Just weeks after the brutal lynching of two Hindu Sadhus in Palghar, Maharashtra, another shocking incident of attack against Sadhus has been reported in the same district where three unidentified assailants attacked two priests and looted a temple at Balivali.
According to the reports, the horrific attack took place at around 12.30 am on Thursday when three armed men barged into Jagrut Mahadev Mandir and Ashram at Balivali in Vasai taluka.
The police officials also said that three assailants attacked the temple’s head priest Sankaranand Saraswati and his assistant. The attackers then ran away with valuables worth Rs 6,800.
The police added that the two priests received minor injuries and somehow managed to free themselves from the clutches of the assailants. The main priest also locked himself in one of the rooms of the ashram, while his assistant ran out of the premises, the official said.
An FIR has been registered under IPC section 394 (causing hurt while committing robbery) and other relevant provisions, the SHO of the Virar police station said.
The attack on the priests in Palghar comes on the backdrop of the brutal lynching of two Hindu sadhus and their driver by a murderous mob in village Gadchinchale of Palghar district on April 16.
Palghar Mob Lynching incident
On 16th April 2020, two Sadhus associated with the Juna Akhara, 70-year-old Kalpavrishka Giri Maharaj, and 35-year-old Sushil Giri Maharaj along with their driver 30-year-old Nilesh Telgadewere were on their way from Mumbai to Gujarat to give Samadhi to another Sadhu.
At Gadakchinchale village, a wild and frenzied crowd of over more than 100 people attacked them. The police had initially claimed that the mob had thought the Sadhus were ‘thieves’.
But later videos had emerged which completely debunked the claim of police, as it was seen that the sadhus were in the custody of the police, but the police personnel handed them over to the mob. The mob had then proceeded them to beat them to death in front of the policemen.
Later, it was also revealed that the killing of the Sadhus was intentional and it was done due to political reasons and it was also suspected that Christian missionaries backed by NCP, left parties were behind the lynching of two Hindu Sadhus.
Two Sadhus killed in Nanded, Maharashtra
Just a few days back, two Hindu Sadhus were mysteriously found dead in Nanded, Maharashtra. The bodies of the Sadhus were found in their ashram in Maharashtra’s Nanded late on the night of 23 May.
The deceased sadhus have been identified as Balbrahmachari Shivacharya Maharaj guru, and Bhagwan Shinde, a disciple of Sadhu Shivacharya Maharaj.
A day after Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Asim Azmi was caught humiliating a senior lady police officer Shalini Sharma and demanding the suspension of the lady officer, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra government has succumbed to his pressure and transferred her to Chembur police station.
According to the reports, Shalini Sharma, who is currently the inspector at the Nagpada police station in central Mumbai, will now be sent to Chembur Mumbai. Jai Prakash Bhosale has succeeded Sharma at the Nagpada police station.
The senior officials of the Maharashtra police, however, said Inspector Shalini Sharma had herself requested for transfer which was accepted.
Maharashtra govt succumbs to SP MLA Abu Azmi’s pressure
The transfer of Sharma by Maharashtra government comes just a day after SP MLA Abu Azmi was heard threatening and hurling slogans against the lady officer.
Abu Azmi, the president of the Maharashtra state branch of the Samajwadi Party was sitting on dharna, was seen addressing a huge gathering outside the Nagpada police station demanding the suspension of a senior lady police officer, Shalini Sharma.
“Yeh aurat kehti hain aapne police par ilzaam lagaya hain mein aapse baat nahi karegi, uske baap ke baap ke baap ko bhi baat karni padegi”, roughly translated as (This woman is saying that we have accused the police so she will not talk to us, but her forefathers will also have to speak to us), shouted Azmi while demanding her suspension.
"ये औरत कहती है कि आप पुलिस पे इल्जाम लगाते हो, मै बात नहीं करुंगी। तेरे बाप के बाप के बाप को बात करनी पडेगी" विधायक अबू आजमी का भाषण
मुंबई सेंट्रल स्टेशन के पास २६ मई की रात. नागपाड़ा पुलिस स्टेशन की शालिनी शर्मा महिला पुलिस ऑफिसर के लिये। ठाकरे सरकार द्वारा कोई कार्रवाई नहीं pic.twitter.com/4x9A0jqNMB
Azmi had also threatened Sharma that he will approach the Home Minister while blaming the police of mismanagement and misbehaviour with migrant labourers.
