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Selfless service vs the ‘Mother Teresa syndrome’: As PM Modi highlights Cancer hospital by Bageshwar Dham, how Hindu temples and orgs have been working for people – without harvesting souls

Shraddha Pandey
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Selfless service vs the ‘Mother Teresa syndrome’: As PM Modi highlights Cancer hospital by Bageshwar Dham, how Hindu temples and orgs have been working for people – without harvesting souls

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for Shri Bageshwar Dham Medical Science and Research Institute in Madhya Pradesh’s Chattarpur on 23rd February. During the event, Bageshwar Dham Chief Pandit Dheerendra Krishna Shastri, MP Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav among other dignitaries were present.

This institute will be established on a 10-acre site, and in its first phase, a 100-bed facility will be completed. The Cancer hospital worth over Rs 200 crore will offer free treatment to underprivileged cancer patients. It will be equipped with state-of-the-art machines and have specialist doctors.

Addressing the crowd, Prime Minister Modi congratulated Dheerendra Shastri for his charity hospital initiative and extended best wishes to the people of Bundelkhand. PM Modi also pointed out that several people including political leaders with a colonial mindset take delight in mocking and deriding Hindu Dharma and foreign powers also back such elements to undermine India’s spiritual foundations.  

“In the present times, we observe a certain section of leaders who mock religion, deride it, and engage in divisive tactics. On numerous occasions, foreign powers also attempt to weaken our nation and its spiritual foundations by lending support to such individuals. Those who harbour animosity towards the Hindu faith have, in some form or another, existed for centuries. Those who remain trapped in a colonial mindset persistently attack our beliefs, our temples, our saints, our culture, and our values. They show utter disrespect towards our festivals, traditions, and customs. They even dare to cast aspersions upon a religion and culture that are inherently progressive. Their agenda is to fragment our society and disrupt its unity,” PM Modi said.

Calling Dheerendra Shastri as his younger brother, PM Modi said that Shastri has long been enlightening people with the “mantra of unity” across the nation, and now he has undertaken the noble initiative of establishing a cancer institute. The Prime Minister asserted that now alongside the boon of spirituality, a gift of healthy life would also be bestowed.

“In these circumstances, my younger brother, Dhirendra Shastri Ji, has long been enlightening people with the mantra of unity across the nation. Now, he has taken yet another noble resolution in the service of society and humanity—he has resolved to establish this cancer institute. Thus, here in Bageshwar Dham, not only will bhajans and prasad be offered, but the gift of a healthy life will also be bestowed,” PM Modi said.

He further highlighted that in addition to being the centres of worship and meditation, Hindu institutions, and temples have also been hubs of scientific inquiry, social thought, and collective consciousness. Emphasising the Hindu belief in selfless service, Prime Minister Modi said that Hindu Dharma has bestowed the world with the science of Ayurveda and the discipline of Yoga.

“Our temples, mutts, and sacred sites have always served as centres of both worship and meditation. At the same time, they have also been hubs of scientific inquiry, social thought, and collective consciousness. It was our sages who bestowed upon us the science of Ayurveda, as well as the discipline of yoga—both of which are now celebrated across the world. Our belief is simple: There is no greater religion than selfless service, my friends. In other words, to serve others, to alleviate their suffering, is the essence of true religion. Hence, it has been our long-standing tradition to serve all living beings with the conviction that divinity resides in every human—Narayan in man, Shiva in every being,” PM Modi said.

Ironically, in a Hindu-majority India, it has been a disturbing trend to mock Hindu beliefs and traditions labelling them ‘regressive’, deride saints, and slander Hindus as intolerant despite their inherent secular ethos and pluralistic character. While the left-liberal cabal has persistently been vilifying Hindu saints, many Hindu organisations led by saints are engaged in selfless service—running hospitals, schools and relief programs.

Hindu institutions have long been serving as centres of both spiritual awakening and social welfare. Across the country, numerous health facilities run by Hindu temples and organisations treatment to millions of underprivileged people, reflecting the “Sanatan” legacy of compassion rooted in the ethos of “Niswarth Seva” (selfless service).

Major Hindu organisations running charity health initiatives

Hindu temples and organisations have a long-standing tradition of contributing towards social welfare through initiatives like hospitals, and cancer care centres alongside other community services reflecting their commitment towards selfless service. As Bageshwar Dham Medical Science and Research Institute joins the long list of Hindu organisations running free healthcare initiatives for underprivileged people, it would be interesting to learn about some of these initiatives.

Ramakrishna Mission: Founded by Swami Vivekanand in 1897, Ramakrishna Mission is a major Hindu organisation renowned for its humanitarian work. The Ramakrishna Mission runs charitable hospitals and dispensaries across the country, providing subsidised or free healthcare. These hospitals have world-class tech and infrastructure. The Ramakrishna Mission Hospital in Kolkata offers specialised care for underprivileged people. Besides, the organisation also runs educational institutions like Ramakrishna Mission Student’s Home, offering free education with food and accommodation.

Shri Chaitanya Saraswat Math: This mutt of Gaudiya Vaishnavs based in West Bengal’s Nabdwip runs significant charitable initiatives providing free healthcare through mobile medical units and by organising camps for giving free check-ups and medicines to poor people.  In addition, the mutt also supports education and sports.

Siddhi Vinayak Temple Trust: Under its Trust, the famous Siddhi Vinayak Temple in Mumbai runs various initiatives to support healthcare. The temple trust runs a dialysis centre in Prabhadevi and a free cancer hospital in Miraj. The temple also runs educational facilities including libraries both online and offline. The temple trust also runs a Book Bank scheme for the economically poor and needy. Under this scheme, textbooks are provided free of cost to students of 11th to  15th standard in Arts, Commerce and Science from all over Maharashtra.

It must be recalled that during the Covid-19 pandemic, Siddhi Vinayak Temple Trust donated Rs 5 crore to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. The temple trust had donated Rs 25 crore back in 2013 to CM’s Relief Fund to provide relief to drought-hit regions in Maharashtra.

Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham: This Hindu institution under the guidance of Shankaracharyas, runs the Kanchi Kamakoti CHILDS Trust Hospital in Tamil Nadu’s Chennai providing free pediatric care to poor children.

Gorakhnath Temple: Under the stewardship of Mahant Yogi Adityanath, who is also the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh,  the Gorakhnath Math in Gorakhpur runs the Guru Shri Gorakshanath Chikitsalaya, a 300-bed hospital equipped with a 10-bed ICU featuring ventilators providing affordable healthcare to underprivileged people. Under the aegis of Gorakhnath Temple, the Maharana Pratap Siksha Parishad runs over 47 educational and health institutions across eastern UP.  

ISKCON: While the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has its chapters operating across the world, the Hindu group dedicated to spreading the teachings of Bhagwan Krishna also runs various initiatives to support social welfare. ISKCON runs free health clinics, hospitals and mobile medical units in India. The Hindu organisation runs the Bhaktivedanta Hospital in Mira Road, Mumbai and a satellite center in Varshana providing free medical care. ISKCON is also running free medical carer at the ongoing Maha Kumbh in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj.  

Hindu temples helped India fight the Covid pandemic

While Hindu temples and organisations have helped the people and governments during various disasters, a recent example of their dedication towards helping society beyond religious lines was seen in the Covid pandemic.  

Back in 2021, the Hindu Samaj Temple in Thailand’s Bangkok, mobilised support to help India fight the second wave of Coronavirus. The temple coordinated with the Indian embassy as well as the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) to oxygen equipment to India.

Several Hindu temples in the US including Shree Radhey Shyam Temple in Bloomingdale, Georgia, affiliated with SGVP Gurukul USA, raised money directly for medical aid to the SGVP Holistic Hospital in Ahmedabad, India. These temples helped the SGVP Hospital in Ahmedabad acquire a sustainable supply of medical oxygen through on-site liquid oxygen storage and oxygen generation plants in addition to ventilators and oxygen concentrators.

Similarly, the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in London also raised funds to the tune of 600,000 pounds ($830,000) through a bikeathon to help India battle the Coronavirus pandemic. The BAPS Temple in Abu  Dhabi also came forward to create a supply chain of oxygen tanks and cylinders which will provide upwards of 440 metric tonnes of liquid oxygen.

In April 2021, the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple of Vadodara converted its Yagnapurush Sabhagruh to a Covid-19 facility. The COVID-19 care centre is equipped with 500 beds, oxygen facilities like liquid oxygen tanks and piped oxygen lines, ICU beds and ventilators. 

Puri’s Shree Jagannath Temple Administration decided to convert its Nilachal Bhakta Nivas into a Covid-19 Care Centre with 120 beds.

The Pawandham Temple in Mumbai’s Kandivali converted its four-storey building into a COVID-19 quarantine centre equipped with 100 beds. The Mahavir Temple at Patna provided free oxygen cylinders to the infected. A Jain temple in Mumbai was also converted into a Covid care centre. ‘Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra’ had also set up an oxygen plant worth Rs 55 lakh in view of the Corona crisis.

These are just a few examples of how Hindu temples and organisations are tirelessly working for social welfare besides their Dharmic obligations. There are numerous temples which offer free or subsidised education and healthcare including conducting free check-ups and medical camps for not just Hindus but for people of other religious communities as well.

The Niswarth Seva of Hindu temples vs the ‘Mother Teresa Syndrome‘

Interestingly, while many Hindu temples and organisations offer free services without any ulterior motives including conversion of non-Hindus to Hinduism in exchange for financial inducements, ‘tickets to heaven’, or miraculous solutions to the problems of poor and vulnerable people, there have been ‘saints’ who “harvested souls” of poor Hindus in exchange of minimal health support.

There are frequent reports of Christian missionaries reaching out to poor and vulnerable Hindus including tribals to convert them to Christianity by offering free healthcare, money, jobs and whatnot. OpIndia has reported numerous cases wherein the modus operandi of these elements has been to offer food grains, money, jobs and false ‘miracle cure’ to problems of poor and vulnerable people, denigrate Hinduism to brainwash them and convert them to Christianity. The Hindu temples and organisations, on the contrary, do selfless social service focussing on alleviating suffering and fostering unity without forcing or deceitfully luring non-Hindus into Hinduism.

While the Hindu saints who devoted their lives to promoting the teachings of Hinduism and uniting people have got nothing but contempt and vilification from the ‘secular’ governments and their supportive ecosystem, Mother Teresa who endorsed communist dictators including the Albanian despot Enver Hoxha, and supported the infamous Emergency in India, was awarded Padma Shri, India’s highest civilian honour Bharat Ratna and a Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.

Contrary to the popular narrative that Mother Teresa was some sort of messiah and a friend of the oppressed, she was rather a friend of the oppressors. During her life, she often endorsed brutal dictators and thereby, attempted to give their tyranny the veneer of legitimacy. She had a good relationship with the Duvaliers who ruled Haiti as a police state between 1971-86. During her visit in 1981, she described the regime as a ‘friend’ of the poor, the very same regime whose rulers robbed Haitians of millions of dollars as fled following the uprising of 1986.

Besides supporting the dictators, Mother Teresa, the head of the Missionaries of Charity, used to offer a ‘ticket to heaven’ to patients on deathbeds. She admitted to having found joy in people dying after they were deceitfully made to ‘accept’ the ticket to St. Peters where all their ‘sins’ would be forgiven. Basically, patients were converted to Christianity on the deathbed on the promise of a ‘ticket to heaven. Teresa’s ‘social service’ was not her noble and selfless endeavour to help people beyond religious lines but to lure more and more vulnerable and even dying people into the fold of Christianity.

