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DMK and Congress attack IIT Madras Director, call him names and demand his transfer, Annamalai comes out in support: What happened

OpIndia Staff
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DMK and Congress attack IIT Madras Director, call him names and demand his transfer, Annamalai comes out in support: What happened

In Tamil Nadu, several Dravidian student unions and the ruling DMK have launched a tirade against IIT Madras director Veezhinathan Kamakoti over singing bhajans in his ancestral village and hailing the medicinal properties of gaumutra (cow urine).

Earlier this month, visuals of Professor V Kamakoti singing Margazhi bhajans on the streets of his native village Vishnupuram near Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu.

In the video, Kamakoti was seen dressed in traditional attire accompanied by a harmonium-wielding man, and some women and children singing bhajans.

Condemning the alleged politicisation of Professor Kamakoti’s way of practising his faith, Tamil Nadu BJP state president K Annamalai said that Professor Kamakoti is an expert in Artificial Intelligence, quantum computing, etc., and he chose to pray to God in his own way. However, a student union is politicising this. The BJP leader urged the student unions to call off their protest and respect IIT Madras’s sanctity.

“It’s unfortunate that our Chennai IIT Director, who is a very decorated person, who is an expert in AI, and quantum computing, he chose to follow his dharma. He chose to pray to god in his own way. That is being politicised by a group of students union. Everybody has the right to practise his religion. I urge them to stop the protest and respect the sanctity of the institution. IIT Chennai is not only the pride of Chennai but the entire country,” Annamalai said.

Meanwhile, a video of Professor Veezhinathan Kamakoti reportedly praising the medicinal benefits of Gaumutra (cow urine) has gone viral on social media.

While addressing an event at a Go Samrakshana Sala on the day of Maatu Pongal (15th January), Professor Kamakoti said, “An ascetic had high fever and was thinking of calling a doctor. I forgot the sanyasi’s name, but he said ‘Gomuthran pinami’.

He then immediately drank cow urine and in 15 minutes, his fever subsided,” Kamkoti said adding that cow urine is effective in treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Mocking the IIT Madras director, Congress state co-ordinator Subathra Devi said, “Look at the IIT director in the brain-strong gang regime. Cow urine is a fever medicine.”

Similarly, Congress MP Karti Chidambaram said, “Peddling pseudoscience by @iitmadras Director is most unbecoming.”

Meanwhile, DMK leader TKS Elangovan slammed Professor Kamakoti and demanded his transfer from IIT Madras. “He must be transferred from IIT and posted at one of the GOI medical colleges. What will he do in IIT? It deals with engineering and related disciplines,” Elangovan said adding a sarcastic remark that Kamakoti should be made director of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) instead.

The DMK leader did not leave the opportunity to express his disdain for North India and said, “Not here. In Uttar Pradesh or anywhere else where they can take the people into their fold, where they can cheat people and tell lies about Gaumutra. What nonsense is this? It is real nonsense.”

“Fortunately Directors are not taking classes to students I guess. There are other lecturers and professors to take classes. If he is taking any class, it’s unfortunate for the students. People like Kamakoti should be thrown out of the education system. He should be made to perform pujas in temples. He is a misfit. And that he has proved,” he continued.

The ‘Rationalist’ outfit Dravidar Kazhagam deemed Professor V Kamakoti’s remarks “shameful” and “regressive.” The outfit’s leader, Kali Poongundran, urged people not to believe such opinions.

Similarly, Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam leader Ramakrishna said that Kamakoti should either provide proof for his gaumutra remarks or apologise. He further threatened to stage a protest against Kamakoti if the latter did not apologise.

Meanwhile, the BJP defended Professor Kamakoti and said that the DMK and Congress were wrong to target the Director of IIT Madras.

BJP leader Narayan Tirupati said, “It is a kind of substance used in medicines. Everyone knows that. Our former PM Morarji Desai also used to have Gaumutra. It is there in Indian tradition…It is one’s belief. If you don’t believe it, leave it. You can’t comment on a person like the IIT Director who’s an intellectual, a man of integrity, a man of high education. He is very clear. These people who don’t have any other work except for criticizing the Brahmin community will talk. Let’s ignore them.”