Abu Azmi’s argument with Nagpada police officer Shalini Sharma
In another video of the preceding incident, during an argument with the Nagpada police officer, Azmi was seen shouting at the lady officer in a harsh tone.
Azmi had alleged that the senior woman officer had refused to listen to his complaint and asked him to leave. He stated, “I am a public representative, I am not a common man. I have been elected by the people and we will raise their questions in front of the government. The whole world is criticising India for its handling of the migrant worker crisis.”
Following his argument, Azmi had gathered hundreds of his supporters flouting all social distancing norms and had raised slogans against the officer near the station, demanding action against her.
On May 25, a 46-year-old ‘black’ man, George Floyd was reportedly murdered by a white police officer, Derek Chauvin, who knelt on the former’s neck for 7 long minutes until his body became unresponsive. A shopkeeper had called the cops on Floyd for allegedly trying to pass a ‘potential counterfeit bill’. On being taken to the Hennepin County Medical Center, he was pronounced dead.
The viral cell phone video captured by a pedestrian, who repeatedly objected to the action of Chauvin shows the cop trying to choke the black man with his knee. Despite the victim complaining about not being able to breathe, coupled with verbal protest from onlookers, the said officer was unmoved.
Despite incriminating evidence, a police statement said that although Floyd appeared in medical distress, he did not mention that the weight of the cop blocked his airway. Surveillance footage showed that the victim did not resist arrest while he was handcuffed, contrary to the claims of the police. The murder of Floyd has raised questions of racism and lack of police sensitisation on social media.
According to a Fox News report, in his 19 years of job as a police officer, Chauvin had 10 conduct complaints against him, excluding three police shootings. But, no action was ever taken against him. The other officer seen in the viral video, Thao, also has a lawsuit against him, besides cases of police brutality.
The Minneapolis Police Department had removed Derek Chauvin along with 3 officers, namely, Thomas Lane, and J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao, who were at the spot. Mayor Jacob Frey conceded that it was the right thing to do. He added, “Why is the man who killed George Floyd, not in jail? We cannot turn a blind eye, it is on us as leaders to see this for what it is and call it what it is.”
Reportedly, the questionable behaviour of the officers went unabated. Chauvin had a lawsuit against him for violating the constitutional rights of a prisoner. He has been involved in police shootings and had been subjected to three reviews from the Civilian Review Authority for the use of ‘demeaning language.’ Thao, too, has been the subject of a lawsuit for brutally beating up a handcuffed man, besides kneeling on his face and body. The victim was left with bruises and trauma.
Riots in Minneapolis after George Floyd killing
On Tuesday, hundreds of protestors hit the streets to protest against the killing of George Floyd. The demonstration continued outside the nearby police precinct. Soon, the protest took a violent turn. On Wednesday night, Police cars were vandalised and pelted with rocks. To pacify the situation, the cops resorted to firing tear gas and rubber bullets at the frenzied mob.
Windows of unmanned stores were broken. Shops were raided and looted, all in the garb of a peaceful protest. Home goods such as rugs and coffee makers were stolen and stores were set ablaze. Amidst the chaos, a ‘looter’ was also shot dead by the police. The mob also breached the security and reached for the police precinct in the neighbourhood where Floyd died. The building was set of fire by the unruly mob, amidst slogans demanding justice for the victim.
Protesters breached the Minneapolis police precinct in the neighborhood where George Floyd died in police custody, setting fire to the building as dozens watched it burn late Thursday https://t.co/MJ0JibRJFhpic.twitter.com/nV535R5sVL
US President Donald Trump on Friday warned ‘Radical Left’ Mayor Jacob Frey to stop the riots in the city and bring the law and order situation under control. He said, “I cannot stand back and watch this happen to a great American city, Minneapolis. A total lack of leadership.”
….These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won’t let that happen. Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all the way. Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Thank you!
Trump had decided to send the National Guard to tame the ‘thugs’ who are dishonouring the memory of the victim. He further assured Governor Tim Waltz that the military is with him. “Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts,” the US President cautioned the rioters.
UN takes note of George Floyd case
The UN rights chief on Thursday condemned the death in police custody of George Floyd, demanding that US authorities take “serious action” to stop the killings of unarmed African Americans.
