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How ‘proportional representation’ ruined a prosperous Lebanon and why ‘Jitni abadi, utna haq’ campaign of Rahul Gandhi can be a disaster for India

Amit Kelkar
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How ‘proportional representation’ ruined a prosperous Lebanon and why ‘Jitni abadi, utna haq’ campaign of Rahul Gandhi can be a disaster for India

Lebanon has been in the news ever since skirmishes broke out between ‘Hezbollah’ and Israel. While the Islamic terror outfit fired rockets to target the civilian population in Israel, the Jewish state responded with pager blast and elimination of Hezbollah’s chief Hassan Nasrallah.

The Middle Eastern country, which has now fallen into the hands of Islamic terror groups that regularly use its territory to attack Israel, was once a peaceful nation.

Lebanon comprised of 53% Christians, mostly Maronites (Syriac Christians), in 1932. Its capital city of Beirut was called the ‘Paris of the Middle East.’ The country prospered as a regional centre for finance and trade.

A drastic change in population dynamics in Lebanon

Since it happened to be the only Christian-majority nation in the Middle East, Lebanon from the very start had the moral obligation to accommodate the ‘minority’ Muslim community and its two sects (Shia and Sunni) to promote communal harmony.

Other Islamic countries in the region had no such obligation to placate any ethnic or religious minority. The constitution of Lebanon, which came into force in 1926, introduced the idea of ‘confessionalism’.

For the unversed, confessionalism is a system of governance wherein political power is distributed proportionally between different communities per their population.

Political representation of Muslims in Lebanon

Article 24 of the 1926 Constitution called for equal (50:50) representation of Muslims and Christians in political power sharing, despite Christians being the obvious majority.

The Maronites objected to the disproportionate representation of Muslims and adopted the ‘National Pact’ in 1943 following the country’s liberation from the French Mandate.

The ‘National Pact’ aimed to placate the Syriac Christians while not taking much away from the second majority aka the Muslims. A compromise was reached in 1943 between Maronite leader Bishara al-Khouri and Sunni leader Riyadh al-Solh.

Under the arrangement, the representation in Parliament was changed from 1:1 ratio to 6:5 in favour of the Maronites. While it ensured an equitable power-sharing mechanism, two other things became almost mandatory.

The Prime Minister of Lebanon would henceforth be a Sunni Muslim while the Speaker of the National Assembly would be a Shia Muslim. The post of President would be reserved for a Maronite Christian.

The National Pact in many ways is reminiscent of the ‘Jitni Abadi Utna Haq’, a scheme espousing proportional representation in India along case lines, proposed by the Indian National Congress and its leaders (Rahul Gandhi in particular).

Of course, the Maronites of Lebanon at that time couldn’t gauge the far-reaching effects of this scheme of confessionalism.

High fertility rates, mass emigration and a race to change demographics

According to the data [pdf] furnished by the Lebanese Information Centre, the Christian population in Lebanon was down to 38.22% in 2011. At the same time, the Muslim population in the Middle Eastern nation soared to 61.62%.

However, the drastic change in the population dynamics of Lebanon did not happen overnight. It was rather a calculated move, facilitated by the influx of refugees, forced emmigration of Christians and a high fertility rate.

For context, in 1956, Christians and Muslims constituted 54% and 44% of the population in Lebanon. Thanks to the ‘National Pact (1943)’, Muslims had a 5:6 representation in the Parliament i.e. proportional political equity.

The fertility rate of different communities in Lebanon, information via Lebanese Information Centre,

They were clear incentives to increase their population to ensure more political power sharing. A look at the fertility rates of Christians and Muslims in Lebanon highlights the reason behind the demographic change.

In 1971, Muslims were producing an average of 5.44 kids as compared to 3.56 kids by Christians. On breaking the numbers further down, we find that Shities had an average of 6.65 children in 1971 as compared to say 3.75 children of Maronites.

The high fertility rate of Muslims was further compounded by the mass influx of Muslim refugees, particularly from Syria.

The fertility rate of different communities in Lebanon, information via Lebanese Information Centre,

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Lebanon today has the largest number of refugees per capita and per square kilometre in the world.

It must also be noted that a large number of Christians (3.95 lakh) left the Middle Eastern country between 1975 and 1984 amid the outbreak of the Lebanon Civil War, thereby further skewing the population in favour of the Muslims.

