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China approves construction of world’s largest dam on Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet, the main tributary of Brahmaputra River

OpIndia Staff
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China approves construction of world’s largest dam on Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet, the main tributary of Brahmaputra River

In what could be a significant cause of concern for India, China has reportedly approved what would be the world’s largest hydroelectric project on Tibet’s longest river Yarlung Tsangpo. The world’s largest hydropower dam with an estimated cost of 1 trillion yuan (US$137 billion) would be built in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Tsangpo River, which becomes Siang in India’s Arunachal Pradesh. The river becomes the Brahmaputra River after it merges with two other rivers in Assam.

It has been reported that this proposed hydropower dam would generate three times more energy than the Three Gorges Dam, one of the largest dams in the world. In response, India is also contemplating constructing a 10-gigawatt dam to attenuate the effect on Brahmaputra’s water flows due to the Chinese dam.

Notably, the Yarlung Tsangpo flows across the Tibetan Plateau, forming the world’s deepest canyon and plunging 7,667 metres (25,154 feet) before it reaches India. The Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon is longer and deeper than the Grand Canyon on the Colorado River in the United States. The Yarlung Tsangpo is called the Everest of rivers, because it is considered the most difficult river to navigate.

China’s mega dam project is touted as a strategic move to assert control over significant water resources, it would definitely stoke geopolitical tensions with India, in addition to the environmental challenges.

Reports say that the project is likely to have the capacity to generate over 300 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity annually. Interestingly, the Three Gorges Dam worth 254.2 billion yuan ($34.83 billion) which now has the world’s largest installed capacity, was designed to generate 88.2 billion kWh. While reports say that the project will be built in the rainiest parts of Tibet, details about its precise location and the commencement of the project are yet to be revealed.

Chinese govt has been planing to build a dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo river, but the project has not progressed much so far, mostly because the location where the dam is to be built is very remote and the terrain is not easy to navigate. Moreover, China will need to build a long transmission line to take the power to the mainland, as power demand is not that high in Tibet.

In November 2020, it was reported that China was planning to construct a magnificent “super hydropower dam” in Tibet on a section of the Brahmaputra River near India. Later in March 2021, the National People’s Congress (NPC) approved the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025). And now the media reports say that the Power Construction Corporation of China (PowerChina), a Chinese state-owned business (SOE), and the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) government to construct this 50-meter-high hydroelectric dam in Tibet at Metog and/or Daduqia at the Great Bend of the Brahmaputra.

Significance of the Brahmaputra River for India and China

Since the Brahmaputra river crosses over the Sino-Indian border it is crucial for both of the world’s most densely populated countries, India and China. The importance of Brahmaputra for India can be understood from the fact that it provides 30% freshwater supply and 40% of India’s total hydroelectric power. Even though the Brahmaputra River has a very meagre impact on China’s total freshwater supply, it is reported to be significant to Tibet’s agricultural and energy sector. With increasing population and demand and limited water resources, both India and China would want to harness the power of the Brahmaputra River. Notably, China only accounts for 22-30% of the overall basin discharge, despite covering more than 50% of the basin’s geographical area, due to Tibet’s cold desert climate and scant annual rainfall.

China’s endeavour to use hydropower dams as strategic weapon, Challenges for India and its countermeasures

China’s proposed “Mother of all Dams” might hinder the downstream flow of the Brahmaputra, reducing water supply for agricultural, drinking, and industrial use in northeastern India. Given that the Brahmaputra provides a significant share of India’s freshwater supplies, a disruption in its flow might exacerbate India’s water stress, particularly in regions such as Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

In addition, the Chinese dam may trap sediment, which is essential for the fertile delta regions of India and Bangladesh. Reports say this may lead to changes in riverbed levels, increased erosion, and damage to agricultural areas downstream.

Another major concern is that China could release large amounts of water unannounced causing flash floods in India. This control over water release might be especially detrimental during the monsoon season, or in the event of an emergency or planned action by China.

While the dam with such massive capacity would generate significant hydropower for China, it would become paramount for India to accelerate its own dam projects in Arunachal Pradesh to counterbalance. This, however, would trigger geopolitical tensions given China’s baseless claim over Arunachal Pradesh.

China’s dominance over the headwaters of key Asian rivers offers it a substantial edge in transboundary water politics. By building dams, China not only secures energy but also achieves a strategic position in “water wars” or “hydro-hegemony”. Having the capacity to influence water flow could be a tool in China’s strategic arsenal and this control can be used to exert influence or pressure on downstream countries, particularly during events of geopolitical conflict or negotiations over border disputes etc.

Besides, China’s lack of transparency on hydrological data and dam projects has been a cause of concern for India. This secrecy fuels suspicion and speculation about China’s intentions, especially given previous instances in which China withheld crucial flood data from India even as an MoU was signed between India and China in 2013 to share hydrological data.

It must be recalled that in 2017, when Indo-China border tensions were at a peak following the Doklam standoff, China did not provide hydrological data to India citing “upgradation and renovation of the Data Collection Centre in Tibet”, however, it provided the hydrological data to Bangladesh.

Notably, the Indian government has fast-tracked the development of an 11,000 MW hydropower project in the Upper Subansiri region, which would assist in improving water management and electricity production. It is also a response to China’s upstream activities, thereby letting India gain better control of its water resources while alleviating the adverse impacts that may result from China’s dam.