What’s a charity that comes with a catch of religious conversion? Behind the façade of feeding the poor, and treating the sick, was Mother Teresa’s calculated push to “harvest” poor and ailing souls for Christianity. In his book The Missionary Position: Mother Teresa in Theory and Practice (1995), Christopher Hitchens detailed the morbid saga of how patients were neglected and left to suffer and die at Teresa’s medical facilities in Calcutta. No proper tests and diagnosis were conducted, needles were cleaned with tap water, and patients with treatable conditions were not allowed to be shifted to proper hospitals because Teresa’s disciples would say, “if they do it for one, they had to do it for everybody.”

Susan Shields, who worked as a member of Teresa’s order, revealed that Teresa taught her nuns how to secretly baptise those who were dying. Sisters were to ask each person in danger of death if he wanted a ‘ticket to heaven’. The dying patient’s affirmative response was deemed as consent to baptism. The sisters used to secretly carry out the baptism to prevent the spread of the news that Mother Teresa and her ‘sisters’ were baptising Hindus and Muslims.

Interestingly, the so-called messiah of the poor had so much money in her Vatican Bank account that, according to Susan Shields, if Teresa had withdrawn it, the entire Vatican Bank would have emptied.”

In the past, reports of Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity being involved in baby-selling have also surfaced, indicating that with or without Teresa, the ‘business’ of charity continues.

In India, where Hindu saints, temples and organisations are vilified by the leftist cabal, their unwavering commitment to selfless service continues through free healthcare, education, and other means, but asking nothing in return. Contrast this with Mother Teresa who was adorned with accolades like Padma Shri and Bharat Ratna by the Congress governments, hailed as the messiah, for harvesting souls under the pretext of providing aid and ‘uplifting’ the poor. While Hindu saints and organisations have received neglect under the erstwhile ‘secular’ governments, Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Bageshwar Dham to lay the foundation stone of Bageshwar Dham Medical Science and Research Institute indicates that Hindu saints and temples will no longer be subjected to neglect and their selfless service would receive the deserved recognition and appreciation.

“Jungle Raj people criticising Mahakumbh”: PM Modi, in Bihar, takes dig at Lalu Yadav

ANI
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“Jungle Raj people criticising Mahakumbh”: PM Modi, in Bihar, takes dig at Lalu Yadav

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday slammed Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Yadav over his “Faaltu hai kumbh” remarks and said that those who believe in “jungle raj hate our heritage and faith”, and expressed confidence that the people of Bihar will not forgive those who speak ill of the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj.

While addressing a rally in Bihar’s Bhagalpur, he highlighted the significance of the ‘Mahakumbh of Unity’, currently underway in Prayagraj. He emphasised that this celebration represents the largest gathering of India’s faith, unity, and harmony, with more attendees than Europe’s entire population taking a holy dip.

“More people than the entire population of Europe have taken a holy dip in this Mahakumbh. However, those from the ‘jungle raj’ are criticising this sacred event. Those who are against the Ram temple are seizing every chance to slander the Mahakumbh. I am confident that the people of Bihar will never forgive those who speak ill of this sacred occasion,” said PM Modi.

PM Modi said that the ‘Mahakumbh of Unity’ is currently underway in Prayagraj. It represents the largest celebration of India’s faith, unity, and harmony.

The Prime Minister also emphasised the BJP-led NDA government’s commitment to preserving India’s glorious heritage and building a glorious future.

“The BJP-led NDA government is working together to preserve India’s glorious heritage and build a glorious future. But these people of jungle raj hate our heritage, our faith,” added the Prime Minister.

This comes after Lalu Yadav, on February 16, 2025, had said, “Kumbh ka kahan koi matlab hai. Faaltu hai kumbh (Kumbh has no meaning. Kumbh is useless),” while answering his suggestion regarding crowd management for the Mahakumbh after Railway’s mismanagement led to the stampede at the New Delhi railway station that claimed the lives of at least 18 people.

Meanwhile, PM Modi also released the 19th installment of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, which will transfer approximately Rs 22,000 crore directly into the bank accounts of 9.8 crore farmers.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Bihar Governor Arif Mohammed Khan at the rally.

After releasing the instalment of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, PM Modi said, “At this time, preparations for Maha Shivratri are also going on at this holy land of Baba Ajaibinath.In such a sacred time, I have the privilege of sending another instalment of PM Kisan Nidhi to crores of farmers in the country. Nearly Rs 22 thousand crores have reached the accounts of farmers across the country with just one click.”

“As soon as I clicked the button, I noticed the farmers even sitting over here checking their mobile phones and a spark shot up in their eyes,” he added.

“It is a great fortune to come to this land of Mandaraachal during the time of Mahakumbh. This land has faith, heritage and the potential of a developed India. This is the land of martyr Tilka Manjhi and is also a Silk City,” said PM Modi praising the state.

PM Modi said that Viksit Bharat has four pillars: the poor, the farmers, the women, and the youth!

He said that the NDA government prioritises farmer welfare at the Centre or in the state.

He emphasised the NDA government’s commitment to farmer welfare, citing the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, which has credited around Rs1,600 crore to over 75 lakh farmer families in Bihar.

“Today the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana includes over 75 lakh farmer families as beneficiaries from Bihar itself. In their accounts, around 1600 crore rupees have been credited to their accounts. I congratulate them on this,” he said.

“A farmer needs good seeds for farming, adequate and cheap fertilisers, irrigation facilities, protection of animals from diseases and protection from losses during disasters. Earlier, farmers used to be surrounded by crises regarding all these aspects. Those who can eat animal feed can never change these conditions. The NDA government has changed these conditions,” said PM Modi.

Taking a jab at the Congress and RJD, PM Modi highlighted the stark contrast between the current government’s efforts and the past regimes, emphasising that while the Congress and the “Jungle Raj” government had allocated a meagre budget for agriculture, the NDA government has already transferred far more money into farmers’ bank accounts.

He asserted that only a government truly committed to farmers’ welfare could achieve such feats, not those plagued by corruption.