Emigration data from Lebanon, sourced from the Lebanese Information Centre

Muslims exhibited intolerance as their population swelled

Israel, the only functioning democracy in the Middle East, became a rallying point for the Muslim population in Lebanon soon after its creation in 1948.

The Shias and Sunnis supported the Arab States in their resolve to eliminate the Jewish State while the Maronites supported the Western powers that allied with Israel.

As the Muslim population surged in Lebanon, support for homegrown radical Islamic outfits grew and hostility towards the Christian community increased. They began demanding a change to the ‘National Pact’ which ‘benefitted’ Maronites.

The Palestinian cause, the common enemy being the Jews and Christians, united the Shias and Sunnis. The result was the outbreak of a 15-year-long civil war in 1975. The Muslims supported the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) but the Maronites opposed it.

Taif Agreement and undoing of proportional representation

The conflict led to the deaths of an estimated 1.5 lakh people. The resolution came in the form of the ‘Taif Agreement or Taif Peace Accord’, which ultimately revealed the price of tolerating the intolerant.

Proportional representation of the Christian community in the Parliament was brought down from a 6:5 ratio to a 1:1 ratio. The power of the Sunni Muslim-led-position of Prime Minister was increased in relation to the Maronite Christian-led-position of President.

A system, crafted to ensure political equity to the minority, thus led to the diminishing of the power of the Maronites that once constituted the majority.

With the power moving to the ‘Muslim’ Prime Minister and his Cabinet, the role of the ‘Christian’ President in the electoral scenario of Lebanon is diminished.

Contrary to the objectives of the ‘Taif Agreement’, Islamist outfit Hezbollah was not disarmed. It grew in strength and attacked Israel on multiple occasions in the years that followed, eventually resulting in the 34-day war in 2006.

A lesson for India

According to projections made by the Lebanese Information Centre, the Christian population is estimated to be 41.12% in 2045 while the Muslim population will remain around 58.78%.

Proportional representation remains at a 1:1 ratio in the Lebanese Parliament but the loss of the demographic majority and change in governance structure meant that Maronites are rendered powerless in the country.

Confessionalism proved to be a disaster for Lebanese society, an idea which is now being imported into the Indian political discourse by Rahul Gandhi.

After having failed to counter the BJP on issues of development, national security and cultural preservation, Congress has taken it upon itself to divide the country along caste lines.

Besides promising a caste census, it has also assured to lift the upper limit on reservation in its 2024 election manifesto. Rahul Gandhi is campaigning with the slogan ‘Jitni abadi utna haq,‘ hinting at proportional representation in government jobs, admission to colleges and more.

This has the potential to further polarise and divide the society. Not only that, once such demands are fulfilled, it can extend to electoral politics.

Given that India’s demography is changing fast, it may not be long until certain religious communities demand fixed representation based on their population size. It would then be akin to walking in the footsteps of Lebanon and setting the nation on the path to disaster.

While it may look far-fetched today as it appeared to Maronites in Lebanon at one point in time, it will not take long for the country to plunge into chaos when dangerous ideas of proportional representation manifest in reality.

Home Minister Amit Shah slams Mallikarjun Kharge over his bitter ‘I will not die’ statement against PM Modi

OpIndia Staff
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Home Minister Amit Shah slams Mallikarjun Kharge over his bitter ‘I will not die’ statement against PM Modi

On 30th September, Union Home Minister Amit Shah slammed Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge for declaring that “he would not die away before Prime Minister Narendra Modi is removed from office”, calling it a “bitter display of spite.” A day earlier, Kharge had become unwell during a campaign event in Jammu & Kashmir. He fell ill during a public rally in the Kathua district.

Amit Shah criticised him for the statement and posted, “Yesterday, the Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge Ji has outperformed himself, his leaders and his party in being absolutely distasteful and disgraceful in his speech. In a bitter display of spite, he unnecessarily dragged PM Modi into his personal health matters by saying that he would die only after removing PM Modi from power.”

Amit Shah asserted that the remark illustrated “how much hate and fear these Congress people have of PM Modi, that they are thinking of him constantly.” The union minister then added, “As for the health of Mr Kharge Ji, Modi Ji prays, I pray and we all pray that he lives a long, healthy life. May he continue to live for many years and may he live to see the creation of a Viksit Bharat by 2047.”