‘Good that judge follows Buddhism, but removing Temple not right’: Hanuman temple removed from official residence compound by Justice SK Kait, says MP HC Bar Association. Read full details

OpIndia Staff
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‘Good that judge follows Buddhism, but removing Temple not right’: Hanuman temple removed from official residence compound by Justice SK Kait, says MP HC Bar Association. Read full details

The Madhya Pradesh High Court Bar Association has written to Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna and Supreme Court Judge Justice B.R. Gavai to seek an inquiry into a complaint about the demolition of an ancient Hanuman temple located inside Chief Justice Suresh Kumar Kait’s official bungalow, demanding action against those responsible.

It was signed by the association’s president, Dhanya Kumar Jain. He also alluded that the action could have been a result of CJ Kait’s Buddhist religion.

The prayer read, “That, the temple of the bungalow of the Chief Justice is said to be a very ancient temple, in which many Chief Justices of the M.P. High Court like Justice Bobde, Justice Khanwilkar, and Justice Hemant Gupta used to perform daily Puja. Later, the said Judges were also appointed as Justices of the Supreme Court. Justice Bobde also became the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and Justice Khanwilkar is currently the Lokpal of India. Therefore, the temple located in the bungalow of the Chief Justice is a historical temple, whose protection and respect are the responsibilities of the Madhya Pradesh High Court Advocates Association.”

According to the letter, Muslim Chief Justices Rafat Alam and Rafiq Ahmed, who served in the state, also did not oppose to the temple in the premises of their official residence. “That, in the bungalow of the Chief Justice, when Justice Rafat Alam Ji and Justice Shri Rafiq Ahmed Ji, who had been the Chief Justices of the M.P. High Court, were Chief Justices, the employees working in the bungalow of the Chief Justice used to perform daily puja in the said temple, to which both the Muslim Judges never expressed any objection, rather they always respected the religious sentiments of all the employees working in their bungalow.”

The temple was referred to as government property in the letter which termed the action as an insult to the followers of Hinduism. “That the said bungalow and temple are government property, the reconstruction of that temple has also been done from time to time using government money because mostly the Chief Justice and employees who believe in Sanatan Dharma have been living in the bungalow. Therefore, the said temple is an extremely essential means for making life happy, peaceful, and beautiful, and tampering with and destroying the said temple without the permission of the Government or before passing any legal Order is not only insulting the majority of Sanatan loving people of the country but is also a distortion of Government property.”

“Therefore, through this letter, it has been requested to the Supreme Court to get the Complaint investigated at a high level as soon as possible and take legal action against those guilty of causing the incident,” it concluded.

Advocate Ravindra Nath Tripathi, a member of the MP High Court Bar, had previously complained that he had learned from reliable sources that CJ Suresh Kumar Kait had taken down the temple located within the grounds of his official residence. He thus requested an investigation into the incident. Furthermore, the complainant asked CJI Sanjiv Khanna to order CJ Kait to withdraw from a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) asking for the removal of temples from the police stations. Likewise, he appealed for permission to bring a case against CJ Kait or to commence a criminal action against him in the event that an offense is proven. He also called for transfer of the judge.

The development transpired soon after a complaint filed by advocate Tripathi, who urged action against CJ Kait on the same matter in a letter to the President, the Prime Minister, the CJI, and the Union Law Minister. The complaint charged that before CJ Kait ordered its demolition, the temple had been on the premises for an inordinate amount of time, even when a Muslim Chief Justice lived there. “It is pertinent to mention that it is not his personal property, and he should not have done this,” the complaint pointed out. The complaint highlighted that another attorney has now initiated a plea to have all temples axed from police stations throughout the state, citing the Chief Justice’s action as motivation.

According to the letter, Advocate Ravindra Nath, a member of the Madhya Pradesh High Court Advocates Association, complained to the Bar Association about the destruction of the old temple in CJ Kait’s residence. The letter further stated that the entire Advocates Association is angry with the legal community and society as a whole because of this demolition. The destruction of the historic temple has caused an atmosphere of grief and rage among the association. the legal community, and the general public.

Dhanya Kumar Jain, revealed he had been told that Justice Kait ordered that the temple be removed, even though the previous Chief Justices had not objected to the religious place. “Justice Bobde rahein hai wahan, Justice Khanwilkar rahein hai, Patnaik rahein hai, yeh sarein judges ka adovcate batayein hai pooja hoti thi, yeh ek chota sa mandir hai, sab pooja karte the. Lekin ab bataya jaraha hai ki Justice Kait ne use hatwa diya hai (Justice Bobde stayed there, Justice Khanwilkar stayed there, Justice Patnaik stayed there, advocates have said that prayers were conducted there. It is a small temple where everyone used to pray. But now it is being said that Justice Kait had it removed),” he voiced.

He further expressed, “Lekin yeh toh official residence hai. Yeh toh badi baat hogai aur ispe investigation honi chahiey. Achi baat hai ki judge Buddha ko follow karte hai. Hume koi dikkat nahi lekin aese mandir hatana sahi nahi agar aesa hua hai toh (But this is an official residence. This is a serious matter and should be investigated. It’s good that the judge follows Buddhism. We have no issue with that. But removing a temple like this is not right if it indeed happened).”

Lucknow: Hindus accused of performing ‘Hare Krishna’ kirtan outside Church on Christmas, here’s how video from a nearby cafe was used to spread hate

OpIndia Staff
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Lucknow: Hindus accused of performing ‘Hare Krishna’ kirtan outside Church on Christmas, here’s how video from a nearby cafe was used to spread hate

On Thursday, 26th December, a video went viral over the internet in which a few Hindus led by the ISKCON group could be seen performing Kirtan in the Hazratganj area of Lucknow district of Uttar Pradesh. A few media houses and social media users who shared the video online claimed that the Hindus performed Kirtan outside a Cathedral Church while the celebrations for the festival of Christmas and New Year were underway inside the church.