PM Modi pointed out that, unlike previous governments, the NDA ensured farmers weren’t left to face the challenges of natural disasters like hailstorms, floods, and droughts on their own.

He recalled the creation of the PM Phasal Bima Yojana in 2014, which has provided farmers with Rs. 1.75 lakh crore in claims during disasters.

He also noted the increase in India’s agricultural exports, which has led to better prices for farmers’ produce.

Highlighting the growing global recognition of Indian crops, he mentioned Bihar’s Makhana, which he described as a “superfood” now ready for international markets.

“When the Congress, Jungle Raj wale were in power, they had kept the total budget for agriculture, we have already sent many times more money than that in the bank accounts of you farmers. No corrupt person can do this work, only the government can do it which is dedicated to farmers’ welfare,” he said.

“Whether Congress or Jungle Raj, the difficulties of farmers do not make any difference. These people used to leave farmers to endure for themselves in times of rain, hailstorms and drought. In 2014, when you blessed the NDA, the BJP-led NDA made PM Phasal Bima Yojana for the farmers during natural calamities. To increase the incomes of the small farmers, NDA is encouraging Animal husbandry,” he said.

The Prime Minister also announced the formation of a Makhana Board to support farmers and promote Bihar’s Makhana, a “superfood” now ready for international markets. His vision is to have Indian-grown products featured in kitchens around the world.

Adding further, PM Modi said, “In the past years, due to the efforts of the government, India’s agricultural exports have increased a lot.

Due to this, farmers have started getting higher prices for their produce. There are many agricultural products whose export has started for the first time. Now, it is the turn of Makhana from Bihar. This is a superfood, which now has to be delivered to the world markets. Therefore, in this year’s budget, an announcement has been made to form a Makhana Board for Makhana farmers.”

“My dream is that there should be some product grown by Indian farmers in every kitchen of the world,” said PM Modi.

Prime Minister Modi shared that this year’s budget continues to push forward his vision for farmers’ welfare, with the introduction of the ‘PM Dhan Dhanya Yojana.’

This initiative will identify 100 districts across the country with the lowest crop production and launch special campaigns to boost farming in these areas.

He also celebrated the achievement of a significant milestone, revealing that the government had set a target to create 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) across the country, and this goal has now been accomplished.

PM Modi proudly announced that Bihar will host the 10,000th FPO, which will focus on crops such as maize, bananas, and paddy.

He said that the FPO has been registered in Khagaria district, marking an important step in supporting farmers and strengthening regional agricultural practices.

A huge crowd had turned up at the rally to see Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

PM Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Yojana, a Central Sector Scheme launched on February 24 2019, provides annual financial assistance of Rs. 6,000 per eligible farmer family. So far, more than Rs 3.46 lakh crore have been disbursed to more than 11 crore farmer families in the country through 18 installments.

The Bihar Legislative Assembly election for all 243 constituencies is scheduled to be held in October or November this year. The last assembly elections were held in October-November 2020.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Shashi Tharoor’s growing discontent and desire to become CM: Leadership vacuum or political manoeuvring?

Anurag
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Shashi Tharoor’s growing discontent and desire to become CM: Leadership vacuum or political manoeuvring?

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has been causing political turmoil for the past few days, with his remarks intensifying speculation across party circles. In a recent social media post on X, he appreciated a rare political moment when Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, and Congress’ Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan shared the stage at the Invest Kerala Global Summit 2025.

In his post, he shared a photograph of a newspaper report titled “Left, BJP and Cong share stage during Kerala investors’ meet” and wrote, “Good to see this. Economic development should, as far as possible, be above the petty divisions of party politics.” Reports suggest that his post might have raised eyebrows within Congress. The sentiment he expressed, calling for collaboration beyond political differences for economic growth, may not have sat well with his party’s leadership.

Notably, only a few days ago, his public grievance about being sidelined by the party leadership and his suggestion that Congress should clarify whether it values him had already sparked speculation about him manoeuvring out of the grand old party. He had said, “If I am not needed, they should tell me. I have options.” His statement hinted that if he did not get the “deserved” respect from Congress, he might move to the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or even the BJP.

Congress’ internal friction over Tharoor’s ambitions

Tharoor is a four-time MP, a Congress Working Committee (CWC) member, and chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs. His role in the party is significant. However, it appears that he feels discontented with the party because he believes there is a lack of meaningful responsibility for him within Congress. This is why he recently expressed his desire to become Chief Minister of Kerala. His statement, however, has created a base for differences between him and the state leadership.

Reportedly, he believes that Congress can only win the next Kerala Assembly Elections, scheduled for 2026, if it projects him as the CM candidate. Tharoor claimed that he is widely accepted by the public in Kerala, which makes him the ideal candidate for the post.

The state leadership is not in sync with Tharoor’s belief about his popularity in the state and has stated that his grassroots presence in Kerala is negligible. It has argued that Tharoor won from Thiruvananthapuram due to strategic voting aimed at keeping the BJP from securing a victory. Furthermore, support from the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and the Nair Service Society (NSS) played a significant role in his victory.

Congress leadership’s cautious response

Interestingly, Congress officials are showing caution while speaking against Tharoor, most likely due to his long political career and popularity among the public. However, some leaders have openly criticised him. KPCC President K. Sudhakaran refuted speculations that he would leave the party. Simultaneously, he cautioned Tharoor to be mindful of what he says. He remarked, “His comments should not cross certain limits. Tharoor must realise that Congress has leadership in Kerala.”

AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal accused the media of creating sensationalism and refused to engage in the controversy. He said, “The media always focuses on controversies while ignoring real issues like the fisherfolk’s agitation against sea sand mining.”

Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala sided with the party and asserted that Tharoor had already been awarded several important posts by the party. He stated, “Congress needs Tharoor, which is why he has been given responsibilities. His claims of being sidelined are unfounded.”

Could Tharoor join the Left or BJP?