British Labour MP meets Jamaat-e-Islami instead of persecuted Hindus in Bangladesh, had targeted Parliamentary group for criticising Yunus regime

OpIndia Staff
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British Labour MP meets Jamaat-e-Islami instead of persecuted Hindus in Bangladesh, had targeted Parliamentary group for criticising Yunus regime

British Labour MP Rupa Huq, who visited Bangladesh in January, is facing criticism for not meeting the persecuted Hindu minorities in the country who faced brutal violence in the aftermath of the violent revolution last year that ousted the Awami League government.

The local Hindu organisations in Bangladesh condemned Huq for not visiting the areas where Hindu minorities faced violence.

As per reports, the Bengali Hindu Adarsha Sangh (BHAS), UK, an organisation representing Bengali Hindus, collated letters from several organisations including the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, its associate the Bangladesh Youth Unity Council, Bangladesh United Sanatani Awakening Alliance and Sammilita Sanatan Parishad (an alliance of 40 Hindu groups in Bangladesh), criticising Huq for not visiting the people and places impacted by violence.

Huq visited Dhaka as a guest of honour of a trade delegation organised by the UK Bangladesh Catalysts of Commerce and Industry (UKBCCI).

The BHAS statement read, ” She admitted that she visited Bangladesh in 2024. She further stated that Hindus are in trouble but the troubles are for political reasons and purposefully ignored that minorities are being attacked due to religious extremism.”

The Unity Council statement said that the true narrative was not portrayed to Huq”…deeply concerned the visit did not include meeting with members of our community or visiting impacted people or sites. Instead, we learned that MP Rupa Huq met Muhammad Yunus and Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh. We are concerned that the true narrative was not portrayed to the MP.”

Huq criticised the APPG report that slammed Yunus regime

Following her Dhaka visit, Rupa Huq claimed that the report of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Commonwealth was a ‘one-sided account’ of the interim government of Bangladesh.

Speaking in the House of Commons, she rejected the report as having ‘zero official relevance’.

A report entitled ‘The Ongoing Situation in Bangladesh’ was released by the APPG in November last year, three months after the ousting of the Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh. The report criticised the Muhammad Yunus regime in Bangladesh for using ‘the law as a political weapon’ and empowering ‘hardline Islamists’.

“We have received evidence that murder charges are being slapped on former ministers, Awami League leaders, MPs, former judges, scholars, lawyers and journalists in such numbers to raise questions around their credibility”, the report read.

Huq said that the report peddled falsehoods. “This Autumn, a one-sided account of the Bangladeshi Yunus government surfaced in the name of the APPG for Commonwealth, pedalling falsehoods that was widely press-released, leading to confusion on UK government policy”, Huq posted on X.

The report was later withdrawn after widespread criticism.

Kashmiri Hindu Exodus: Actor Anupam Kher shares emotional post on social media about the plight of the displaced Hindus

OpIndia Staff
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Kashmiri Hindu Exodus: Actor Anupam Kher shares emotional post on social media about the plight of the displaced Hindus

On the anniversary of 35 years of the Kashmiri Hindu Exodus, actor Anupam Kher shared an emotional message on his X (formerly Twitter) account. He recited a poem describing the plight of those who lost their homes.

Anupam Kher wrote, “19th January 1990 #KashmirHindus Exodus Day! It has been 35 years since more than 500000 Hindus were thrown out of their homes. Those homes are still there. But haunted and forgotten! #SunayanaKachrooBhide has written a heartbreaking poem about memories of those homes. The lines will resonate with all the #KashmiriPandits who were the victims of this mammoth tragedy. It’s both- SAD & TRUE!”.

Here is the text of the poem:

via x.com/AnupamPKher

The Kashmiri Hindu community observes January 19 as the Kashmiri Hindus Exodus Day to mark their exit from the Kashmir Valley due to Pakistan-sponsored Islamic terrorism.