However, it has come to the fore that the claim that Hindus performed kirtan outside the church is wrong and that they were not ‘disturbing’ the Christmas celebrations as the place where kirtan was being performed was a cafe 100-200m away from the Church.

The Hindus in the video could be seen dancing to the beats as they chanted ‘Hare Rama Hare Krishna’. Navbharat Times shared the video and claimed that Christmas celebrations were underway in the church in Lucknow when a Kirtan group from ISKCON reached there and started chanting ‘Hare Ram-Hare Krishna’.

“This video is supposedly from Lucknow and is quite embarrassing to see. A mob of Hindus gathered close to Hazrat Ganj cathedral to disrupt the Christmas festivities by singing loudly and creating a disturbance. This insecure display of faith is fraught with an inferiority complex. This is too cheap and uncivil even to watch,” one social media user Darab Farooqi said.

TRT World Media House shared a similar claim saying that the Hindus were deliberately performing Kirtan to disrupt the celebrations at St Josephs Cathedral in Hazratganj. “A group of Hindus chanted “Hare Ram, Hare Krishna” (Hail Lord Ram, Hail Lord Krishna) near St Joseph Cathedral in Hazratganj, Lucknow, India, on December 25, to disrupt Christmas celebrations,” it said sharing the video.

Another social media user identified as Siddharth said, “Nothing much, just a mob of Hindus disrupting the Christmas festivities in front of a cathedral. Inferiority complex is at the root of Hindu nationalist movement in India.”

Even Congress spread disinformation claiming that Hindus were deliberately disrupting the Christian celebrations in Lucknow. “This act has brought shame to Lucknow. Reaching among the people celebrating Christmas and doing all this is against our eternal tradition. We should not use our prayers, worship, and devotion to belittle others, this is wrong. If those who close down non-veg shops during their festivals behave like this at other people’s festivals, then one would pity them for what they want to cook. This is not our Lucknow. Our Lucknow is a city that respects everyone equally. This is wrong,” said Surendra Rajput associated with the Congress.

Ameeque Jamei associated with the Samajwadi party said, “Lucknow where a Hindu Guruma Panditain built “Panditain ki Masjid” and a Muslim Nawab built “Aliganj Temple”, is different now. If you get a little free from hoisting saffron on the mosque and seeing the Christmas atmosphere, the ancient Hindu culture of the Amritkal period is in danger, this Lucknow is not India!”

However, it has come to the fore that the Islamists and the left-leaning users had been spreading misinformation against the Hindu community as the place where kirtan was being performed by the Hindus was a cafe that was 100m away from the church.

UP Tak reporter Ashish Shrivastava examined the ground reality and confirmed that a few media houses and social media users were deliberately spreading misinformation against Hindus accusing them of disrupting Christmas celebrations.

He said that the Hindus led by ISKCON had gathered at a cafe named ‘Royal Cafe’ in Hazratganj and were performing kirtan there and not outside the church as erroneously being claimed by several groups. Shrivastava also spoke to the security guard of the cafe premises who confirmed that the Hindus had been dancing on the kirtan beats in the premises of the cafe and not outside the Cathedral Church.

Further, if the video is keenly looked upon, a building can seen covered in colored lights which the social media users are allegedly claiming to be the Cathedral Church. However, the said building has been identified as the office of the “Divisional Railway Manager.”

Image- Only Facts

Also, TV9 group’s Padmaja Joshi raised her voice against misinformation spread against Hindus saying that the building which was claimed to be Cathedral Church was not a Church but some other building. “Visuals from there have been spliced with the Kirtan video. At the 0:30 mark in the unedited video camera moves and you can see there’s no church in front of the cafe where Kirtan is being performed. The place is quite far from the church. I know, I have lived here for over a decade,” she said.

She also asked why such fake news and misinformation were being spread against the Hindus. She further suggested ISKCON group address the issue and clarify that the intention of the kirtan was in no way to disturb the Christmas celebrations and that the Kirtan was performed far away from the church.

With this, it is clearly evident that the claims spread by Islamists, Congress, and SP leaders are misleading and the kirtan by Hindus was performed at a distance 100-200m away from the church. The incident happened on 25th December and the misleading claims began to circulate on social media on 26th December.

Uttar Pradesh: Extremists attack Shiv temple, destroy idols, set images of deities on fire to put up Ambedkar’s photo

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: Extremists attack Shiv temple, destroy idols, set images of deities on fire to put up Ambedkar’s photo

On Wednesday (25th December), a mob of extremists laid siege at a Shiv temple in Udiagarhi village in the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh. The area falls under the jurisdiction of the Naujhil police station.

According to reports, the extremists vandalised the temple, broke the idols of the deities and set the premises on fire. They fled after being chased away by the villagers.

During the preliminary probe, the locals informed that ‘Ambedkarites’ are behind the criminal act. The extremists reportedly wanted to install a statue of BR Ambedkar within the temple.

As such, they took to the destruction of the trident and snake placed atop the ancient Shiv temple. Images of deities were torn and set ablaze.

At the same time, the extremists placed a photo frame of BR Ambedkar within the temple. The damage caused to the premises could be clearly seen in visuals shared on social media.

The locals prevented the extremists from carrying out further destruction once they learnt about the matter. They informed the police, following which a team was rushed to the scene.

Naujhil police station in-charge Shailendra Singh and sub-inspector Arvind Siwal tried to de-escalate the conflict. A large contingent of police was also deployed in the area to prevent any further law and order situation.

