMC claims cutting trees for coastal road project ‘inevitable’

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Shiv Sena’s U-turn: After protesting against felling of trees in Aarey for metro shed, BMC claims cutting trees for coastal road project ‘inevitable’

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has reportedly said that cutting down the trees for coastal road project is ‘inevitable.’ In its defence, the civic body has argued that the project will decrease pollution, flooding and enhance greenery. The BMC was responding to 176 suggestions and objections raised by concerned citizens against the cutting of 140 trees for a 9-km-long coastal road project between Princess Street Flyover and Worli. About 600 trees will be affected by this project of which 140 will be cut and remaining will be transplanted.

The project was initially proposed to connect the suburbs of Mumbai and unclog the roads of the city. Around 90 hectares of land is to be reclaimed during the Phase -I of the coastal road between Princess Street Flyover and Worli. While 20 hectares is allotted for the project, the remaining 70 hectare is reserved for green cover, in which BMC plans to undertake the plantation.

BMC said that the cutting of a ‘few’ trees was necessary for the appropriate alignment and construction of the Coastal Road. The Shiv Sena-controlled body assured of reforestation in the ratio of 1:3 according to government guidelines and the creation of green areas around the project. BMC said that common people will be benefitted in several ways such as a reduction in pollution, enhancement of green cover, and saving time. The civic body has estimated that about 600 trees will be affected by the project which aims to link the Marine Drive with the southern end of Bandra-Worli Sea Link. While 140 trees will be chopped, around 460 trees are to be transplanted.

Skeptics question the BMC

According to citizen environmentalist, Zoru Bhathena said that it is incomprehensible as to why 600 trees are affected for a road built on reclaimed land. “We could understand five-10 trees being cut or transplanted, but 600 is a huge number. Also, BMC claims Coastal Road will result in the reduction of flooding conditions, however, it looks like BMC follows their made-up theories on physics, geography, history and environmental studies. This is just a classic example of all that is wrong with BMC,” the activist alleged.

Marine conservationist Pradip Patade claimed that the flooding will not reduce because of the coastal road construction. He said that he saw pictures wherein the turbulent water is hitting the construction area. This is a general logic because the more you fill in the sea, the more will come out,” he emphasised. However chief engineer of the project Vijay Nighot reiterated that the BMC has not reached the stage where it can consider deforestation or reforestation. He said that a green signal has not yet been received from the BMC’s tree authority. “Also, when we say flooding will reduce, it is because we are going to build a sea-wall, and due to this comparatively flooding will reduce. We have not claimed that there will not be any flooding,” he clarified.

U- turn of Shiv Sena

The ruling Shiv Sena in Maharashtra, which often advocates for eco-conservation by cancelling the metro project at Aarey on ‘concerns’ that trees are being cut, earlier took a U-turn by deciding to axe more than 300 trees for the construction of a metro line the elevated Metro-2A corridor between Dahisar and DN Nagar. Shiv Sena, especially under the leadership of Aaditya Thackeray, had been extremely vocal on the issues of environmental conversation, as the young Sena prince had opposed the BJP government’s decision of felling of trees at Aarey Milk colony to construct a Metro shed.

‘This is not a victory for China’: US Intelligence report reveals how senior Chinese Commander ordered attack against India

OpIndia Staff
-
0
‘This is not a victory for China’: US Intelligence report reveals how senior Chinese Commander ordered attack against India

On the 15th of June, India and China were involved in a blood-soaked standoff that claimed the lives of 20 Indian soldiers and according to US intelligence reports, at least 35 Chinese soldiers were killed. Post the stand-off, China had unleashed its propaganda war on India, claiming that India was the aggressor in the situation and that China wanted peaceful coexistence. Now, a US intelligence report has summarily exposed the nefarious designs of China and revealed that the attack against Indian troops was ordered by a senior Chinese Commander to ‘teach India a lesson’.