Mahakumbh: Fire at Mela tent city engulfs 18 tents, quickly brought under control, no casualties reported

OpIndia Staff
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Mahakumbh: Fire at Mela tent city engulfs 18 tents, quickly brought under control, no casualties reported

A massive fire broke out on Sunday, January 19, under a railway bridge near sector 19 of the Mahakumbh Tent City in Prayagraj. The fire was reportedly caused by an explosion in cooking gas cylinders and it engulfed around 18 tents. No casualties have been reported following the incident.

People in the surrounding tents were evacuated safely. Around 15 fire tenders were put into service to contain the flames as per Kumbh Mela Chief Fire Officer, Pramod Sharma.

Speaking to the media, Prayagraj District Magistrate Ravindra Kumar said that the fire broke out around 4:30 pm in the tent of Gita Press. He said that no casualties occurred and the situation was controlled. The fire was brought under control within 20 minutes, as informed by UP Minister AK Sharma.

“There has been no loss of lives in the incident and for that, I thank Ma Ganga, Triveni and Hanuman Ji. Our police team and the NDRF are at the spot”, said Sharma.

ADG Bhanu Bhaskar said that an investigation will conducted into the fire incident. “Two-three cylinders exploded in Sector 19 of the Maha Kumbh Mela, causing a massive fire in the camps. The fire has been controlled. All people are safe, and no one has been injured. An investigation will be conducted,” he said.

According to DIG Vaibhav Krishna, a survey of the fire site is being conducted to assess the damage. “The fire broke out in some tents of Gita Press. There are no reports of any casualties. A survey is being conducted to ascertain the damage caused by the fire. The fire has been brought under control. It is a matter of investigation (the cause behind the fire incident). Only tents and some things have been burnt,” he said. He urged people not to panic as the fire has been brought under control.

CM Yogi assessed the situation on the ground and spoke to PM

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited the site of the incident to assess the situation. PM Modi also reportedly spoke to CM Yogi to inquire about the fire incident.

The fire was contained well within time due to the presence of fire tenders parked at the venue as part of the safety arrangement. The fire tenders immediately rushed to the spot after receiving information about the fire and started rescue work. Local authorities acted swiftly in coordination with police and fire departments.

Day after Manish Sisodia said slums will remain in Delhi till Arvind Kejriwal is there, AAP supremo promises to build homes for sanitation workers

OpIndia Staff
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Day after Manish Sisodia said slums will remain in Delhi till Arvind Kejriwal is there, AAP supremo promises to build homes for sanitation workers

Days after Aam Aadmi Party candidate from Jangpura, and former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia assured that jhuggi clusters in the national capital cannot be removed calling it ‘Kejriwal’s promise’, AAP national convenor, Arvind Kejriwal claimed on Friday that he will build homes for the slumdwellers.

Sisodia had attacked the BJP by declaring the party as the biggest danger to slum dwellers in Delhi. During a roadshow in his assembly constituency, Sisodia said, “I am getting a lot of love and support from the people of Jangpura. It is a big day for me today. Poor law and order, rapes, chain-snatching, gang wars- BJP is behind all this. BJP has not been able to handle law and order here, so why should we give education and hospitals to them? Today, the BJP is the biggest danger to jhuggis in Delhi. If they come to power, all jhuggis will be razed. We are the only ones…who lie down in front of bulldozers to prevent such actions”.

Manish Sisodia also promised that jhuggis (slums) are there till Arvind Kejriwal is there.

Kejriwal now says he wants houses for all

Just a couple of days after Sisodia said slums will remain till Arvind Kejriwal is there, the AAP supremo claimed that he wrote a letter addressed to PM Modi requesting him to provide land to the Delhi government for building houses for sanitation workers employed in the NDMC and MCD areas.

“I want to draw your attention to a very important issue concerning the sanitation workers employed in the NDMC and MCD areas. These workers are the backbone of our city’s cleanliness system. During the service, they reside in government-provided accommodation. However, after retirement, they are required to vacate these houses. They are unable to purchase their own homes or afford the high rents in Delhi, leaving them and their families I’m a precarious situation”, said Kejriwal during a press conference.