At the same time, the cops supervised the repair work that is being carried out at the temple premises. According to police station in-charge Shailendra Singh, the tiles of the temple bearing the images of deities were removed.

The police have received complaints against a total of 5 extremists, who are responsible for carrying out vandalism at the ancient Shiv temple. They were identified as Pawan, Raju, Lokendra, Krishna and Rohit.

The cops assured to take strict action against them. The Naujhil police have launched a man-hunt to nab the extremists.

A panchayat meeting was held on Thursday (26th December) outside the village in the presence of the police. Reportedly, most villagers who perform Puja at the temple belong to the Scheduled Caste (SC) community.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom narrowly escapes bombing at Sanaa Airport, Yemen, 2 persons killed

ANI
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WHO chief Tedros Adhanom narrowly escapes bombing at Sanaa Airport, Yemen, 2 persons killed

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus narrowly escaped an aerial bombardment at Sanaa International Airport in Yemen on Thursday, which resulted in the deaths of at least two people.

Tedros, along with his United Nations (UN) and WHO colleagues, was about to board a flight when the attack took place, injuring one of the plane’s crew members.

In a post on X, the WHO chief Ghebreyesus said, “Our mission to negotiate the release of @UN staff detainees and to assess the health and humanitarian situation in #Yemen concluded today. We continue to call for the detainees’ immediate release. As we were about to board our flight from Sana’a, about two hours ago, the airport came under aerial bombardment. One of our plane’s crew members was injured. At least two people were reported killed at the airport. The air traffic control tower, the departure lounge — just a few meters from where we were — and the runway were damaged. We will need to wait for the damage to the airport to be repaired before we can leave. My UN and @WHO colleagues and I are safe. Our heartfelt condolences to the families whose loved ones lost their lives in the attack.”

The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack and called for the respect of international law, emphasizing that civilians and humanitarian workers must never be targeted.

In a post on X, Guterres regretted the recent escalation between Yemen and Israel, and called the airstrikes on the Sanaa International Airport, the Red Sea ports and power stations in Yemen “alarming”.

According to the UN Chief, the airstrikes reportedly resulted in numerous casualties including at least three killed and dozens more injured. He reiterated the call for all parties to cease military actions and exercise restraint.

As per the Israel Defence Force (IDF), the Israeli Air Force conducted strikes on military targets belonging to Houthis on the western coast and inland Yemen. The attacks were carried upon the Houthi military infrastructure used for its military activities. The sites targeted included the Sana’a International Airport and the Hezyaz and Ras Kanatib power stations in addition to Al-Hudaydah, Salif and Ras Kanatib ports on the western coast. 

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

Azerbaijan Airlines plane that crashed in Kazakhstan was shot by Russian air-defence missile targeting Ukrainian drones, claims report

OpIndia Staff
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Azerbaijan Airlines plane that crashed in Kazakhstan was shot by Russian air-defence missile targeting Ukrainian drones, claims report

On 26th December, Euronews reported exclusive confirmation from Azerbaijani government sources that the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash in Aktau on 25 December was caused by a Russian surface-to-air missile. The sources claimed that the shrapnel of a Russian missile struck the passengers and cabin crew when it burst adjacent to Flight J28432 in midair after the missile was launched at the aircraft during anti-drone operations over Grozny in Russia.

According to Azerbaijani government sources who spoke to Euronews, the damaged aircraft was forced to fly over the Caspian Sea towards Aktau, Kazakhstan and was not permitted to land at any Russian airport, even though the pilots had requested an emergency landing. Notably, the flight from Baku in Azerbaijan was going to Grozny in Russia’s Chechnya. Data indicated that along the flight path above the sea, the plane’s GPS navigation systems were jammed.

According to the Baku-based international portal AnewZ, the missile was fired from a Pantsir-S air defence system,  citing Azerbaijani government sources. AnewZ also quoted a Russian military blogger who claimed that “the damage to the aircraft suggests that plane may have been accidentally struck by an air-defence missile system”.

Russian reports stated that the country’s air defence personnel were actively trying to shoot down Ukrainian UAVs when the Azerbaijan Airlines aircraft was flying over Chechnya. Khamzat Kadyrov, the president of the Chechen Republic’s Security Council, acknowledged the 25th December morning’s drone attack on Grozny but insisted that there were no injuries or damage.

Chechen capital Grozny is heavily defended by Russian forces as it is a potential target for Ukraine’s drones. In recent times Ukraine has carried out several drone attacks in Russian cities.

Notably, photos and videos of the aircraft appear to show puncture damage to at least the left side of the vertical stabilizer.

From all these accounts, it implies that the passenger flight was accidentally hit by a Russian missile mistaking it for a Ukrainian drone. 38 of 87 people on the flight died in the crash. The plane was carrying  37 passengers were Azerbaijani nationals, 18 Russians, 6 Kazakhstani and 6 Kyrgyzstani citizens.

In an official statement, Azerbaijan Airlines announced that until the investigation is concluded, flights en route Baku-Grozny-Baku and Baku-Makhachkala-Baku will remain suspended.

Flight tracking website Flightradar24 showed flight J28432 hovering over Aktau in the shape of 8 before crashing. Its altitude moved up and down during this period.

Flightradar24 posted on ? saying that the aircraft Embraer ERJ-190 was exposed to GPS jamming and spoofing near Grozny, and its altitude was oscillating for 74 minutes before the crash near Aktau Airport. It said that during the 74 minutes of flight J28243, the vertical speed oscillated between positive and negative values more than 100 times with peak values at -8300 feet per min and +8300 feet per min.