The intelligence report says, “Gen. Zhao Zongqi, head of the Western Theater Command and among the few combat veterans still serving in the People’s Liberation Army, approved the operation” in Galwan Valley. The report categorically states that the attack against India was ordered to project an image of strength by China and to not appear ‘weak’ in either in front of the USA and its allies, including India. Interestingly, the intelligence report has revealed the Zhao had overseen other attacks against Indian soldiers as well and had orchestrated the Galwan valley attack to ‘teach India a lesson’.

From this initial assessment by the US, two things emerge clearly – firstly, China’s claims that the deadly skirmish was a spontaneous result of the escalation of tensions at the LAC, just like prior skirmishes was incorrect. Secondly, it also proves that China was trying to “punish” India for becoming an ally of the USA as the USA’s attempts to impose punitive costs against China post the Coronavirus pandemic have escalated.

China’s plant to attack India backfired: US intelligence report

The intelligence report by the USA clearly states that China’s plan to attack India in order to “punish” it for allying with the USA clearly backfired and failed to pressure India. The report states that the attack by China against India “does the very opposite of what it wanted”, and “This is not a victory for China’s military.” It observes that the attack by China has inspired widespread outrage in India and actually, pushed India closer to the USA in its economic policies.

How China initiated the attack against India

The US intelligence report says that on 15th of June, “a senior Indian officer and two non-commissioned officers travelled unarmed to a meeting place where they expected to be met by a comparable delegation of Chinese troops to discuss the withdrawal, according to the source familiar with the U.S. assessment of the incident. Instead, dozens of Chinese troops were waiting with spiked bats and clubs and began an attack. Other Indian troops came in to support, leading to a melee that caused more casualties from the improvised weapons, rocks and falls from the steep terrain”.

Essentially, the assessment proves that contrary to the claims by China, it was China that started the unprovoked, planned attack against Indian soldiers while the Indian soldiers had gone unarmed, per convention, to negotiate disengagement.

A silent funeral of Chinese soldiers held, officer who orchestrated attack against India was also involved in Doklam

The USA Today report says, “The U.S. believes Zhao, the Chinese general who commanded the forces involved, held a memorial service for the PLA soldiers who died in the incident – an occasion that would normally attract some form of state-sponsored publicity. Instead, Chinese censors have since cracked down on social media posts about the incident, including ones that mention “defeat” and “humiliation” when describing the dead or injured Chinese troops”.

Essentially, the USA intelligence report says that China had several casualties and Zhao held a memorial service for the Chinese soldiers killed in the stand-off, however, the state media completely blacked out the event since China wanted to project a position of “strength” and claim that it had no casualties in the stand off.

The US intelligence report also says that the Chinese General who orchestrated the Galwan attack on India was also involved in the Doklam stand-off.

Dispute between China and Japan escalate over Senkaku Islands as latter begins complete integration of island chain

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Dispute between China and Japan escalate over Senkaku Islands as latter begins complete integration of island chain

Just a week after Chinese troops violently attack and killed Indian soldiers near the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh, Japan has begun to assert its power against China by initiating the legal process of complete integration of Senkaku islands over which it has a dispute with China. 

According to the reports, the Japanese authorities have approved a measure changing the status of disputed Senkaku islands, which is also claimed by China.

The Ishigaki city council in Japan’s Okinawa division has passed a bill to change the name of an administrative area covering the disputed uninhabited island chain to Tonoshiro Senkaku from Tonoshiro, starting from October 1.

The new bill will assert Japan’s claim over the chain of Islands in the East-China sea, which is situated island 1,931 km southwest of Tokyo. The Senkakus island chain, which China refers as Diaoyus, has been administered by Japan since 1972. However, the legal status of these islands is disputed currently.

Image Source: WSJ

China opposes the bill, stakes claim on islands

Meanwhile, China on Monday has warned Japan against any change in the status quo and called the islands as its “inherent territories”.

“The approval of this case did not take into consideration the influence of other countries, but was considered to improve the efficiency of administrative procedures,” the council said.

China also urged Japan to “abide by the spirit of the four-principle consensus, avoid creating new incidents on the Diaoyu Islands issue, and take practical actions to maintain the stability of the East China Sea situation”.

However, the Japanese city council said that the bill was necessary to improve the efficiency of administrative procedures.