He added, “Since land-related matters in Delhi fall under the purview of the central government, I request that the central government provide land to sanitation workers at concessional rates. The Delhi government can construct houses on this land for them, and the workers can repay the cost of these houses to the government in easy instalments”.

Kejriwal, who is out on bail in a multi-crore Delhi Liquor Excise Policy scam, had earlier written to the Prime Minister requesting a subsidy in the fare for students in the Delhi metro. Apparently, ahead of Delhi elections, Kejriwal’s campaign is just to ask more and more things from the Centre government.

Maha Kumbh 2025: ‘IITian Baba’ expelled from Juna Akhara over allegations of misconduct

OpIndia Staff
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Maha Kumbh 2025: ‘IITian Baba’ expelled from Juna Akhara over allegations of misconduct

On 18th January, Shri Panchdashnam Juna Akhara expelled engineer-turned-saint Abhey Singh, famously known as “IITian Baba.” The decision followed allegations of abusive language by Abhey Singh directed at his Guru, Mahant Someshwar Puri. Singh has also been barred from entering the Akhara’s camp and its surroundings, noted a report in The Times of India.

Disciplinary violation cited as reason for expulsion

Speaking to The Times of India, Mahant Hari Giri, the Chief Patron of Juna Akhara, said that the Akhara emphasises discipline and devotion to one’s Guru as core principles of Sanyas. He stated, “Disrespecting one’s Guru is a betrayal of Sanatan Dharma and the Akhara’s values. Discipline is paramount here, and no one, including Singh, is exempt.”

The disciplinary committee of the Akhara highlighted that Singh used offensive language not only against his Guru but also fellow seers, which is a breach of their strict code. Mahant Hari Giri clarified that Singh would remain expelled until he learns to uphold these principles.

A journey from IIT to sainthood

Abhey Singh was working as an aerospace engineer before he was drawn to sainthood. He is an alumnus of IIT-Bombay and had a lucrative salary in Canada. However, he left his corporate career to pursue spirituality. Singh was born in the Jhajjar district of Haryana. His journey reflects a blend of academic brilliance, professional success, and personal struggles.

Singh gained fame during the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, specifically after a viral interview that turned him into a social media sensation. He has over a lakh followers on Instagram but faced criticism over a controversial reel where he referred to his father as “Hiranyakashyap” and his Guru as “Pagal” (mad). His remarks sparked outrage within the Akhara, leading to his expulsion.

Family speaks out on his choices

In another report, the Times of India quoted Karan Grewal, Singh’s father, who is a lawyer in Jhajjar Court. He expressed pride in his son’s academic achievements and hoped he would return to family life. Grewal revealed that Singh’s childhood was marred by trauma from familial conflicts that significantly influenced his spiritual decisions. He said, “He was extraordinary in academics but always inclined towards spirituality.” He added that Singh’s decision to forgo marriage was shaped by witnessing parental discord.

Singh’s mother has urged him to return home, but ‘IITian Baba’ has reportedly declined, citing his commitment to the path of Sanyas. Grewal admitted that while he wishes for his son’s homecoming, he respects his choice to pursue a simpler, more peaceful life.

Singh’s presence at the Maha Kumbh Mela made him a topic of intrigue and debate. His story of renouncing wealth and success resonated with many, but his recent actions have raised questions about the integrity required in monastic life.

Mewat: Locals forced to dress girls in boys’ clothes to hide their identity as crimes against women rise in the Islamists dominated area

OpIndia Staff
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Mewat: Locals forced to dress girls in boys’ clothes to hide their identity as crimes against women rise in the Islamists dominated area

People living in the Mewat region of Nuh, a Muslim-majority district in Haryana, are being forced to hide women and even girls. A ground report of Dainik Bhaskar exposes the ground situation in Mewat where rising cases of sexual crimes against women and girls are forcing people to hide women in their families.