According to a report published by the portal, valid ADS-B position data was received from the aircraft until 04:25 UTC when the flight encountered significant GPS interference. The aircraft stopped sending positional data altogether for the period between 04:25 and 04:37. It added that “between 04:37 and 04:40 the aircraft sent likely erroneous position data.” Flightradar24 has also published granular ADS-B data of the flight.

This would be the second time in ten years that Russian forces have destroyed a commercial aircraft following the MH17 tragedy in Ukraine if the initial evidence is accurate. In July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, a Boeing 777-200ER, was shot down by pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine using a Russian Buk 9M38 surface-to-air missile. All 283 passengers and 15 crew were killed in the attack that took place just 4 months after the mysterious disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.

This time, the victims include both Russian nationals and people from nearby nations. The event also brings to mind a previous occurrence in November 2018, in which an Air Astana Embraer 190 lost its hydraulics over Portugal but managed to make a safe landing with the assistance of the Portuguese Air Force.

The circumstances surrounding the missile’s fire, the non-authorization for landing at a nearby Russian airfield, and the directive to cross the sea with a damaged plane are all expected to be unveiled by more research into the incident. The current crash claimed the lives of 38 passengers. The flight was redirected because of poor weather conditions. It had been headed from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia.

As Muslim groups oppose the sale of The Satanic Verses, here’s what Salman Rushdie wrote in open letter condemning Rajiv Gandhi for banning his book, and how Islamists wreaked havoc in Mumbai

Shraddha Pandey
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As Muslim groups oppose the sale of The Satanic Verses, here’s what Salman Rushdie wrote in open letter condemning Rajiv Gandhi for banning his book, and how Islamists wreaked havoc in Mumbai

“Any book worth banning is a book worth reading” once said American author Isaac Asimov. In India, however, censoring uncomfortable truths and banning books for political motives has been quite a norm in the past. In the year 1988, Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi-led Congress government banned “The Satanic Verses” by Salman Rushdie shortly after its publication because the perennially offended Muslims found the book’s portrayal of supposed Islamic themes ‘blasphemous’.

It was only after 36 long years, that the book witnessed a renewed sale in India after the Delhi High Court dismissed a petition challenging the ban on the Rushdie-authored book’s import as the notification in this regard went dramatically untraceable. As soon as copies of The Satanic Verses began arriving at bookstores, several Muslim organisations came up with their appeal to the Central government to reinstate the ban. It has been reported that a limited stock of the book is available at the Bahrisons Booksellers in Delhi-NCR.

When Rajiv Gandhi’s ‘secular’ government banned The Satanic Verses to pander to the fragile sensibilities of Islamists

“The Satanic Verses” was the fourth novel by Salman Rushdie and it was released in September 1988. Rajiv Gandhi, the late prime minister, led the Indian government at the time. It’s interesting to note that India never explicitly banned the book, rather, they used the Finance Ministry to enforce a Customs Act constraint on book imports. Salman Rushdie was even prohibited from entering India by the Congress government. Eleven years later, in 1999, the Vajpayee government finally abolished the ban.

Within ten days of its first publication in Britain on 26th September 1988, the Indian government outlawed the import of The Satanic Verses. Congress MPs Syed Shahabuddin and Khurshid Alam Khan (father of former external affairs minister Salman Khurshid) spearheaded the call for the book to be banned. Shahabuddin petitioned for the same, arguing that it posed a threat to public order. Living up to his ‘secular’ [read Muslim-appeasing] credentials, Rajiv Gandhi decided to ban the book.

What was even more absurd was that the ban on the import of The Satanic Verses was imposed by the Finance Ministry, under Section 11 of the Indian Customs Act. Such was the state of affairs that the finance ministry decided which books Indians could read and which books they should simply not be allowed to read. Revolutionary, isn’t it?

Beyond the absurdity, it was a great disgrace that India, a ‘secular’ and democratic country was the first in the world to ban Rushdie’s book. Following the footsteps of India, South Africa, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Sudan also banned The Satanic Verses. Massive protests and outrage were witnessed in the state-sponsor of Islamic terrorism, Pakistan and even in a secular India.

Many years have passed, however, not much has changed in the politics of Muslim-appeasing political parties. This time, the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference has extended support to Muslim organisations demanding a ban on sales of The Satanic Verses.

When Islamists ran riots in Mumbai after Iran’s supreme leader Khamenei issued a fatwa against Rushdie

While the Congress-led government in India showed more dexterity in banning The Satanic Verses than even Islamic nations, in February 1989, Iran’s first Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khomeini, called upon all Muslims to kill Salman Rushdie. Following Khomeini’s call for the killing of Rushdie on 14th February 1989, Islamists in India called for a ‘bandh‘ on 24th February 1989, in the city of Mumbai.

A massive crowd gathered to march towards the British diplomatic mission, however, they were stopped by the police. It must be noted that back then, the Margaret Thatcher government in Britain had refused to outlaw the book, despite widespread demonstrations and book burnings in the country. The Indian Islamists were protesting against the British government’s decision to grant protection to Rushdie.

The mob of 2000 rioters burnt cars, buses, and motorcycles in South Mumbai and also torched a police station. They also opened fire at the police. It was then that the cops resorted to retaliatory firing and neutralised 12 Islamists in this process. Similar processions were banned for the rest of the day. A total of 500 Islamists were detained and 800 others were arrested.