China’s aggressive push in East China sea

Following the decision of Japan to make administrative changes in uninhabited islands, China has dispatched a “fleet” of ships to the area surrounding the islands. to the area.

Reportedly, since mid-April this year, Japan has spotted at least 67 Chinese government ships near these waters. Japanese authorities claimed that there has been increasing in the presence of Chinese in the region surrounding the islands in the last few months. 

Senkaku Islands

The Senkaku Islands, known as the Diaoyu Islands in China or Diaoyutai Islands or the Pinnacle Islands in Taiwan are a group of eight uninhabited islands and rocks that lies in the East China Sea. They have a total area of about 7 sq kms and lie northeast of Taiwan.

The dispute is over the claim of Senkaku islands, which are currently controlled by the Japanese since 1895. However, in between 1945 to 1972, the islands were administered by the United States. In 1971, the US handed over the authority to Japan in 1971.

Since then, China and Taiwan push their claim on the islands and demands the return similar to the returning of Imperial Japan’s conquests in 1945.

Senkaku Islands are known to have abundance of natural resources, rich fishing grounds and are thought to contain oil deposits. It is also strategically important as it is close to international trade routes.

PCI takes cognizance of The Hindu ‘threatening’ to fire journalists amidst reports of its Mumbai Bureau shutting down

OpIndia Staff
-
0
PCI takes cognizance of The Hindu ‘threatening’ to fire journalists amidst reports of its Mumbai Bureau shutting down

The Press Council of India (PCI) has taken a suo motu cognizance of the termination notice served to more than twenty journalists associated with the Mumbai edition of ‘The Hindu’ in case they fail to resign. In a statement [pdf] issued by PCI, Justice CK Prasad, Chairman Press Council of India, expressed concerns over the issue.

Mumbai editing team down to single digits

Mumbai edition of ‘The Hindu’ was launched in November 2015. As per reports, majority of the team members have been asked to resign, failing which they will be terminated. The journalists who will remain with the Mumbai edition has come down to single digits. A letter is making rounds on social media where a group of twenty journalists, who are allegedly on the verge of losing their job, has sent an email to N Ram, LV Navaneeth, CEO and Suresh Nambath, Editor seeking clarity over the media reports and social media posts speculating about the loss of jobs at the Mumbai edition of ‘The Hindu’ as they have not been formally informed about it by the head office.

The letter states, “All of the undersigned wanted to work at The Hindu, as it has been considered the ideal workplace for Indian journalists, in fact where journalists are well respected and editorial freedoms are a given. The principles on which The Hindu has operated in the past is what should apply to us as a team now. For a news organisation that prides itself on reporting labour laws and violations of the same in a robust manner we appeal to you to clarify the situation to us in writing.” The letter contained names of sixteen out of twenty journalists and the names of four journalists were withheld over privacy concerns. 

Management asked to submit reply

PCI said that the Editor, Hindu and Regional General Manager Hindu, Mumbai, have been asked to submit a reply in this concern. “It has come to the notice that the management of the newspaper is not taking recourse to the terms and conditions by which they are governed and the terms and conditions of their appointment excluded the application of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 for redressal of their grievances rendering them remediless,” states the press release.

Donald Trump temporarily suspends issuance of new H-1B visas, other work permits

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Donald Trump temporarily suspends issuance of new H-1B visas, other work permits

On Monday, US President Donald Trump temporarily suspended work permits till December 31 this year, with a view to free up to 5,25,000 jobs for Americans amidst the Coronavirus pandemic. He had signed an executive offer that extended the ban on the issuance of green cards to new immigrants, besides suspension of work visas such an H-1B and H-4 (spouses of H-1B visa holders).

Besides, issuance of work visas such as inter-company transfer (L1 visas) and ones used by doctors and researchers (J1 visas) have also been suspended. Exceptions have been made for doctors, however, who have been working on the Coronavirus pandemic. Reportedly, the executive order will not affect everyone. The Optional Practical Training (OPT) for international students will remain unaffected with the temporary suspension.