“This is the latest in a long line of killings of unarmed African Americans by US police officers and members of the public,” Michelle Bachelet said in a statement.
“I am dismayed to have to add George Floyd’s name to that of Breonna Taylor, Eric Garner, Michael Brown and many other unarmed African Americans who have died over the years at the hands of the police,” she said.
She further said that US authorities must take serious action to stop such killings.
Protests spread to New York, 40 arrested
At least 40 people were arrested in New York City as people took to the streets to protest against the death of a black man in police custody in Minneapolis.
Over 100 people gathered in Manhattan’s Union Square on Thursday afternoon to express their anger over what they called police brutality that led to George Floyd’s death.
Weeks after horrific videos of dead bodies of coronavirus patients were seen lying unattended among patients under treatment at Sion hospital in Mumbai, shocking reports are emerging from the same hospital stating that the coronavirus patients and other emergency patients are now made to share beds due to a shortage in capacity, as per a report in The Guardian.
According to the Guardian report, the coronavirus patients being treated at Mumbai’s Sion hospital emergency ward are now allegedly sharing beds, with two people being allocated to a bed. With a rising shortage in beds, the patients, many with coronavirus symptoms are also sharing a single oxygen tank.
The videos of the patients lying almost on top of each other, sleeping on shared stretchers or just lying on the floor had also gone viral some days back.
The India Today report, dated May 11, had also exposed how coronavirus positive patients were made to stay in unhygienic conditions by authorities in Maharashtra. In the video, it can be seen that the coronavirus symptomatic patients were sharing beds at both Sion hospital and KEM hospital in Mumbai.
In addition to this, the patients can be seen sleeping on the floor with hospital authorities ignoring safety protocols. The patients, hospital staff were also seen without wearing necessary protective gears at these over-crowded hospitals in Mumbai.
Following the viral videos, the BMC had announced that it will soon add 1200 beds in hospitals to help patients.
Mumbai’s health care on the brink of collapse
Mumbai, a city with over 2 crore people, is reportedly on the brink of collapse of its healthcare and administrative systems.
The state hospitals such as Sion are running beyond their capacity. The frontline doctors and nurses, treating the coronavirus patients are also falling sick for the virus, leading to a shortage of medical staff.
Manish Shetty, a doctor who is on the frontline battle at Guru Nanak Hospital in Mumbai said, “The volume and density of our population in Mumbai makes it very difficult to see how we will get out of the other side of this peak”. He added that there is a definite fatigue setting across all frontline workers, especially because there is a very high chance of healthcare workers getting infected.
Dr Shetty added, “There is definitely a shortage of beds for critical care. There is a lot of infrastructure and planning which is happening, but the magnitude of the cases is overwhelming us all.”
Shetty from Guru Nanak hospital said the main fear was the dangers that the ‘as-yet-unknown’ combination of coronavirus with the monsoon diseases can bring, which other countries may not be forced to face. “It will be a whole worrying new realm. My guess is we will need a lot of beds to cope,” Dr Shetty added.
Recently, hundreds of nurses and contractual health workers had gone on a strike in Mumbai’s state-run King Edward Memorial Hospital after a contractual employee working in the coronavirus ward died on Sunday night after he was reportedly unwell and wanted leave, which he was allegedly denied.
BMC officials deny shortage of beds
As per the Guardian report, a BMC official has denied claims of shortage of beds in state-run hospitals in Mumbai. Vijay Khabale, the Mumbai municipal corporation spokesperson said that there are enough beds but there is a lack of coordination with other agencies, which is why there are these reports. “The present situation is that we have more than enough beds and quarantine facilities, “he added.
Khabale also noted that all the new facilities would be completed within the week. However, expressing hope, he said that they would not need to be used at full capacity. “We are expecting that within a day or two that the cases will begin to flatten and then begin to decrease. We have it under control,” the BMC spokesperson added.
Maharashtra remains the most-affected state in the country, with nearly 60,000 cases reported out of the country’s 158,333 cases. The total tally of the coronavirus cases in Maharashtra is at 59,546 and on Thursday alone it saw an addition of 2,598 new cases. The state has also seen 1,982 deaths, 85 deaths came on Thursday alone.