Kharge suffered a syncopal attack, however, he resumed his speech after a small pause and announced, “We will fight to restore statehood. I am 83 years old, I am not going to die soon. I will stay alive until PM Narendra Modi is ousted from power.” He asked the people for forgiveness, explaining he wanted to continue the speech but had to sit down because he was feeling lightheaded. A syncopal attack, also known as fainting, is a brief loss of consciousness that occurs when there’s a temporary drop in blood flow to the brain.

The incident happened as he was paying respects to a senior constable who was killed in an anti-terrorist operation in Kathua. In a statement, Jammu and Kashmir Congress vice president Ravindra Sharma claimed that Kharge was profoundly affected when he discussed the martyrs. “His emotions momentarily got the better of him, but he quickly composed himself to strongly reaffirm his party’s unwavering resolve to eliminate terrorism from the region.”

Kharge further criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party during the rally and claimed, “These people never wanted to conduct the elections in Jammu and Kashmir. Had they intended, they would have done it within a couple of years. They started preparing for elections only after the order of the Supreme Court. They (BJP) wanted to run a remote-controlled government via the lieutenant governor.”

Kharge’s son and minister in the Karnataka government, Priyank Kharge and other party leaders informed that he is now stable after a check-up by doctors. The local Congress leaders also assured that Kharge was in good health and was determined to go to Ramnagar for a second rally. Notably. PM Modi talked to Kharge on 29th September to check on his well-being and wished him good health.

The union territory of Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing an assembly election for the first time after the abrogation of Article 370 on 5th August 2019. The first phase of polls took place on 18th September and the second phase ended on 25th September. The third and the last phase is scheduled on 1st October and the result will be declared on 8th October.

Terror apologists in India express solidarity with Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, posters hailing him put up outside Chennai mosque

OpIndia Staff
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Terror apologists in India express solidarity with Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, posters hailing him put up outside Chennai mosque

On Monday, 30th September, the Hindu People’s Party in Tamil Nadu, the Indu Makkal Katchi shared a post saying that the slain Hezbollah terrorist Hassan Nasrallah was being glorified by the Muslim community outside a Mosque in Chennai. The party stated that huge banners of the said terrorist were being placed outside the mosque expressing solidarity with him.

“Banner hailing Hizbullah terrorist held in Chennai, placed outside a mosque,” the post by Indu Makkal Katchi read. This is a day after the dead body of Nasrallah was recovered from the Bunker where he was hiding.

Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah was killed in his bunker in an Israeli air strike. The strike was approved by Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu while he was attending a United Nations meeting in New York. The dead body of the dreaded terrorist was recovered from his bunker in Beirut which was destroyed in the Israeli air strikes.

As reported earlier, Nasrallah and other leaders of Hezbollah were conducting a meeting in an Underground bunker when Israel hit them, resulting in the death of Nasrallah along with other Hezbollah leaders. Following this, a protest march was organised in Jammu and Kashmir. Hundreds of protesters took to the streets in Kashmir holding portraits of Nasrallah and raising slogans against Israel. Not just men, but a large number of women also participated in the protests, chanting slogans in support of Hezbollah.

Meanwhile, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti also called off her political campaign scheduled for Sunday in “solidarity” with ‘martyrs’ of Lebanon and Gaza. “Cancelling my campaign tomorrow in solidarity with the martyrs of Lebanon & Gaza, especially Hassan Nasarullah. We stand with the people of Palestine & Lebanon in this hour of immense grief & exemplary resistance,” she tweeted.

As per Israeli sources, Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the Hezbollah terrorist organization and one of its founders, was eliminated together with Ali Karki, the Commander of Hezbollah’s Southern Front, and additional Hezbollah commanders.

After the airstrikes, IDF sources had said that the strikes targeted Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was believed to be at the command center at the time. The Israeli airstrike on the Hezbollah base in Beirut shook the Lebanon capital, covering the city in smoke and dust.

Diu: School Principal Edmund Mascarenhas beats up 3 children for raising ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ and ‘Jai Hind’ slogans, FIR registered after Hindu organisation complain

OpIndia Staff
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Diu: School Principal Edmund Mascarenhas beats up 3 children for raising ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ and ‘Jai Hind’ slogans, FIR registered after Hindu organisation complain

In a shocking incident, a School Principal, Father Edmund Mascarenhas assaulted some students for raising ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and ‘Jai Hind’ slogans at an English school in the Union Territory of Diu. Hindu organisations have raised the matter and a complaint has been filed against the accused school principal.