As per the report, it is common for people in Mewat to cross-dress girls as boys to protect them from becoming ‘targets’. In the report, two women journalists from Dainik Bhaskar narrated their experience of travelling through villages in Mewat. “It is 7 PM. We are in Alwar of Mewat region where rape cases are on the rise. We explored dozens of villages in the Ramgarh police station area. There is a strange sense of fear and discomfort in this area”, the journalists write.

Girls under 4 years dressed as boys in Mewat

On the way from Viratnagar to Sariska, the journalists saw a home where the clothes of children were hung outside for drying. Upon asking, the old woman in the house told them that she has four granddaughters between the ages of 1 to 4 years, but she dresses them in boys’ clothes so that no one can find out that they are girls. The journalists found a similar situation in the Tijara region.

Moving through the market on their way to Thanagazi, the journalists noticed that there were hardly any shops for women’s wear. The people in the market were mostly men. “Among the shops for men’s clothes and shoes, we could find a saree shop but the customers at that shop were all men”, the journalists observed.

They also came across a group of women. All of them were covered head to toe with only their eyes visible. They were waiting for an auto with passengers as they feared sitting in an auto by themselves.

Windows of houses were covered to block any view from outside

Next, the journalists went to Mandari village where they witnessed a similar environment. Several cases of the POCSO Act (Prevention of Children against Sexual Offences Act) were reported in the village. Women had covered their faces, even those sitting right at the gates of their houses. The windows in the houses were covered to block the view from outside. In the houses there, the clothes of men were hanging outside for drying but the women’s clothes were hung inside to avoid being noticed. The women in the area have reportedly modified their lifestyle to keep themselves safe amid the crumbling law and order situation. An advocate Ashok Sharma told the journalists that even girls as young as 5 are not safe in the region as they are easy targets.

Dr. Ravi Mathur, a retired senior medical officer, informed the journalists that he used to handle hundreds of cases of rape in a year. Even animals were apparently subjected to bestiality. “I have seen over 70 cases registered under the POCSO Act in the last few months. The situation will change only when we sensitize boys”, said Deputy SP Dr. Poonam Chauhan, in charge of the Special Investigation Unit for Crimes against Women.

Men guard the gates of houses at night

Locals in Maliwas village in Tulera told the journalists that several girls in the village were married off as young as 14 due to fear for their safety. The gravity of the situation can be inferred from the fact that fathers and brothers in the families guard the gates of houses at night. According to village Sarpanch Babbal Yadav, the teachers in the schools have been directed to inform the family immediately if a child is not present in the class.

Locals warned journalists not to walk alone

When the journalists headed into the interiors of Ramgarh, Naugawan, Bagar Tiraha and M.I.A. (Matsya Industrial Area) in Alwar after finding out about the high number of rape cases there, the locals warned them against going there after dark. The region has a scarcity of water due to which women have to walk for 2 km to fetch water risking their safety.

Nuh district in Mewat has always been a communally sensitive region. In July 2023, a mob of hundreds of Islamist rioters attacked Hindu devotees participating in the Brijmandal Jalabhishek Yatra in Nuh, Mewat, of Haryana. At least six people were killed as a result of the riots. In the wake of the attack on the violence, Home Minister Amit Shah had assured about the establishment of a special and permanent camp for the Rapid Action Force (RAF) in the communally sensitive Muslim-majority district of Mewat in Haryana.

Rahul Gandhi dubs 2023 Bihar caste census ‘fake’, creates trouble for both Congress and RJD which conducted the survey

OpIndia Staff
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Rahul Gandhi dubs 2023 Bihar caste census ‘fake’, creates trouble for both Congress and RJD which conducted the survey

On Saturday (18th January), Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, termed the caste census conducted in Bihar in 2023 as fake.

His statement, ahead of the Bihar Assembly Elections, has raised questions about its implications for Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, who had previously taken credit for the exercise.

Tejashwi’s claims under scrutiny

The caste survey report was released on 2nd October 2023. It was conducted under the Mahagathbandhan government led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, whose party, Janata Dal (United), was leading the alliance comprising JD(U), Congress, and RJD. At that time, Tejashwi had credited himself for pressuring Nitish into carrying out the survey and presented it as a major achievement of his party.