Meanwhile, Mumbai city has alone reported 1,044 fresh on cases on Thursday as its tally crossed the 35,000-mark to reach 35,485 cases of whom 24,507 were active ones. The city has also reported 38 deaths on Thursday to take its toll to 1,135.
Twitter was abuzz yesterday with a screenshot of Waqar Younis’ Twitter profile. Younis, the Pakistani cricket coach, commentator and former cricketer who captained Pakistan national cricket team, appeared to have ‘liked’ a pornographic video from his Twitter account, a screenshot of which was going viral on the internet. Now, Waqar Younis has released a video claiming that some ‘Allah ka banda’ hacked into his Twitter profile and ‘liked’ the porn video.
In a video posted on the same Twitter handle, Waqar Younis said that when he woke up today morning, he noticed that some ‘Allah ka banda’ had hacked his Twitter account had “liked” a shameful video from his Twitter account.
Pornographic video liked from Waqar Younis’ Twitter handle
He claimed that it was an extremely shameful and painful experience for him and his family.
Continuing his explanation, Waqar Younis said that he had thought that Twitter is a great platform to interact with acquaintances and the people one knows, but unfortunately, it has turned out to be to the contrary. He further claimed that this particular ‘Allah ka banda’ had hacked his Twitter profile earlier too.
Saying that it is evident that this particular ‘Allah ka banda’ won’t stop hacking his Twitter profile and presumably and inexplicably, liking porn videos from it, Waqar Younis said that he has decided to get off social media and never use Twitter again. He said that he is quitting social media including Twitter because his family is more precious to him than social media.
Interestingly, there are some such ‘Allah ka bandas’ on this side of the border too.
In 2016, the Agusta Patrakars leak happened, where it was revealed that AgustaWestland paid 6 million Euros to Christian Michel from January 2010 onward for handling the media. Nobody knew the names of these journalists who had been dubbed “Agusta Patrakars” by media and social media. But Social media was rife with speculation. In many discussions on social media, Rajdeep’s name came up, along with the names of scores of other journalists.
At the time, Rajdeep had abused everyone who had questioned him about the scandal via Direct Messages on Twitter. At the time, some social media users had trolled Rajdeep Sardesai on this issue, and like his MSG moment, it seems something “snapped” and suddenly the trolls began receiving abusive Direct messages from Rajdeep Sardesai’s account. Later, Rajdeep had claimed that his account was hacked and some miscreant who put out those abusive direct messages (DMs). After crying foul, Rajdeep, much like Waqar Younis, had deactivated his Twitter account. It must be mentioned here that at that time, the claims of Rajdeep about his Twitter account being hacked did not really add up since he had access to his account and Tweeting normally for several hours before crying foul.
With the trend of celebrities either abusing or indulging in unacceptable behaviour and using the “we got hacked” excuse to escape scrutiny, one certainly wonders if Waqar Younis too is adopting the same method as has been done in the past by veterans like Rajdeep Sardesai.
On Thursday, Shiv Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi took to Twitter to share a Times of India report to claim that government of India’s policy think tank NITI Aayog had praised the efforts of Mumbai and also stated that the centre may adopt ‘Mumbai-model’ nationally to fight the coronavirus pandemic.
Tweet by Priyanka Chaturvedi
The Times of India report, which was posted by Priyanka Chaturvedi to claim a moral victory, stated that the civic authorities in Mumbai can be cheerful as some of their “innovative” mechanisms to control the spread of the virus may soon be adopted it to national guidelines.
The report claimed that a team of high-powered central officials at a virtual meeting held on Wednesday, had praised the measures taken by authorities of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and the state government such as mobile fever clinics, involving private-sector doctors, focus on oxygen-supported beds as well as the door-to-door survey of senior citizens.
Citing this report, Priyanka Chaturvedi cheered that the centre has decided to adopt ‘Mumbai model’, despite Mumbai city under Shiv Sena government has been the worst affected cities in the entire country.
NITI Aayog says Times of India report is not factually correct
The NITI Aayog, the country’s leading policy think tank, however, on Thursday responded to the Times of India report to categorically state that the news item was not only factually incorrect but also tried to (falsely) convey that the NITI Aayog or Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has endorsed Mumbai’s coronavirus response strategy.
Most importantly, NITI Aayog in its response tweet, stated that it was rather worrying to see a rise in the number of coronavirus case in Mumbai. “The caseload in Mumbai continues to be a cause of concern,” NITI Aayog said in a tweet.