It appears that Tharoor has built a strategy that is a mix of self-promotion and pressure tactics. For a leader like him, it is unlikely that he would happily leave Congress. If he considers shifting to the CPI(M), it is highly unlikely that the Left party will accept an outsider as its CM candidate for the future Assembly elections. There are already several leaders within the party lined up for the position.

Another option available for Tharoor is the BJP. However, in that case, he would face significant ideological differences. That said, he has previously praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his diplomacy, and now he has endorsed the presence of a BJP minister at an event, further suggesting a possible tilt.

Rajasthan: Shutdown observed in Ajmer, Beawar, and Bhilwara against rape and blackmailing of minor Hindu girls, governor reacts

OpIndia Staff
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Rajasthan: Shutdown observed in Ajmer, Beawar, and Bhilwara against rape and blackmailing of minor Hindu girls, governor reacts

Anger is mounting across the state in protest against the rape and blackmail case that took place in Bijaynagar, Beawar district of Rajasthan. As a result, a shutdown was called in Ajmer, Beawar, and Bhilwara on Monday. Since morning, protests and demonstrations have been ongoing at various locations in these districts, with demonstrators demanding the death penalty for the accused.

The case came to light on February 15, involving minor students of a private school in Bijaynagar who were allegedly raped and blackmailed using obscene photos and videos. The victims’ families filed a complaint, also alleging that the girls were forcibly subjected to religious practices and pressured to convert.

So far 11 accused taken into custody

In this case, the police have registered a case under POCSO and other sections and started an investigation. So far 8 accused have been arrested, while three minors have been taken into custody. Former independent councillor Hakim Qureshi was also arrested on 23 February. He was produced at the residence of the judge of the POCSO court in Kotda on the same day and sent on a 5-day police remand. Qureshi is accused of assisting other accused.

Other accused arrested by the police include Shravan (cafe operator), Karim and Aashiq, who are on a 7-day remand. At the same time, Lukman alias Soheb (20), Sohail Mansoori (19), Rihan Mohammad (20) and Afraz (18) have been taken on a 5-day remand. At the same time, three minors have been sent to the juvenile correction home.

Governor Haribhau Bagde’s reaction

On February 23, Governor Haribhau Bagde reacted to the Bijaynagar case in Nawalgarh, Jhunjhunu. Addressing the female students at Dundlod Girls School in Balwantpura, he said that any kind of unjust incident should be faced boldly. He said, ‘If someone targets us, we will also respond.’

The Governor advised the female students to be aware of self-defence and face every situation with courage. He said that instead of being afraid, one should respond with confidence and it is necessary to counter any kind of unfair action.

‘If you celebrate Holi, we kill you’: Muslim youths assault and threaten Hindus in Bareilly, FIR against 6, 2 arrested

OpIndia Staff
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‘If you celebrate Holi, we kill you’: Muslim youths assault and threaten Hindus in Bareilly, FIR against 6, 2 arrested

Islamists have threatened Hindus against celebrating Holi in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh. Some members of the Hindu community were planning to celebrate the festival in Hajiapur locality of Baradari police station area when Muslim youths attacked them. They assaulted the Hindus and threatened, “If you celebrate Holi, we kill you.” The incident has resulted in tension in the area. The authorities have also taken the situation seriously and registered a First Information report (FIR) against six people and started a search to nab them.

According to media reports, Laxman, Munna, Shani and Akash who live in Hajiapur were trying to organise a Holi programme in their locality when young Muslim men including Ayan, Salman, Aman, Rehan, Bhura and Alam reached there and launched an attack. The victims were reportedly thrashed with sticks and received death threats. The former stated that there was a conspiracy to vitiate the atmosphere before Holi. Afterward, police were notified.

Cops rushed to the scene and brought the situation under control. Both Hindus and Muslims live in the neighbourhood. The police were careful due to the sensitivity of the scene. The police informed that further inquiry is underway after a case was submitted and already arrested two the perpetrators.

It’s not the first instance. Kanwariyas in the Jogi Navada region were subjected to firing and stone-pelting earlier in the sacred season of Saavan in 2022. People are now apprehensive because a new conflcit might arise prior to Holi. There have previously been communal conflicts in the Baradari neighborhood of Hajiyapur, Jogi Navada and Chak Mahamood. The cops are currently attempting to maintain peace especially in the wake of Holi.

France: Russian consulate in Marseille attacked with Molotov cocktails

OpIndia Staff
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France: Russian consulate in Marseille attacked with Molotov cocktails

Russian consulate on Avenue Ambroise-Paré in Marseille came under attack on Monday, February 24. Unidentified attackers threw Molotov cocktails in the garden of the Consulate.

A report by Belarusian media house NEXTA confirmed that unknown persons threw two Molotov cocktails into the garden within the premises of the consulate. NEXTA further added that a stolen car was found near the scene of the attack and that no casualties were reported.

Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the reason behind the attack on the Russian Consulate.Following the explosion within the Consulate Grounds, the area has been cordoned off by local police, with nearly 30 firefighters and law enforcement working at the scene.

“The explosions on the territory of the Russian Consulate General in Marseille have all the hallmarks of a terrorist attack,” Russian state news agency TASS quoted Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova as saying.

Russia has asked France to investigate the attack and apprehend the people behind the attack.

Anti-Russia sentiment has grown in mainland Europe during the last 3 years since Russia-Ukraine war started. Almost all the European countries have supported Ukraine in this war supplying them with weapons and other support.

As USAID comes under scrutiny for funding regime-change operations, read how USAID funds meant for earthquake-hit Haiti were lost in blatant corruption

OpIndia Staff
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As USAID comes under scrutiny for funding regime-change operations, read how USAID funds meant for earthquake-hit Haiti were lost in blatant corruption

USAID has come under significant scrutiny for its shady operations and providing financial assistance to jihadis and other vested interests in order to meddle in different countries, including India, and advance American interests around the world. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) headed by Elon Musk, is now looking into the misuse of American tax dollars. On the other hand, the “government industrial complex” fiercely opposes all attempts to foster accountability and transparency in the manner in which those funds were used in a system that is beset with issues.