Despite a ban on The Satanic Verses, the controversy around it refused to die down because how can Islamists rest when a prominent leader of the Muslim Ummah, Khamenei had issued a fatwa or ‘death sentence’ and declared a $6 million bounty on Rushdie’s head.

In 1992, the student union of the Jamia Milia Islamia created a ruckus on the university premises after a history Professor named Mushirul Hasan demanded the lifting of the ban on ‘The Satanic Verses.’ The Islamist ‘students’ declared Hasan an ‘enemy of Islam’ and burnt his effigy. The professor eventually was compelled to express regret over seeking to un-ban Rushdie’s book.

Salman Rushdie’s open letter to Rajiv Gandhi

Expressing his dismay over the unfair ban on his book, Salman Rushdie had written an open letter to Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on 19th October 1988, just days after the ban. The letter was published by The New York Times under the title “India Bans a Book For Its Own Good”.

source: NYT

In the open letter, Salman Rushdie emphasised the irony of the Finance Ministry dictating what Indian readers could and could not read. He mentioned that, according to a Press Trust of India article, the ministry stated that the ban did not detract from the book’s literary and artistic worth, to which Rushdie sarcastically responded, “Thanks for the good review.”

He further condemned the prohibition as a violation of free society principles, contending that it was tantamount to imprisoning an innocent person for their own security against potential attackers. Rushdie had called this move as “profoundly disturbing” and questioned the kind of India Rajiv Gandhi desired to govern—an open or repressive society.

“The ministry – I am quoting from The Press Trust of India’s report -” added that the ban did not detract from the literary and artistic merit of Rushdie’s work.” To which I can only reply: Thanks for the good review. The book was banned after representations by two or three Muslim politicians, including Syed Shahabuddin and Khurshid Alam Khan, both members of Parliament. These persons, whom I do not hesitate to call extremists, even fundamentalists, have attacked me and my novel while stating that they had no need actually to read it. That the Government should have given in to such figures is profoundly disturbing,” Rushdie wrote.

Rushdie had also voiced discontent with his book being used as a “political football,” implying that the government was succumbing to Islamist fanatics for political gain, especially in light of coming elections.

In the open letter, Rushdie noted that the decision to ban his book reduced Indian democracy to a “laughing stock” around the world, leading to many Indian newspapers and publications, as well as foreign writers and organisations such as International PEN, criticising the ban.

Notably, the most ‘contentious’ part of the The Satanic Verses is claimed to be the dream sequences involving the protagonist Gibreel Farishta, wherein he dreams of being the Prophet Mahound, and introduces the concept of the “Satanic Verses,”. Islamists argue that the book allegorically depicts Muhammad as Mahound, indulging in humanly doubts and political manoeuvring, which they deemed blasphemous. However, Rushdie in his letter to Rajiv Gandhi refuted the allegations of supposed insult to Islamic prophet and tradition.

Excerpt from Salman Rushdie’s letter to Rajiv Gandhi (Source: New York Times)

“Clearly, your Government is feeling a little ashamed of itself and, sir, it has much to be ashamed about. It is not for nothing that just about every leading Indian newspaper and magazine has deplored the ban as, for example, ”a Philistine decision” (The Hindu) or ”thought control” (Indian Express). It is not for nothing that such eminent writers as Kingsley Amis, Harold Pinter and Tom Stoppard have joined International PEN and India’s association of publishers and booksellers in condemning the decision. The right to freedom of expression is at the foundation of any democratic society, and at present, all over the world, Indian democracy is becoming something of a laughing-stock,” Rushdie wrote and outlined the context of the book’s fictional events and how it was not a direct attack on Islam,” Rushdie wrote.

Excerpt from Rushdie’s open letter to Rajiv Gandhi (Source: NYT)

In his memoir “Joseph Anton” released in 2012, Rushdie said that although he was arrogant in his open letter to Rajiv Gandhi, Rushdie was “defending a thing he revered above most things, the art of literature, against a piece of blatant political opportunism.” He concluded the letter with a rhetorical appeal to posterity, saying, “You own the present, Mr. Prime Minister; but the centuries belong to art.”

Attack on Salman Rushdie years after Ayatollah Khamenei’s fatwa

In August 2022, Salman Rushdie was brutally attacked by a 24-year-old Shia Jihadi named Hadi Matar, as he prepared to give a lecture in western New York. It was reported that the attacker was influenced by the ideology of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Fortunately, Rushdie survived the attack, however, he lost one eye and suffered serious injuries.

Stabbings, gunshots, and arson: When the translators and publishers of The Satanic Verses faced deadly attacks by Islamists

Since The Satanic Verses was first published, Salman Rushdie has constantly been receiving death threats from Islamists in some or the other corners of the world. Not only, Rushdie but even those who published or translated The Satanic Verses were attacked and some even killed. In July 1991, Hitoshi Igarashi, the Japanese translator of Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses was brutally murdered at a university northeast of Tokyo. Ettore Capriolo translated ‘The Satanic Verses’ into Italian.

In June 1991, he was attacked by a person who pretended to be looking for a translation of an Islamic pamphlet. Two months after the Iranian fatwa, the Norwegian translation of The Satanic Verses was published. The Norwegian publisher William Nygaard got direct threats almost instantly and was granted armed security for a while. He was shot three times on October 11, 1993, in front of his residence in Dagaliveien, Oslo. In 1993, an Islamist mob coming out of mosques set a hotel on fire in the city of Sivas after learning that Turkish translator of The Satanic Verses, Aziz Nesin was there. While Nesin could be saved, 35 innocent people lost their lives and several others were injured. A detailed OpIndia report on these attacks can be read here.