Following the fact-check of the NITI Aayog, the Times of India has issued a clarification on the report and changed the headline of their story. However, no change has been made to the original report despite NITI Aayog rejecting the details of the report.
TOI had peddled fake news regarding the ‘Worli Model’ last month too
Last month, a five-member Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT), headed by an additional secretary, Manoj Joshi, was on a two-day visit in Mumbai on April 21 to assess the state’s preparedness in battling the coronavirus outbreak.
Besides visiting Kasturba hospital and the BMC headquarters, the team paid a visit to G-south ward, comprising of slum pockets of Worli Koliwada and Jijamata Nagar, the zone with the highest number of positive coronavirus cases in the city.
Interestingly, However, as the IMCT visit in Mumbai was about to conclude, a spurious report was published in the Times of India claiming that the IMCT team which was in the city to review the state’s readiness in fighting the spread of the coronavirus “felt” that Worli Koliwada can be a perfect model for the rest of the country in containing the coronavirus outbreak.
TOI Article during the IMCT visitTOI article during IMCT visit
Interestingly, Shiv Sena’s Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi quoted that article too, praising her party and saying, “This will hurt the haters: A 5-member inter-ministerial team assessing the Covid-19 situation feels Worli Koliwada can become a model for the rest of the country in containing the virus outbreak&lauded the State’s effort,”
Priyanka Chaturvedi praising the ‘Worli Koliwada Model’ and claiming IMCT endorsed it
Reality: There is no “Worli-Koliwada Model”, IMCT never endorsed it
Interestingly, the TOI article was not quoting the IMCT officials, it was referring to a press release by the CM’s office. Essentially, this means that the article published in the Times of India was based on the inputs from the Maharashtra state government and not from the additional secretary Manoj Joshi himself.
As explained in our report, the article deceptively attributed the alleged praise showered on the Maharashtra government for its measures to limit the coronavirus in Worli Koliwada zone to Mr Joshi so as to assert that a central government authorised team had commended the state efforts in tackling the contagion.
OpIndia had spoken to a few officials who had denied the knowledge of any such model existing and had expressed apprehensions that Joshi could have been misquoted. While our attempts to reach Mr Joshi failed, sources have claimed that Times Of India has misquoted the official, presumably, due to the press release by the state government.
The centre’s response
The Uddhav Thackeray government seems to be investing an unprecedented level of efforts in their PR machinery even as the state’s resources and administrative system crumble under the rising coronavirus cases.
In the earlier instance of the IMCT visit, the centre had not issued any rebuttals. But with the recent rebuttal from the NITI Ayog, it seems even the centre is now concerned about lies being spread over some non-existent model.
Mumbai, TOI and Priyanka Chaturvedi
In both the instances cited above, TOI was the common factor. On both the occasions, TOI had published a report claiming the Maharashtra government’s efforts in battling the pandemic in the city has been ‘praised’ by the central government and went ahead to claim that their ‘strategies’ may be adapted by others. On both occasions, it was also Priyanka Chaturvedi who peddled TOI’s claims promoting the Uddhav government.
It is also pertinent to note that Worli is Aaditya Thackeray’s constituency.
Interestingly, this desperation by the Maharashtra govt and media to promote “Maharashtra model” comes at a time of coordinated attacks against the “Gujarat model” by likes of Priyanka Chaturvedi and a section of media. Chaturvedi had shown concerns about the Gujarat government’s handling of the pandemic recently.
Rising cases in Maharashtra, especially Mumbai
Maharashtra remains the most-affected state in the country, with nearly 60,000 cases reported out of the country’s 158,333 cases. The total tally of the coronavirus cases in Maharashtra is at 59,546 and on Thursday alone it saw an addition of 2,598 new cases. The state has also seen 1,982 deaths, 85 deaths came on Thursday alone.
Meanwhile, Mumbai city has alone reported 1,044 fresh cases as its tally crossed the 35,000-mark to reach 35,485 cases of whom 24,507 were active ones. The city has also reported 38 deaths on Thursday to take its toll to 1,135.
In addition to that, there have been reports of total chaos, lack of ambulances, staff and negligence in proper handling of corpses of deceased coronavirus patients poring in. The state government had requested for central forces to be deployed in some areas of Mumbai to aid its exhausted police force.