Subsequently, on 9th November 2023, the Bihar Reservation (Amendment) Act, 2023, was passed in the state assembly. The Act effectively expanded the reservation quota from 50% to 65% in the state. Tejashwi claimed credit for that too and positioned himself as a champion of backward and marginalised communities in the state.

However, the expanded quota was struck down by the Patna High Court, stating it was unconstitutional. The decision prompted the Bihar government and RJD to challenge the verdict in the Supreme Court which refused to stay High Court’s judgment but issued notices. The matter is still pending in the apex court.

Rahul Gandhi’s ‘self-goal’

Rahul Gandhi made the remarks at the ‘Samvidhan Suraksha Sammelan’ (Constitution Protection Conference) in Patna. In his statement, Gandhi said, “Caste census should be conducted to understand the true situation of the nation. It will not be like the fake caste census that has been conducted in Bihar…A policy should be made based on the caste census…Congress will pass the caste census in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. We will demolish the barrier of 50% reservations…”

The remarks, which should be considered a “self-goal” for the Congress scion, have triggered a political storm. Gandhi has inadvertently cast doubt on the claims laid by Tejashwi Yadav, given that the RJD was part of the government when the survey was conducted. The statement also questions the Congress party’s own endorsement of the survey at the time.

The timing of Rahul Gandhi’s comment, with assembly elections in Bihar on the horizon, could damage both the Congress and the Mahagathbandhan.

BJP and JDU leaders come in support of Nitish Kumar

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has come in support of Nitish Kumar. State President Dilip Jaiswal said, “I don’t know what Rahul Gandhi says, nor do I know how developed his mind is. But what I do know is that Bihar’s Chief Minister Nitish Kumar successfully completed the caste-based census…”

JD(U) leader Rajiv Ranjan Prasad said, ” In the 20 years tenure of Nitish Kumar, caste census is one of the important decisions he has taken. Based on this caste census, economically backwards 94 lakh families in Bihar are being given financial assistance up to Rs 2 lakhs…Rahul Gandhi should also speak about their (Congress) tenure of 55 years, what they did for reservation, what they did regarding caste census…”

JD(U) leader and Bihar minister Ashok Choudhary said, “Rahul Gandhi’s statement on caste-based census has raised eyebrows, as it marks a significant shift in Congress’s approach. Historically, the party had not issued any official stance on the issue of caste-based enumeration…”

Confusion within the Mahagathbandhan

As of now, Gandhi’s statement has created an atmosphere of confusion within the alliance. The RJD is hoping to highlight the caste survey as a key accomplishment to woo backward and Dalit voters. However, as Congress has rejected the report as fake, it could weaken the coalition’s position.

Furthermore, with such remarks, there is a possibility that a deeper divide will be created between the RJD and Congress in the coming months, breaking the alliance completely in a state where caste-based politics dominate the electoral narrative.

35 years since the exodus: Kashmiri Hindus’ wait for justice continues decades later

Anurag
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35 years since the exodus: Kashmiri Hindus’ wait for justice continues decades later

It has been 35 years since the Kashmiri Hindus were forced to leave Kashmir by the Jihadis. The exodus, a dark chapter in Indian history, was marked by violence, fear, and forced migration. Despite the lapse of time, the victims are still waiting for justice, and the community continues to face resistance to resettlement efforts because of threat from Islamists, terrorism, and other factors.

The events of 1990 were not sudden, though the way history has been written, they may appear so. The seeds of the ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri Hindus were sown long before the fateful January of 1990. The forced exodus was the culmination of a longstanding intention to purge the Valley of its Hindu population, planned and executed by radical Islamic elements. The terrifying slogan, “Raliv, Galiv ya Chaaliv” (convert, leave, or perish), echoed in the Valley’s air for years to drive out Kashmiri Hindus.