Paul Vallas, who was invited by then-Haitian President Rene Preval to help in rebuilding the country after the devastating 2010 earthquake, provided first-hand experience with USAID and other international aid organizations, including the World Bank, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Red Cross, during his more than 40 trips to Haiti. Together with other non-governmental organizations (NGOs), USAID fell short of its commitments and failed to organize relief efforts as well as even embezzled money, reported New York Post.

At the very least, what transpired in Haiti demonstrates the incapacity, if not open corruption, of these international assistance agencies. USAID is allegedly the most corrupt government organization out of them. The United States government has sent around $4.4 billion in foreign aid to Haiti since the 2010 earthquake, which killed up to 300,000 people, but just 2% out of that reaching Haitian people..

An additional $3 billion was allocated for development, recovery and reconstruction, while at least $1.5 billion was doled out for immediate humanitarian assistance. Haitian groups or businesses received less than $50 million or 2%, of the at least $2.13 billion in contracts and grants for projects related to the country. The US capitol’s neighboring businesses have received $1.3 billion or 56%, in contrast. Hence, it is understandable why the sudden inquiry is so concerning to USAID.

The precise use of the billions and the long-term effects of US tax funds are still unknown. USAID and its vendors have not disclosed such information to the public. The distribution of donations has been ineffective and frequently dishonest as a result of this ambiguity. It is not necessary for USAID, other international aid agencies and their non-governmental partners to release financial and budget breakdowns in addition to project results.

It is practically hard to assess the effectiveness of the application and impact of these relief amounts on reconstruction and recovery with the little monetary information available. A year after the earthquake, in 2010, the Nonprofit Disaster Accountability Project made an effort to compile a report on the transparency of NGOs in Haiti. Only eight of the 196 groups they examined had easily accessible information regarding their operations in the nation. Only 20% of the organizations ultimately answered the poll.

According to the responding groups, they received almost $1.4 billion in donations overall, but only spent roughly $730 million or half of that amount on relief activities in Haiti. The answers are not forthcoming for the others. The absence of accountability is not unique to USAID. After the earthquake, the Red Cross, one of the biggest nonprofits involved in the Haitian emergency response, raised an astounding $500 million for the country.

Five years later, however, many people including former Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive questioned whether the majority of these funds truly made it to the Haitian people. The Red Cross, for example, claims to have housed more than 130,000 people, although they have only built six confirmed homes. On their website, the Red Cross merely breaks down the funds into broad, undescript “sectors” refusing to provide a list of the exact tasks they carried out in Haiti.

The Campeche neighborhood’s shelter sector, which promised people new dwellings, health facilities and sanitization systems, turned out to be especially deceptive. Nevertheless, none of these pledges were fulfilled three years later. According to a Center for Global Development report by Vijaya Ramachandran and Julie Walz, the “trickle-down” impact of humanitarian aid is the reason why USAID and its NGO partners like the Red Cross have underperformed.

Donation funds stream through “multiple layers of connected subcontracts and subgrantees” before they get to the people executing the actual work. Despite the significant sums of money expended, this virtually ensures that relief operations will eventually fall short of their goals. Money is lost when charities invest in other groups to implement their promised work. For instance, the Red Cross reserved a portion of the first Haitian funds for their own overhead costs after which a portion of their subsequent administration fees went to the outfits they had recruited. Lastly, the Red Cross imposed a supplementary cut defined as an oversight fee or “program costs incurred in managing third-party projects.”

The end result of this lack of transparency is that extensive donations that could otherwise have a significant impact on long-term relief are used in methods that are wasteful and deceptive. Further investigation of this money distribution and its long-term viability is further complicated by the absence of information that these organizations seek. With USAID as its principal agency, the United States gave $72 billion in aid to 180 countries in 2023. Since American resources have been regularly wasted, DOGE’s focus on USAID is well-earned and long overdue.

The finest example of the shortcomings of the American foreign aid program’s lack of accountability and openness is in Haiti. Governmental organizations like USAID and their non-governmental partners and collaborators behave as though they are independent entities with no obligation to report anything to anyone.

‘Desperate’ Congress tries to establish ties between Indian govt and USAID, falsely claims no evidence of ‘voter turnout’ project

OpIndia Staff
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‘Desperate’ Congress tries to establish ties between Indian govt and USAID, falsely claims no evidence of ‘voter turnout’ project

On Monday (24th February), Congress leader Jairam Ramesh falsely claimed that there is no evidence of USAID funding any project to ‘strengthen voter turnout’ in India.

He also alleged that all projects in India, sanctioned by USAID, are in partnership with the BJP-led Indian government. Earlier, The Indian Express also published a misleading ‘fact-check’ to negate any form of funding in India by the controversial US federal agency.

Jairam Ramesh shared a document by the Union Ministry of Finance and claimed, “None other than the Union Finance Ministry has thoroughly exposed the lies of the PM and his jhoot brigade, including his dapper External Affairs Minister.”

“As stated in the Finance Ministry’s annual report for 2023-24, USAID is currently implementing seven projects in collaboration with the Government of India, with a combined budget of approximately $750 million. Not a single of these projects has to do with voter turnout. ALL of them are with and through the Union Government,” he brazened out.

Jairam Ramesh attempted to suggest a ‘scandalous’ link between the Indian government and USAID, despite the fact that External Affairs Minister S Jaishanakar had himself conceded that the US federal agency was allowed to operate in India in good Faith.

The Modi government is not denying the fact that USAID operates in India. It had in fact ordered a probe into potential election interference by the US federal agency after the matter was highlighted by DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency).

The USAID funding for strengthening voter turnout in India is different from projects that it took up in partnership with the Indian government. This was highlighted by BJP spokesperson Amit Malviya.