The official statement read, ” I determined that, without intervention, the United States faces a potentially protracted economic recovery with persistently high unemployment if labor supply outpaces labor demand.  Consequently, I suspended, for a period of 60 days, the entry of aliens as immigrants, subject to certain exceptions. “

Donald Trump directs reforms in immigration system

US President Donald Trump has also issued broader directions for reforms in the existing H-1B visa which is based upon a lottery system rather than a merit-based system. According to a senior administration official, the President has directed to close loopholes that allow outsourcing of jobs. The official informed that the existence of a merit-based immigration system will lead to a hike in both pay and skillset. Besides, it will lead to a decline in competition for entry-level jobs for Americans. Reportedly, reforms in the existing immigration system will witness preference to those with high wages and talent.

‘We are alive’: Food bloggers forced to clarify they are alive after Times of India publishes their photo as dead couple on front page

OpIndia Staff
-
0
‘We are alive’: Food bloggers forced to clarify they are alive after Times of India publishes their photo as dead couple on front page

Times of India has been accused of using image of a happy and very much alive couple, Amit and Shilpi Agarwal, for a story about a man who strangles his estranged wife and kills his mother in law before shooting himself. For a story titled “Man kills estranged wife in Bengaluru, mom-in-law in Kolkata, shoots self”, which appeared on the front page of the national daily, Times of India used image of a couple who run a food related Facebook page ‘Food And Flavors by Shilpi’. The image appeared on the front page of Kolkata edition.

Times of India story

Food vloggers Shilpi and and Amit Agarwal who live in California, took to Facebook earlier this morning when they were shocked to see their happy pictures as that of a couple who had died after the husband went on a killing spree before shooting himself.

In a video uploaded on Facebook, the vlogger said that TOI had used their photo for a story that was not related to them. He explained that they are Shilpi and Amit Agarwal, but not the same Shilpi and Amit Agarwal who are dead. Amit Agarwal explained that TOI must have taken their picture off their Facebook page and used it for the story where the other Amit Agarwal killed his estranged wife and mother in law before shooting himself.

The happy couple, which is very much alive, then waved at their audience that they are very much alive and thanked everyone who had reached out to them expressing their concern about their wellbeing. After the video was uploaded, Times of India has updated its web story and used a representational image and added the disclaimer that they had used a wrong image earlier.

Agra DM schools Priyanka Gandhi for spreading fake news that 28 people died of coronavirus within 48 hours

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Agra DM schools Priyanka Gandhi for spreading fake news that 28 people died of coronavirus within 48 hours

On Monday, the District Magistrate of Agra fact-checked the outlandish claims made by Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Twitter about the supposed deaths of 28 Coronavirus positive people in the past 48 hours. The tweet stated that a total of 1,136 Coronavirus cases and 79 deaths have been reported in Agra in the past 109 days.

Citing a Navbharat Times report, Gandhi claimed that in a span of 48 hours, as many as 28 coronavirus patients had died in Agra. She also accused the UP government of suppressing the facts. However, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra herself was quite removed from facts. 28 people did not die within span of just 48 hours. In reality, 28 people, over period of time and few weeks, died within 48 hours of their being admitted in the hospital.

The District Magistrate took to Twitter to explain the facts to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in simpler language.

The DM even gave the figure of testing being carried out in Agra.

Agra DM asks Priyanka Gandhi to withdraw tweet

In a statement to Priyanka Gandhi, the District Magistrate of Agra has asked the Congress leader to ensure that she condemns the said tweet which aims to stir fear and confusion among the masses. Reiterating that the information contained in her tweet was false and baseless, the email emphasised, “Ensure that the tweet is dismissed/condemned within 24 hours so that accurate information is disseminated to common citizens and stakeholders, besides guaranteeing that the frontline workers are not demoralised. “

Email by DM Agra to Priyanka Vadra

However, after being schooled on facts, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra again took to Twitter to claim that Agra’s death rate is higher than that of Mumbai and Delhi and demanded an answer from the government within 48 hours on the same.

Congress lies amidst Coronavirus pandemic

This is not the first time that the Congress party or its leaders tried to spread fear and panic among citizens, using manipulated data and misleading news stories. In one such attempt, the Congress party posted a chart to claim that India has the highest number of Coronavirus cases in the world. But in doing so, the party exposed itself as even the wrong chart did not show what they were trying to prove.