The long shadow of history

The persecution of Kashmiri Hindus is not a modern phenomenon. The Valley, once thriving with Hindu civilisation, faced waves of attacks from the 14th century onward. During the Sikh-Dogra rule from 1819 to 1930, there was some relief for the Hindus. However, by the 1930s, radical Islamic influences re-emerged. The anti-Hindu sentiment was fueled by figures such as Sheikh Abdullah and Abdul Qadir. The first recorded evidence of a violent Islamist uprising occurred on 13th July 1931, marked by the infamous slogan demanding the conversion or expulsion of Hindus from the Valley. What began as riots turned into organised killings, rapes, and forced conversions.

The situation worsened in 1947 when Pakistani forces and tribal militias attacked Kashmir during the India-Pakistan Partition. It is believed that around 11,000 to 14,000 Hindus were brutally murdered in Baramulla and Muzaffarabad. There were widespread atrocities, including the looting of homes, rapes, and the abduction of women. Despite the intervention of Indian forces, the trauma inflicted on Hindus and Sikhs left an indelible scar.

Rise of militancy in modern Kashmir

In the following decades, Kashmir witnessed periodic episodes of violence. The foundation for the modern crisis of the 1990s was laid in 1987 with the most rigged elections in Indian history. Farooq Abdullah’s government, in collaboration with the Congress, crushed the pro-Pakistan Muslim United Front (MUF) electorally but allowed them space to foment unrest. By 1988, militancy escalated in the Valley. Bomb blasts, targeted killings, and calls for the imposition of Sharia law became “normal” in Kashmir.

The period between July and December 1989 saw a sharp rise in terror activities. Posters started appearing on the doors of Hindu homes, threatening the residents to leave. The killings began with chilling precision.

March 14, 1989: Prabhavati from Budgam district was killed at Hari Singh High Street, Srinagar, J&K.

September 14, 1989: A top-rated lawyer and social and political activist, Tikka Lal Taploo, was gunned down by the JKLF killers in Habba Kadal, Srinagar.

October 4, 1989: An ex-Sessions Judge Nila Kanth Ganjoo, who emerged as a detestable Kafir when he ordered the execution of the dreaded Maqbool Butt, and based on the evidence deposed, that was later also upheld by the Apex Court.

October 31, 1989: Sheela Koul (Tiku), a housewife, was gunned down by JKLF terrorists at Shivapora, Srinagar. When the ambulance failed to arrive, she was carried to the hospital on a folding bed, where she was left unattended.

December 1, 1989: Ajay Kapoor was in his locality where he was showered with a volley of bullets in cold blood by the JKLF butchers.

December 27, 1989: 57-year-old prominent lawyer Prem Nath Bhatt of Anantnag returned to his home when the Muslim terrorists pumped bullets straight into his head in full public view.

As these killings unfolded, the Farooq Abdullah government abdicated its responsibilities and the CM reportedly fled to London on 18th January 1990. The Valley was left to the mercy of jihadis. On 19th January 1990, Kashmiri Hindus faced their darkest hour. The streets of the Valley echoed with slogans from mosque loudspeakers. Hindus were threatened with death or conversion. Thousands of Hindus fled, terror-stricken, with no choice but to leave their ancestral homes.

A genocide ignored

The exodus, which saw over 300,000 Hindus leave their ancestral homes, was largely ignored by the Indian media and political class. Reports of the genocide were relegated to obscure corners of newspapers, with no significant national outrage. The Rajiv Gandhi government at the Centre and the Farooq Abdullah government in the state failed to act on the calls for help from Hindus, leading to the systematic cleansing of Kashmiri Hindus.

By the end of 1990, over 300 government employees and security personnel were killed by militants. Subsequent massacres in Wandhama, Chapnari, and Doda only reinforced the pattern of terror against Hindus. The ideological campaign of “Islamisation” sought to erase the Valley’s Hindu heritage as temples were destroyed and religious practices suppressed.

The chilling details of the brutal murder of Girija Tickoo echo in the minds of every Hindu who has heard or read about it. Tickoo, who was gang-raped and cut into half using a mechanical saw while alive, still awaits justice. Many Hindu souls like Tickoo are still waiting to see the day when Hindus return to the Valley and reclaim what was theirs.