In a press release on Thursday, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) had condemned the arrest of a 55-year-old woman named Ramzan Bibi in Cheleki in Pakistan on the charges of blasphemy. Reportedly, the woman is an Ahmadiyya by Faith, who despite being Muslims are not considered as one in Pakistan.
As per the press release, Ramzan Bibi was booked under Section 295 (C) of the Pakistan Penal Code, following a written complaint submitted to the police. It was alleged that she committed blasphemy during a personal dispute in which the charitable donation made to a local mosque was returned back to her.
The blasphemy law states, ”Whoever by words, either spoken or written, or by visible representation or by any imputation, innuendo, or insinuation, directly or indirectly, defiles the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) shall be punished with death, or imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine.”
USCIRF condemned the arrest of Ramzan Bibi, a 55-year-old Ahmadi Muslim woman in Cheleki, Pakistan, on blasphemy charges.https://t.co/yZvvztDBFy
Arunima Bhargava, the Commissioner of USCIRF, has called upon the Islamic Republic to facilitate the release of Ramzan Bibi and dropping all charges of blasphemy against the said woman. Besides, she had called the move as a ‘step in the wrong direction’. Reportedly, around 80 people are still incarcerated under the contentious blasphemy law in Pakistan. Half of such individuals are facing life sentences or on death row.
According to USCIRF Chairman, Tony Perkins, the abuse of the contentious blasphemy law is a ‘significant barrier’ to religious freedom in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. He added, “Ms. Bibi should be released from jail alongside other prisoners of conscience, especially given the heightened dangers of imprisonment during the current COVID-19 crisis.”
In its Annual Report for 2020, the USCIRF suggested the inclusion of Pakistan amongst the Countries of Particular Concern (CPC) to the US State Department. The recommendation was made in light of the abuse of blasphemy and Anti-Ahmadiyya laws to persecute religious minorities.
Ramzan Bibi not the first: The Case of Asia Bibi
In 2010, Pakistani Christian woman Aasiya Noreen, famously known as Asia Bibi, was convicted of blasphemy by a Pakistani court and was sentenced to death by hanging. In October 2018, the Supreme Court of Pakistan acquitted her based on insufficient evidence after spending eight years in jail. Asia Bibi is now living in exile in Canada. Younus, the brother-in-law of a Pakistani Christian woman Asia Bibi, was murdered in Sheikhupura city of Punjab province in Pakistan on Monday.
The Ministry of External Affairs has refuted the claims by President Donald Trump after he said that he had spoken to Prime Minister Modi about the India-China standoff and that he was not in a good mood about the conflict.
There has been no recent contact b/w PM Modi&US President Trump. Last conversation between them was on 4 April,2020 on subject of Hydroxychloroquine.Y'day,MEA had also made it clear that we're directly in touch with China through established mechanisms&diplomatic contacts:Sources pic.twitter.com/oQIPwA2rrF
MEA clarified that there has been no contact between President Trump and PM Modi after the 4th of April. The last conversation between the two was regarding Hydroxychloroquine and no conversation has taken place between President Donald Trump and PM Modi regarding the India China standoff.
The MEA further confirmed that India and China are directly in contact with each other through established mechanism and diplomatic contacts.
President of the United States, Donald Trump had responded to a question earlier at the White House about the stand-off between India and China in the Ladakh region. Answering the question posed about the stand-off, President Trump said, “We have a big conflict going on between India and China, 2 countries with 1.4 billion people and very powerful militaries. India is not happy and probably China is not happy. But I can tell you, I did speak to PM Modi, he is not in a good mood about what’s going on with China”.
#WATCH "We have a big conflict going on between India & China, 2 countries with 1.4 billion people & very powerful militaries. India is not happy & probably China is not happy, I did speak to PM Modi, he is not in a good mood about what's going on with China": US President Trump pic.twitter.com/1Juu3J2IQK
He had further said that if both countries were to say that him being the mediator would help, he would become mediate between India and China to end the conflict.
The stand-off between India and China at Galwan valley region of Ladakh
India and China are currently engaged in a military standoff in the Galwan Valley region of Ladakh, near the Line of Actual Control between India and China. It is notable here that vast areas of Ladakh region have been under Chinese control for decades.
In the Galwan flashpoint, it was initially reported that China had started moving heavy equipment and troops in the LAC, and had increased patrols in the area creating skirmishes between Indian and Chinese troops.