Amid the migrant worker crisis, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had resorted to playing petty politics by claiming that Congress will arrange for buses for migrants but UP government is not giving permission. Later, when the state government gave permission, the ‘buses’ arranged for by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra included buses with included autorickshaws and buses with expired registration.

In March, she had posted pictures from Rajasthan and Pakistan of hailstorm destroying crops while claiming those are from Uttar Pradesh to defame Yogi government. However, after netizens pointed it out, she deleted her tweet.

US government declares China’s Global Times, People’s Daily and two other outlets as ‘foreign missions’, calls them CCP mouthpieces controlled by Chinese govt

OpIndia Staff
-
0
US government declares China’s Global Times, People’s Daily and two other outlets as ‘foreign missions’, calls them CCP mouthpieces controlled by Chinese govt

The United States administration on Monday designated four more Chinese propaganda outlets as ‘foreign missions’, announcing that they are the mouthpieces for the Communist Party of China.

In a move that is likely to increase tensions between the two countries, the Donald Trump administration designated four media outlets – state broadcaster China Central Television, the ruling Communist Party’s mouthpiece newspaper People’s Daily, its tabloid subsidiary the Global Times, and the semiofficial state-run China News Service and reflected their real status as “propaganda outlets” under the control of the Chinese Communist Party.

“The Communist Party does not just exercise operational control over these propaganda entities, but it has full editorial control over their content,” said David Stilwell, the senior US diplomat for East Asia.

In a statement, US State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said, “Over the past decade and particularly under General Secretary Xi Jinping’s tenure, the CCP has reorganized China’s state propaganda outlets disguised as news agencies and asserted even more direct control over them.”

“Pursuant to authorities under the Foreign Missions Act, the State Department is issuing today a new determination that designates the U.S. operations of China Central Television, China News Service, the People’s Daily, and the Global Times as foreign missions,” the statement said.

Image Source: Sidhant Sibal

These four media outlets join five other Chinese news organizations that have been declared as foreign missions by the US authorities in February.

Earlier in February, the Xinhua News Agency, the China Global Television Network, China Radio International, China Daily Distribution Corporation and Hai Tian Development USA, which is the distributor for the People’s Daily in the United States were designated as the foreign missions.

Chinese media outlets will now face restrictions in US

The outlets are now required to report their personnel rosters and real estate holdings to the US State Department and will also put under limits on the number of personnel they can employ in the United States.

The media wars between the US and China have been going on for months after the US authorities in March had said it was slashing the number of journalists allowed to work at US offices of major Chinese media outlets to 100 from 160 due to Beijing’s “long-standing intimidation and harassment of journalists”.

In response, China had expelled more than American correspondents with the New York Times, News Corp’s Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post.

The relations between US-China relations are on the lowest in years now after President Donald Trump has taken a direct stand against China over a range of issues including the handling of the coronavirus pandemic, trade wars and China’s increasing encroachment into Hong Kong.

US President Donald Trump had earlier threatened to cut ties with China

US President Donald Trump had earlier said that he had lost interest in speaking to President Xi Jinping and went on to suggest that his country could even cut ties with China following the outbreak of deadly pandemic of the Wuhan Coronavirus.

Donald Trump, speaking to Fox News in May, had said he was very disappointed with China’s failure to contain the disease and that the pandemic had cast a shadow over the US-China trade deal.

Recently, the Trump administration had repeated similar claims.

US administration to withdraw billions of dollars worth American pension fund investments from China

Earlier in May, the Donald Trump administration had decided to pull out billion dollars worth of American pension fund investments in China. The US administration had asked for the withdrawal of billions of dollars of pension fund investments in China as a response to China’s failure to notify the world regarding the Chinese coronavirus.

Prior to that, the United States Senate had initiated legislation to block Chinese firms from getting listed on the American stock exchanges. There has been some controversy in the US regarding Chinese companies like Alibaba being listed at the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ.

Recently, Trump had signed a bill that would enable the USA to sanction Chinese officials involved in human rights violations against Uighur Muslims.