Just as Rushdie said, the art of literature needs to be defended against political opportunism and censorship. While Rajiv Gandhi could at least prevent Islamists from turning hostile to his government and party, the banning of The Satanic Verses was a blot on Indian democracy and ideals of freedom of expression.

Fast forward to 2024, a lot has changed in the country’s socio-political landscape, however, neither the Islamist fixation with silencing those voices or any piece of literature or art they deem critical of their religion nor a set of political parties ever-ready to genuflect before the violent tendencies of Islamists has not changed. It would, however, be intriguing to see what position the Modi government takes on the opposition to the renewed sale of The Satanic Verses, whether it caves into the Islamist pressure or defend rthe ight to read, debate and even criticise literature with utmost liberty as George Orwell puts it, “If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.”

Who are Naga Sadhus, brave warriors who helped Maharana Pratap defeat Mughal army: Tombs of Chapli Talab are constant reminder of their bravery

OpIndia Staff
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Who are Naga Sadhus, brave warriors who helped Maharana Pratap defeat Mughal army: Tombs of Chapli Talab are constant reminder of their bravery

Prayagraj Mahakumbh-2025 is about to begin. 13 Akharas of saints from across the country will participate in it. Naga Sadhus are usually the center of attraction during every Mahakumbh, because their world is so mysterious that very few people know about them. Naga Sadhus are generally called the military sect of Sadhus. They have a total of seven Akharas, which are divided like military regiments.

These Akharas of Naga Sadhus are – Panchdashnami Jun Akhara, Niranjani Akhara, Mahanirvani Akhara, Atal Akhara, Agni Akhara, Anand Akhara and Awahan Akhara. Naga Sadhus are ascetics, but when needed, they do not shy away from taking up arms to protect the nation and religion. Naga Sadhus are also well versed with weapons. There are many such famous stories related to Naga Sadhus where they picked up weapons to defend Dharma.

It is said that when Maharana Pratap of Mewar was fighting against Mughal invader Akbar, Naga Sadhus also supported him. The war in which Naga Sanyasis supported Maharana Pratap was fought between Chapli talab and Ranakada Ghat in Rajasthan. The Mughals were defeated in this war. The tombs of the sacrificed sanyasis are still present there.

In 1666, Aurangzeb’s army attacked the Haridwar Kumbh as part of its campaign against Hinduism. During that time, Naga Sanyasis gathered the sadhus and saints and fought and drove away the invading army. Similarly, in 1751, Ahmed Ali Bangas attacked during the Prayagraj Kumbh. At that time, 50 thousand Naga Sanyasis forced Bangas’ army to flee.

When Aurangzeb attacked the Vishwanath temple in Varanasi, these sanyasis took up arms to protect the temple. These sanyasis saved Varanasi from Aurangzeb. There was a fierce battle between Aurangzeb’s army and these sanyasis which led to a lot of bloodshed. Seeing the skills of the Naga sanyasis with weapons, Aurangzeb passed an order banning them from keeping weapons.

The Naga sadhus of Jun Akhada also stopped the Afghan invader Ahmed Shah Abdali from looting Mathura-Vrindavan in 1757 AD. Due to this, Abdali’s dream of looting Gokul remained a dream. The Naga sadhus also fought a fierce war with the Nizam of Junagadh in Gujarat. In this war, the Naga sadhus defeated the Nizam and his army.

The Naga Sadhus also fought against the British. The Sanyasi war against the British is very famous in Bengal. Bangla poet Bankim Chandra Chatterjee has written about this in his book ‘Anand Math’. The song Vande Mataram from this book is our national song today. Naga Sadhus have also been a part of the struggle for the Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya.

How to become a Naga Sadhu

To become a Sanyasi of the Akhara, one has to fulfill a resolution lasting 12 years. The person who takes this resolution is called Brahmachari. During celibacy, the person is taught the rules and traditions of the Akhara. During this, one has to serve the Guru. When 12 years of Brahmacharya is completed, then in the upcoming Kumbh, one is initiated as a Naga Sadhu.

Initially, initiation of Sanyas is given by the Guru. All things are worn on the body by chanting mantras etc. After this, Vijay Sanskar is performed. In Vijay Sanskar, the person taking Sanyas is cut off from worldly attachments by performing Pind-daan and other sacrifices. After receiving Aahuti Diksha, the process of becoming a Naga Sanyasi begins.

During this Sanskar, all the sadhus are gathered under the Dharma Dhwaj and then initiation of Naga Sadhu takes place. During this, a separate Guru is appointed, who is a Digambar. After this, Nagas are put on duty in the Akharas. Naga Sadhus usually carry trident, sword, conch in their hands and wear Rudraksha around their neck and body.

Vigilance Department to investigate luxury items at former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s official residence on LG’s instructions

ANI
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Vigilance Department to investigate luxury items at former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s official residence on LG’s instructions

Following a letter from Delhi Assembly Leader of Opposition, Vijender Gupta, to the Lieutenant Governor on November 20, 2024, requesting a high-level investigation into the discovery of expensive luxury items at former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s official residence at 6, Flag Staff Road, the Lieutenant Governor took action and instructed the Vigilance Department to look into the matter on December 6.

The Vigilance Department then directed the Principal Secretary of the Public Works Department (PWD) to investigate, as stated in a press release from the Leader of Opposition’s office.

In his letter, Gupta pointed out that there were discrepancies between the items provided by the PWD for Kejriwal’s residence in 2022, when he became Chief Minister for a second term, and the items found after he left office in 2024.