“Let us be clear—the USAID projects in question are official government-to-government partnerships, transparently executed as Externally Aided Projects (EAPs). The Centre simply channels these funds to states for development, which is well within the framework of cooperative federalism,” he pointed out.

“In fact, the very projects cited in the Finance Ministry’s 2023-24 report (uploaded in July 2024) trace their origins back to 2010-11. This isn’t new—even the 2014-15 report confirms the same,” Amit Malviya emphasised.

“The question is: why is the Congress defending covert interference by foreign donors and organizations linked to George Soros, which seek to destabilize our democracy under the guise of philanthropy? India’s sovereignty is not up for sale,” the BJP spokesperson pointed out.

Jairam Ramesh could not furnish any evidence which negates that USAID funded $21 million for strengthening voter turnout in India.

The Background of the Controversy

On 15th February, the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) announced that it was saving US taxpayers money by cancelling projects abroad. One of them was about strengthening ‘voter turnout’ in India.

A sum of $21 million (~₹182 crore) was set aside by federal US agencies for the project. DOGE confirmed the matter in a tweet. It also cancelled another project, which aimed to splurge $29 million to ‘strengthening the political landscape in Bangladesh.’

On 21st February, incumbent US President Donald Trump further confirmed the figures during a speech in Miami. He had said, “And $21 million for voter turnout in India. Why are we caring about India turnout? We got enough problems. We want our own turnout, don’t we? Can you imagine all that money going to India?”

Donald Trump added, “I wonder what they think when they get it. Now, it’s a kickback scheme. You know, it’s not like they get it and they spend. They kick it back to the people that sent it. I would say in many cases, anytime you have no idea what we’re talking about, that means there’s a kickback because nobody has any idea what’s going on there.”

There was evidently public uproar over the revelation, given that the controversial USAID had been trying to carry out regime change operations both in India and Bangladesh.

CEC appointment, voter numbers in Maharashtra and more: Rajdeep Sardesai’s attempt to spin a false narrative falls flat

Anurag
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CEC appointment, voter numbers in Maharashtra and more: Rajdeep Sardesai’s attempt to spin a false narrative falls flat

On 22nd February, journalist and husband of TMC MP Sagarika Ghose, Rajdeep Sardesai, published a video on his personal channel on YouTube titled “Election Commissioner Haazir Ho”. In the video, he tried to set a narrative that the current Central Government under the NDA, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is “unconstitutionally controlling” the Election Commission, which is supposed to be an autonomous body to ensure fair elections in the country.

In the almost 15-minute-long video, Sardesai made several claims where he contradicted himself and concealed crucial facts that would have completely dismantled his narrative.

The appointment of the chief election commissioner

Sardesai began his monologue by claiming that the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) had been manipulated by the Modi government to consolidate control over the Election Commission. He claimed that the recent appointment of Gyanesh Kumar as the new CEC was compromised and had been designed to favour the ruling party at the Centre.

Interestingly, he cited the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling, in which the apex court had recommended a selection panel comprising the Prime Minister of India, the Leader of the Opposition, and the Chief Justice of India. He claimed that the selection panel was suggested by the court to ensure fair appointments.

However, Rajdeep expressed outrage that the Modi government later amended the process by bringing in a law that replaced the Chief Justice with a cabinet minister. This law, thus, gave the ruling party a 2:1 majority in the selection panel. It should be noted that he himself pointed out that the Supreme Court had categorically stated that the suggested selection panel would function until a law was passed in Parliament for the same. Nowhere did the court state that the CJI must be on the panel.

Furthermore, Sardesai tauntingly cited pro-government voices who pointed out that before the apex court’s ruling, the CEC was selected solely by the government or, in the case of Congress, by Sonia Gandhi, without involving the Leader of the Opposition in the process. Opposition parties were merely informed about the new CEC.

How was the CEC appointed earlier and how PM Modi made the law more inclusive

In a recent report, OpIndia explained a petition in Supreme Court where advocate Prashant Bhushan’s organisation, Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), has challenged the law brought to elect CEC.

While ADR and Prashant Bhushan target the Central Government and PM Modi specifically, the new law brought by the Modi government actually made the process of appointment of CEC far more inclusive.

The truth is before the Modi government passed a law, the law itself had no procedure for appointing members of the Election Commission. Article 324 of the Constitution vests the “superintendence, direction and control of elections” in an Election Commission. It also says the EC shall consist of the Chief Election Commissioner and such number of other Election Commissioners, if any, as the President may fix from time to time.

This procedure would be governed by any law that the Parliament would pass. However, for 40 years, there was only the provision for a CEC and not other members like ECs. In 1989, it became a multi member body but soo, the law was rescinded in 1990. A law was enacted in 1991 to fix the conditions of service of the CEC and the ECs, and amended in 1993. Despite the law being passed, there was no provision added for the appointment of CECs and ECs.

In the absence of any law enacted by the Parliament, for 40 years, the Law Ministry would recommend a few names to the Prime Minister who in turn would recommend one name for the EC to the President of India. It had become a convention to appoint officials as ECs first and then, on the completion of the tenure of the CEC, the senior EC was elevated to CEC. It is therefore evident that before the law was passed by the Modi government, which included the Leader of the Opposition, the government of India had the sweeping power to appoint the EC who had an automatic elevation process to become the CEC. The law brought in by PM Modi ensured the participating of not just the Government of India but also the opposition.

Despite the Modi government making the law more inclusive and fair, ADR and Prashant Bhushan have been approaching the court to target the government. However, it was the Supreme Court of India that had said that the arrangement where CJI would have been involved in selection of CEC would be in effect only till a law is passed.

Allegations of proximity to the ruling party

Sardesai attempted to discredit Gyanesh Kumar’s appointment by highlighting the key posts he had previously held under Home Minister Amit Shah. He claimed that his involvement in the abrogation of Article 370, the creation of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, and his recent role as Secretary of Cooperatives made Gyanesh Kumar an “Amit Shah Man”, effectively suggesting that the appointment was politically motivated.