Abdul Karim Rana becomes ‘govt doctor Rahul Thakur’ to cheat coronavirus patients seeking plasma donors, arrested by police

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Abdul Karim Rana becomes ‘govt doctor Rahul Thakur’ to cheat coronavirus patients seeking plasma donors, arrested by police

Amid coronavirus spread and lack of ample medical facilities in National Capital Delhi, Covid-19 scammers are minting money. Delhi police have arrested a man identified as Abdul Karim Rana(22) for duping Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel. Abdul Karim had allegedly posed as a plasma donor and took money from the patient’s family to reach the hospital.

Abdul Karim posed as ‘Rahul Thakur’

According to the complaint registered with the Delhi police, Goel’s nephew’s father-in-law was tested positive for coronavirus and was seeking a plasma donor for the treatment. He posted a request on the social media platform and got a call from Karim, who posed as ‘Rahul Thakur‘, a doctor, as per a report in News 18.

As per Goel’s complaint, Karim introduced himself as a doctor at a government hospital and stated he recently recovered from the infection. By that time, Goel’s nephew had already arranged a donor, so his help was not required. On 19h June, his nephew again posted a request online when another acquaintance of Goel needed plasma therapy. Thakkar called him and showed his willingness to donate plasma. He asked for Rs.450 for travel expenses, which Goel’s nephew had transferred immediately.

FIR registered under section 420

Later, the accused said he did not get the money and asked Delhi Assembly Speaker to transfer it again. When they tried calling Karim, his phone was unreachable. On contacting the patient’s family, they found out that Karim took money from them as well. Monika Bhardwaj, Deputy Commissioner of Police (North), said that they had registered an FIR under section 420 (Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) of the Indian Penal Code against Karim at the Civil Lines Police Station. He was arrested on Saturday.

The DCP said, “During interrogation, the accused disclosed that he cheated people on the pretext of donating blood plasma amid the pandemic outbreak. He introduced himself as a doctor to COVID-19 patients, pretended to be a plasma donor and asked for money in the guise of travelling expenses to reach the hospital where patients were admitted.”

Increase in Covid-19 related scams

Police have asked everyone to be cautious and take help only from those who are known to the family. As per the reports, there has been an increase in Covid-19 related scams and vulnerable families of patients are falling prey in the hands of the criminals. MS Randhawa, Delhi Police spokesperson, said, “Everyone needs to be cautious. Any posts on social media to seek help might attract criminals or fraudsters to earn easy money. Better to take help from someone known.”

The mobile phone Karim used to contact the patients’ families has been seized. This is not the first time Abdul Karim Rana stood on the wrong side of the law. According to police officials, there is another ongoing case of cheating against him registered at the Hauz Khas Police Station.

Alarming increase in Covid-19 cases in Delhi

In the last few days, the number of Covid-19 cases in Delhi has increased at an alarming pace. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Delhi has reported 62,655 cases to date, out of which 23,820 are still active. 2,233 people have lost their lives due to Covid-19 related complications. There have been allegations that the Delhi government was hiding the exact number of cases and deaths. Recently, Home Minister Amit Shah held a meeting with Delhi Government to pace up arrangements for Covid-19 cases. Supreme Court also slammed the Delhi government for mismanagement. MLAs, including Atishi and Satyendar Jain, also tested positive for coronavirus and undergoing treatment.

Malayalam film actor Prithviraj Sukumaran’s new film ‘Vaariyamkunnan’ glorifies a man who led Hindu genocide during Moplah Massacre

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Malayalam film actor Prithviraj Sukumaran’s new film ‘Vaariyamkunnan’ glorifies a man who led Hindu genocide during Moplah Massacre

A fresh controversy erupted on Monday after filmmakers in Kerala announced a new period film titled ‘Vaariyamkunnan’, based on the life of a Jihadi named Variyam Kunnathu Kunjahammed Haji who was responsible for carrying out genocide against thousands of Hindus in Kerala during the early 1920s.