Gupta claimed that while the PWD provided certain furniture and amenities in 2022, an inventory check after Kejriwal vacated the bungalow in 2024 revealed many luxurious items not supplied by the department, such as high-end toilet seats, expensive wash basins, reclining sofas, costly curtains, premium carpets, and large TVs and refrigerators. Gupta questioned who supplied these items if not the PWD, suggesting they were funded by people benefiting from Kejriwal’s alleged corruption, including those linked to the liquor mafia benefiting from his controversial excise policy.

Gupta also referred to 2022 PWD documents, which showed no new items were supplied after that year. He alleged that between 2022 and 2024, Kejriwal enjoyed lavish amenities funded by those benefiting from his new liquor policy.

Gupta mentioned previous BJP claims of Rs 12-lakh toilet commodes, stating that these were part of a larger corruption scheme involving crores. He called for a thorough investigation into who provided such expensive amenities and what they gained in return.

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

Muslim groups oppose the return of Salman Rushdie’s ‘The Satanic Verses’ to bookstores in India, demand ‘re-ban’ calling it ‘blasphemous’

OpIndia Staff
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Muslim groups oppose the return of Salman Rushdie’s ‘The Satanic Verses’ to bookstores in India, demand ‘re-ban’ calling it ‘blasphemous’

British-Indian author Salman Rushdie is appearing in the news and making headlines once again as his highly controversial novel, The Satanic Verses, has returned to market shelves after an almost 36-year ban. The book which is exclusively available at Bahrisons Booksellers in Delhi-NCR has re-sparked controversies drawing significant negative attention from the Muslim community.

As per the reports, several Muslim organizations and leaders have criticized the sale of the book claiming that it hurt the religious sentiments of the Muslim community. It is important to note that the book was banned by the Rajiv Gandhi government in the year 1988 after Muslims protested against it calling it ‘blasphemous’ literature. However, the resumption of the sale of books has provoked Muslims to urge the center to reinstate the ban on books.

The legal advisor for the Uttar Pradesh unit of Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind (AM), Maulana Kaab Rashidi commented on the matter and said that the religious sentiments of Muslims couldn’t be hurt by anybody under the guise of Article 21 which guarantees freedom of expression. He said the book that is being sold at Rs 2000 at present was ‘blasphemous’ and that it deserved to be banned again.

“If freedom of expression hurts someone’s sentiments, it is a legal offense. ‘The Satanic Verses’ is a blasphemous book. Selling such a controversial book under the pretext of freedom of expression cannot be accepted in any form. It goes against the spirit of the Constitution,” he was quoted as saying.

“We urge the government to protect constitutional values and reinstate the ban on this book as it hurts the sentiments of a large section of the population. The government has taken an oath to uphold the Constitution, and banning this book is its duty,” he added.

Maulana Masood Abbas, General Secretary of the All India Shia Personal Law Board (AISPLB) also commented on the issue and demanded a ban on the book at the hands of the Center. “There should have been dialogue with people demanding a ban before allowing the sale of the book,” he said.

“The book mocks Islamic views, insults Prophet Muhammad and his companions, and hurts sentiments. Allowing its sale poses a threat to the country’s harmony. I urge the prime minister to impose a complete ban on this book in India,” he added.

Maulana Mufti Shahabuddin Razvi, National President of the All India Muslim Jamaat said, “The ban on The Satanic Verses had expired. Now, some publishers are planning to reprint the book in India. Back in 1988, Rajiv Gandhi’s government immediately banned it, but now preparations are underway to reintroduce it in India after the expiration of the ban.”

“This book insults Islam, Prophet Muhammad, and several Islamic figures. Its content is so offensive that it cannot be repeated. Allowing this book in the market will disturb the nation’s atmosphere. No Muslim can tolerate seeing this hateful book on any bookstore shelf,” Razvi added.

Not only this, but some of the political parties have also begun criticizing the sale of the book. Jammu & Kashmir National Conference leader, MLA of Zadibal, Tanvir Sadiq stated that the book insulted the Muslim community and that it deserved to be banned.

“No community’s sentiments can be hurt in the name of secularism. If this is allowed, tomorrow controversial books on other religions might appear. Will the other community be happy then? I appeal to the center to ban the book immediately,” he said.

JMM spokesperson Manoj Kumar Pandey also condemned the sale of the book. “The decision to lift the ban is beyond my understanding. When any government decided to ban a particular book, the ban was not lifted. If the ban is lifted, then the book comes to the market, and that makes sense. But I think the ban is still in place, and the order remains effective. However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) makes a deliberate attempt to divert attention by raising such issues because they need a topic to fuel debates on Hindu-Muslim, religious conflicts, and India-Pakistan,” he said.

While Islamists are demanding a ban on the book, BJP leader Radha Krishna Kishore said that the central government was strong enough to handle the situation.

The controversy revolving around the book is not new In 1988, the release of the book sparked massive outrage across the globe as Islamists claimed that the book insulted and hurt the Muslims. Iranian leader Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa instigating Muslims to kill the author and its publishers.

The unrest soon turned violent, with the book’s Japanese translator, Hitoshi Igarashi, being murdered in his office in July 1991. The author went into hiding, living under deployed security in the UK and the US. More recently, on August 12, 2022, Rushdie was targeted on a stage during a lecture in New York by Lebanese-American Hadi Matar, leaving him blind in one eye.

Notably, the resale of the book follows after the Delhi High Court terminated proceedings on a petition contesting the original prohibition due to a lack of evidence for notification. The event has again sparked outrage in the country with Muslims demanding a re-ban on the book.

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