As a result, India too has mobilised troops and aircraft in the region. In 2017, India and China had engaged in a similar standoff in the Doklam region near the Bhutan border.
As per Defense Expert Nitin Gokhale, India’s refusal to back down from a standoff with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) pushed China to soften its stand. Reportedly, Indian Army moved its troops to Daulat Beg Oldi, the last military post south of the Karakoram Pass, resulting in China being aware that India will not yield to Chinese aggression.
According to a Hindustan Times report, India’s security establishment took a firm stand against alteration of Indian territory and instead decided to face the Chinese threat with “strength and restraint”.
The Prime Minister, along with Foreign Minister Dr S Jaishankar, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, which had earlier stood-up against Chinese aggression during the Doklam stand-off, led India’s response during the current escalation at Northern borders.
According to strategic affairs expert Nitin Gokhale, the retreat by China at the LAC was due to India’s aggressive response of not to back off despite tensions were mounting at the border.
On Thursday, India responded to Pakistan’s rant against the start of construction of the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya, saying that the Islamic country had no locus-standi on the issue.
Launching a blistering attack on Pakistan, the Indian Foreign Ministry advised the Imran Khan-led government to read their own country’s constitution before comments.
Earlier, the Imran Khan-led Pakistan government had alleged that the RSS-BJP are busy advancing their “Hindutva” agenda even as the world is grappling with the coronavirus pandemic. A statement issued by the Pakistani Foreign Ministry has stated that the commencement of Ram Mandir at Ayodhya is another step towards the direction of implementing the RSS-BJP’s ‘Hindutva agenda’.
While ? is grappling with unprecedented #COVID19, RSS-BJP combine is busy unabashedly advancing “Hindutva” agenda. The commencement of construction of a Mandir at the site of Babri Masjid is another step in this direction & Govt & people of ?? condemn it in the strongest terms. pic.twitter.com/1V4iWW7tvi
— Spokesperson ?? MoFA (@ForeignOfficePk) May 27, 2020
India’s reply
Rejecting the statement made by Pakistan on commencement of construction of Ram Mandir, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Anurag Srivastava on Thursday said, “We’ve seen an absurd statement by Pakistan on a matter on which it has no locus standi. Given its record, Pakistan should be embarrassed to even mention minorities.”
“India is a nation served by the rule of law and which guarantees equal rights to all faiths. Pakistan’s Foreign Office may take time out and read their own constitution to realise the difference,” the spokesperson added.
India is a nation served by rule of law&which guarantees equal rights to all faiths.Pakistan’s Foreign Office may take time out&read their own constitution to realize the difference: MEA Spokesperson on a statement by Pak on commencement of construction of a Ram Temple in Ayodhya
Making absurd allegation’s against India’s judiciary, Pakistan had also said the Indian Supreme Court’s Ram Mandir verdict “shredded the veneer of so-called secularism” and made it clear “minorities are not safe in India”.
Responding to the statements, Anurag Srivastava said,”As for the judiciary, Pakistan must realise that theirs is thankfully not the norm. There are others elsewhere with credibility and integrity that Pakistan understandably finds difficult to recognise.”
Pakistan’s constant rant against India’s internal matters
At a time when Pakistan is accused of persecuting its own religious minorities, even at the time of global pandemic of coronavirus, the terrorist-state had found time to interfere in India’s affairs by ranting against the construction of Ram Mandir at Ayodhya.
Indulging in fear-monger about India’s religious minorities, the Islamic country of Pakistan had issued a statement against the commencement of the construction of Ram Mandir at Ayodhya to ‘condemn’ it and also to call the Supreme Court verdict in the matter ‘controversial’.
In the statement, Pakistan had alleged that the RSS-BJP are busy advancing their “Hindutva” agenda even as the world is grappling with the pandemic. The statement also said that the ‘controversial’ Supreme Court judgement in the Ram Mandir case “shredded the veneer of so-called secularism of India by making clear that the minorities are not safe in India and they have to feat for their lives, beliefs and places of worship”.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office had also claimed that developments relating to the Babri Masjid, the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and initiation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) process was proof enough of how Muslims are being marginalised in the country.
ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) has lodged a complaint against actress and stand-up comic Surleen Kaur and entertainment company Shemaroo for insulting the organisation and Hindus. The organisation has sent a complaint to the Mumbai police against a stand-up show hosted by Kaur, which was published by Shemaroo in various online platforms.
In the complaint released by ISKCON vice president and spokesperson Radharamn Das, they have said that the video published by the company on different social media sites, YouTube channel, on the website www.shemaroome.com etc. is highly defamatory towards ISKCON society as well as towards the followers of Hinduism. They have added that the language used by Kaur is highly objectionable and defamatory, and it has caused great pain to the followers of Sanatan Dharma, Hindus and ISKCON worldwide devotees.
Dear Sir @CPMumbaiPolice Pls find our complaint agains Surleen Kaur & @ShemarooEnt for using inappropriate words for ISKCON, for our Rishis, Hindus.
This is very unfortunate that there has been narrative building against the followers of Sanatan Dharma on different platforms pic.twitter.com/ldEDY47REY
Referring to increasing incidents of insult of Hinduism in the name of entertainment, the complaint states that “there is a growing trend in India, where Hinduism/Sanatan Dharma and our Rishi-Munis, Deities etc are being constantly abused by a group of people and organizations. They are misusing the tolerant nature of the followers of Sanatan Dharma and their abuses and language and volume of abuse has only grown louder day by day.”
“There is a hidden propaganda and conspiracy to defame Sanatan Dharma, our Rishi Munis so that the youths can be easily manipulated. Through app’s like Tik-Tok etc the focus of the foreign power’s is to destroy the character of the masses so that country can be easily controlled & destroyed. We can learn this from the example of China itself. When the ancient Chinese decided to live in peace, they made the great wall of china, they thought no one can climb it due to its height”, the letter further added.
ISKCON decided to lodge the complaint after the video of Surleen Kaur went viral on social media today. Even though it was published a few months ago, the video was widely shared on social media today, which has caused the Hindu organisation to notice it. In the video, Kaur can be presenting a stand-up show where she says in Hindi, ‘no doubt we are from ISKCON, but from inside we are all harami porn lovers’.
Surleen Kaur also said that ancient Hindu saints used their little knowledge of Sanskrit to hide their clandestine activities. She claimed that the Rishis used the Sanskrit language to write erotic texts, giving the example of Kamasutra. She also made fun of erotic sculptures in Khajuraho, to make the point that Hindus are porn lovers inherently.
@CPMumbaiPolice@MumbaiPolice This is the video for your ready reference. I have also emailed you the details. Since the Police Station near our ISKCON Juhu temple, Mumbai is quarantined, please accept this online complaint for your necessary action please. pic.twitter.com/Ujqz5K0eFi
In the complaint against the video, ISKCON has also explained how civilisations can be destroyed by compromising human characters. They note that there are 3 ways to destroy the civilisation of a nation, destroy their family structure, destroy their education system, and lower their role models and references. They wrote, “In order to destroy the family; undermine the role of Motherhood, make her feel ashamed of being a housewife. To destroy the education: you should give no importance to the Teacher, and lower his place in society so that the students despise him. To lower the role models: you should undermine their scholars, doubt them until no one listens to them or trusts them.”
“When a conscious mother disappears, a dedicated teacher disappears and there’s a downfall of role models, who will teach the youngsters values? ISKCON was founded so that our Youths are guided towards happiness. Happy Youths can only make a strong nation,” the statement adds.
Accordingly, the organization has requested the Mumbai police to register FIR against Surleen Kaur and Shemaroo Entertainment limited under the relevant sections.
It may be noted that Shemaroo has already removed the video from various platforms where they had uploaded the same. But many people had already downloaded the same, and have subsequently uploaded on various social media sites, which had caused it to go viral.
religion, caste, creed or culture. We apologize to all brothers and sisters of the Iskcon community whose sentiments we might have unintentionally hurt. We extend our assurance that such matters will be dealt meticulously and with extreme sensitivity.@yudhistirGD
The company tweeted to inform that they have taken down the video, as it was found derogatory, and apologised to ISKCON. “Shemaroo is committed to ensure our content is neutral and unbiased towards any religion, caste, creed or culture. We apologize to all brothers and sisters of the Iskcon community whose sentiments we might have unintentionally hurt. We extend our assurance that such matters will be dealt meticulously and with extreme sensitivity,” they added.