Justice delayed, hope denied

Three and a half decades later, the Kashmiri Pandit community (Kashmiri Hindus) still awaits justice. The Modi Government has made some promising efforts to bring back Hindus to the Valley. However, these efforts to resettle them in the Valley have been met with resistance, and there is little progress on prosecuting the perpetrators of the genocide. Meanwhile, the community has displayed remarkable resilience, narrating their plight through debates and discussions without resorting to hate or violence.

As India reflects on the 35th anniversary of the exodus, one question continues to haunt: why are Kashmiri Hindus still waiting for justice?

Allahabad High Court Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav gets hounded by leftists after he supported UCC at a VHP event

OpIndia Staff
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Allahabad High Court Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav gets hounded by leftists after he supported UCC at a VHP event

Thirteen Senior Advocates of the Supreme Court, including Indira Jaising and her husband Anand Grover, wrote to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna on January 17 urging him to take suo moto notice of remarks made by Allahabad High Court Judge Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav. They also asked the esteemed Judge to direct the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file an FIR against Yadav

As per reports, the letter sent through the Secretary General of the Supreme Court was also forwarded to other senior judges of the Supreme Court including Justices BR Gavai, Surya Kant, Hrishikesh Roy and AS Oka. The letter was signed by Senior Advocates Indira Jaising, Aspi Chinoy, Navroz Seervai, Anand Grover, Chander Uday Singh, Jaideep Gupta, Mohan V Katarki, Shoeb Alam, R Vaigai, Mihir Desai and Jayant Bhushan.

“Take suo moto notice of the aforesaid speech and in view of the seriousness of the issue, direct the CBI to lodge an FIR against Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav in accordance with the law laid down in K Veeraswami”, the letter read.

In the K Veeraswami case decided by the Apex Court in 1991, it was laid down that no criminal case can be registered against a High Court judge, Chief Justice of a High Court or a Supreme Court judge, without prior consultation with the CJI.

The letter declared the remarks made by Justice Yadav as ‘hate speech’. “Ostensibly, Justice Yadav was commenting on the Uniform Civil Code, but the entire speech seemed like a cover for spreading hate speech on a platform. There was nothing academic, legal or juristic about the contents of the speech”, the letter claimed.

What is the entire controversy

Speaking at an event organised by the legal cell of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) in Prayagraj, on December 8, 2024, Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav supported the Uniform Civil Code and urged the Muslims to embrace the positive change like how Hindus did when the Hindu personal law was reformed. He gave examples of how the Hindus accepted the reforms brought in to address the issues relating to untouchability, female foeticide, sati and so on. However, his remarks were construed as creating an ‘us’ versus ‘them’ narrative and promoting ‘majoritarianism’.

“You have a misconception that if a law (UCC) is brought in, it will be against your Shariat, your Islam and your Quran”, Justice Yadav reportedly said. “But I want to say one thing…whether it’s your personal law, our Hindu law, your Quran or whether it is our Gita, as I have said, we have addressed the ills in our practices…”kamiyan thi, durust kar liye hain” (the shortcomings have been addressed)…untouchability…sati, jauhar…female foeticide…We have addressed all those issues…Then why are you not doing away with this law…that while your first wife is there…you can have three wives…without her consent…This is not acceptable”, he added.

Justice Yadav further said that the majority of people in the Muslim community do not support customs like polygamy and female foeticide. “It is the orthodox Muslims who are harming the country by misguiding others”, he said. Supporting the Uniform Civil Code, Justice Yadav said that the UCC will not only do away with the ill practices within the personal laws but will also contribute to the nation’s progress.

Earlier, the Allahabad High Court Chief Justice Arun Bhansali sought Justice Yadav’s response after the latter had a meeting with the Collegium headed by the CJI on December 17, 2024. In his response, Justice Yadav stood by his remarks and said that his speech was being distorted by those with vested interests. He asserted that his speech was an expression of thoughts on social issues which is consistent with the values enshrined in the Constitution, and not to create hatred towards any community.

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