On Monday, it was revealed that director Aashiq Abu has cast Malayalam actor Prithviraj Sukumaran in his period film titled ‘Vaariyamkunnan’, slated to be released in 2021. The controversial movie is based on the story of Muslim leader of Moplah community, who massacred thousands of Hindus during the Malabar or Moplah communal riots in 1921.

Actor Prithviraj Sukumaran, took to Facebook, to announce his new movie and also hailed the Jihadist in his post. The actor, sharing the posters of the movie, said Variyam Kunnathu stood up against an empire that ruled a quarter of the world.

“Etched out his own country with an army that waged a never before war against the British. Though history was burned and buried, the legend lived on! The legend of a leader, a soldier, a patriot. A film on the man who became the face of the 1921 Malabar revolution. Vaariyamkunnan. Filming begins in 2021. On the 100th anniversary,” said his Facebook post.

The new Malayalam movie on the life of Islamic terrorist Variyam Kunnathu, who had unleashed massive terror on Hindus on the Malabar region of Kerala, is yet another attempt to whitewash the crimes committed by the Islamists in the country under the garb of freedom of movement.

The absolving of crimes by a section of filmmakers, especially in Kerala, by hailing a terrorist as someone who “rebelled” against the British, is nothing but an attempt to erase the history and also a dangerous act of rewriting the history of Malabar or Moplah Hindu massacres to suit their anti-Hindu narrative.

Who really was Variyam Kunnathu Kunjahammed Haji?

Variyam Kunnathu or Chakkiparamban Variyamkunnathu Kunjahammed Haji, who proclaimed himself to be the ‘Sultan of Eranad’ – the region of Kerala where the Moplah genocide occurred, was, in fact, the Father of the Moplah Hindu genocide, who along with Muslim forces looted and massacred Hindus of the region under the garb of rebelling against the British in the early 1920s.

The Moplah Hindu Genocide, also often whitewashed as the Malabar Rebellion, or the Mappila Rebellion, are a series of incidents in the history of the country, where Hindus were not only butchered by the Muslims, but also the entire barbarity was erased from history in entirety, or altered to fit a suitable political narrative.

The four-month period of horror in the Malabar region of Kerala when Muslim rioters carried out a mass genocide against Hindus, actually started as a freedom revolt against the British but ended up being as a reason for the Jihadists like Variyamkunnathu to wipe out the Hindu population of northern Kerala.

Along with his friend and aid – Ali Musliyar, Variyam Kunnathu led the Moplah riots in Kerala in 1921 and was an active supporter of the Khilafat movement, which eventually led to the partition of the country and the creation of Pakistan. The estimated Hindu deaths of the ethnic cleansing in Moplah massacre accounts to somewhere around 10,000 and it is believed that as many a 100,000 Hindus were forced to leave Kerala in the wake of the riots.

The number of Hindu Temples that were destroyed in the genocide is speculated to be a hundred. Forcible conversion of Hindus were rampant and unspeakable atrocities were poured upon Hindus. It can be read about in more detail here. 

The atrocities against Hindus were so barbaric such that the leading national leaders of the day had to express their shock against the Moplah massacres.

Babasaheb Ambedkar in his book, Pakistan or the Partition of India, wrote, “The blood-curdling atrocities committed by the Moplas in Malabar against the Hindus were indescribable. All over Southern India, a wave of horrified feeling had spread among the Hindus of every shade of opinion, which was intensified when certain Khilafat leaders were so misguided as to pass resolutions of “congratulations to the Moplas on the brave fight they were conducting for the sake of religion.”

Annie Besant described the events in her book ‘The Future of Indian Politics’ as, “They murdered and plundered abundantly, and killed or drove away all Hindus who would not apostatize. Somewhere about a lakh of people were driven from their homes with nothing but the clothes they had on, stripped of everything. Malabar has taught us what Islamic rule still means, and we do not want to see another specimen of the Khilafat Raj in India”

The Malayalam movie ‘Vaariyamkunnan’, produced by a team mostly of Malabar Muslims, may have just thought that they could ignore the massacres unleashed against Hindus by their forefathers and re-write the history to hail the genocide maniac through their films.

1...5,2825,2835,284...7,649Page 5,283 of 7,649