He did mention that former CECs like M.S. Gill, Navin Chawla, and others during Congress’s tenure were embroiled in controversies. However, according to him, the recent appointments raised more red flags for reasons only known to him. For the unaware, M.S. Gill became a Union Minister under the UPA, and Navin Chawla’s role during the Emergency has always been under scrutiny due to his close proximity to Sanjay Gandhi. Not to forget, the BJP had written to the then-President of India requesting Chawla’s removal, pointing out several reasons that made it clear he was a “Gandhi Family Man”.

He categorically named TN Seshan to glorify the CEC appointed by the Congress government and claimed that “no one called Seshan a ‘Congress Man'”. While no one denies the reforms Seshan introduced in the Election Commission, it must be pointed out that he contested the 1999 Lok Sabha Elections on a Congress ticket against the BJP’s LK Advani from Gandhinagar—and lost. According to Election Commission of India (ECI) data, while Advani secured 4,53,229 votes, Seshan managed to secure only 2,64,285 votes. Seshan also attempted to contest the 1997 Presidential elections against KR Narayanan but lost.

Questioning the Election Commission’s neutrality

Moving further in his monologue, Sardesai claimed that the Election Commission under the Modi government has “lost its neutrality.” He alleged that there have been instances where the EC’s decisions favoured the ruling party, specifically regarding election schedules and Model Code of Conduct violations.

He claimed that Maharashtra, which has 48 Lok Sabha seats, was subjected to a five-phase election, whereas Tamil Nadu, with 39 seats, had a single-phase poll. Odisha, a smaller state with just 21 seats, was given a four-phase election. He framed this as an attempt to manipulate voting patterns but failed to provide any evidence of how these decisions benefited the BJP. Notably, the number of phases in which elections are held in any state depends on logistical, security, and administrative factors, and such delays are not unprecedented.

He further claimed that the EC delayed the Assembly Elections in Maharashtra, which benefited the BJP as the government rolled out welfare schemes like the Ladli Behna initiative, which, according to him, was a game changer. However, he completely ignored the fact that the Lok Sabha Elections in 1991 were postponed for a month after the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi.

Congress was virtually wiped out in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections, held a day before Rajiv Gandhi was killed in a bomb blast. However, due to the delay announced after his assassination, Congress gained sympathy votes and swept the second phase. It was the then-Election Commissioner T.N. Seshan who delayed the elections for a month, giving Congress the opportunity to take advantage of the tragedy.

Voter roll manipulation claims

Sardesai then claimed that the voter list in Maharashtra had been manipulated, citing an increase of 40 lakh new voters between the Lok Sabha Elections in May and the Assembly Elections in November. He argued that this was an unusual spike, far greater than the previous five-year net addition of 32 lakh voters. By raising doubts over the legitimacy of this increase, he insinuated that the EC had allowed voter fraud to benefit the ruling party.

However, here is the catch. If we look at the historic data on the number of voters added between the past five Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections—without considering the results—the percentage increase in the number of voters between Lok Sabha Elections and Assembly Elections has remained almost the same four times, at around 4%, which can be attributed from the table below. As it is evident, while 4.26% voters increased in 2024, 1.31% increased in 2019, 3.48% 2014, 4.13% in 2009 and 4.69% (more than 2024) in 2004.

Source: Election Commission of India

Rajdeep Sardesai’s monologue was yet another example of selective outrage and fact-twisting. It was clearly aimed at discrediting the Modi government while conveniently ignoring similar or worse precedents set by past regimes. His attempts to portray the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner as a “midnight coup” fell apart when his own statements confirmed that the selection process followed legal procedures. His criticism of Gyanesh Kumar’s appointment as politically motivated was undermined by his silence on Congress-era appointments that were blatantly partisan.

Prayagraj: FIR filed against 31 social media accounts for spreading rumours about Maha Kumbh by using a viral video from Bangladesh

OpIndia Staff
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Prayagraj: FIR filed against 31 social media accounts for spreading rumours about Maha Kumbh by using a viral video from Bangladesh

Some people are trying to create trouble and spread fake news amidst the ongoing Prayagraj Maha Kumbh. The attempts to perpetrate rumours on social media by the usual suspects have been called out by Uttar Pradesh Police. The video and photos which are unrelated to Maha Kumbh are being disseminated to create panic among the people and devotees. Now, in a recent incident, the police have taken action against a viral video from Bangladesh that was posted online in the name of the sacred religious event.

“Legal action is being taken by Kumbh Mela Police by registering FIR (First Information Reports) against 31 social media accounts identified so far for spreading rumours by misleadingly claiming that a video made by a vlogger while train surfing in Bangladesh is the last way to reach Maha Kumbh. Please do not post any misleading posts on social media without verifying the facts,” Kumbh Mela Police warned in a tweet on X (earlier Twitter).

A person can be seen lying on a moving train in the footage which was recorded by an Indian blogger and published on Instagram in 2024, according to media reports. The video claims that the devotees have to travel on the rooftop of the train as the last resort to reach Maha Kumbh. The police looked into the video after they became aware of it. The inquiry showed that the video was not even of India and that the assertion was untrue. The authorities then initiated action against the accounts which shared the same.

Notably, travelling on the top of trains in India is not only against the law, but it is also highly dangerous. 25 KV current flows through the overhead wire used by Indian Railways to deliver electricity to the trains. There is even less space between these lines and the rooftop. A person could be reduced to ashes in a matter of seconds by this current.

There have been numerous instances of such instances concerning Maha Kumbh. A video of a burning train recently went viral as well. It was alleged that the disaster happened in Prayagraj and occurrence took the lives of 300 people. Afterwards, the police filed a formal complaint against 34 social media accounts. A similar rumour of individuals dying from heart attacks during Maha Kumbh was also circulating on social media earlier.

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