School principal thrashed students on Teachers’ Day for saying Bharat Mata ki Jai and Jai Hind

The incident took place on the 5th of September when the school in question celebrated Teachers’ Day. After the national anthem was performed during the prayer, some students raised patriotic slogans like “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”. However, principal Edmund Mascarenhas became enraged upon hearing these slogans. He forced the three children to stand in a queue before viciously thrashing them. While beating up students for raising slogans in the glory of their nation is in itself outrageous, the accused principal did not even know who raised the Bharat Mata ki Jai slogan and randomly grabbed the three victims and assaulted them.

While the fellow students present there remained silent out of fear of being hit by Mascarenhas as he was beating up the three victims, the parents present at the scene refrained from stopping the accused principal fearing that it would adversely impact their children in future.

VHP and Bajrang Dal took cognisance of the incident

Several Hindu rights organisations including Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal learnt about the incident through social media. The Hindu activists took the matter seriously and submitted a complaint against the accused school principal to the District Collector. OpIndia has a copy of the complaint.

Speaking to OpIndia, Bharatbhai Solanki, the district coordinator of Vishwa Hindu Parishad said that the incident transpired at Mata Nirmala School in Diu and that according to the rules, the national anthem is played in the school, but after that, ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ or any other slogan are not raised. On the 5th of September when Teachers’ Day was being celebrated in the school, some school children raised Bharat Mata ki Jai slogans.

“As soon as the national anthem ended, a child shouted ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’, then the principal took three children to the shed and beat them brutally. The children kept saying that they did not do anything, but they were still beaten. After the incident, two other children were also beaten,” Solanki said.

Hindu organisations demand action against Mascarenhas after submitting complaint to DM

Solanki told OpIndia that the Hindu rights groups learnt about the matter through social media and upon inquiry it was found that the local people are scared of Edmund Mascarenhas. He added the locals are mostly poor and uneducated people who fear that if they raised their voices against Mascarenhas, their children would be expelled from the school. Solanki stated that even the school staff is scared of speaking against the misconduct of Mascarenhas.

As the Hindu organisations swung into action, the Diu police registered a case against the accused principal Edmund Mascarenhas. An NC (non-cognizable offence) complaint has been filed against him under section 115(2) of the BNS and section 82(1) of the Juvenile Justice Act. OpIndia tried to contact the Diu police for more information on the matter but could not do so. This report will be updated when more information is received.

Glorifying terrorists as martyrs: How Western media is whitewashing Hezbollah chief Nasrallah’s bloodstained legacy and portraying him as a ‘charismatic’ crusader

Anurag
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Glorifying terrorists as martyrs: How Western media is whitewashing Hezbollah chief Nasrallah’s bloodstained legacy and portraying him as a ‘charismatic’ crusader

The head of the Lebanese terrorist organisation Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, died on 27th September in Israeli air strikes. His dead body was recovered on 29th September. While several of his followers took to the streets in mourning, his death sparked a troubling wave of media coverage that romanticised and sanitised his violent legacy. The media’s job was to reflect on the devastation caused by his leadership prominently.

However, several notable Western media outlets chose otherwise, focusing on his so-called “charisma” and political influence. They glossed over the bloodshed and terrorism he orchestrated during his decades as Hezbollah’s chief. The dangerous trend followed by media outlets to humanise individuals like Nasrallah is not just misleading but reckless. Such reporting has a long-lasting effect on the psychology of the upcoming generation.

The Guardian’s ‘adulating’ obituary to Hezbollah chief

One of the most glaring examples came from The Guardian. On 28th September, it published an article describing Nasrallah as a figure “hard to replace”. The Guardian claimed the task would be difficult because of Nasrallah rose from “humble beginnings in Beirut to a position of great power”. The article painted a picture of Nasrallah as a man who inspired loyalty and admiration among his followers. While praising the dead chief of a terrorist organisation as an “Islamic scholar”, The Guardian completely failed to adequately address the brutal acts of terrorism that Nasrallah sanctioned during his leadership of Hezbollah.

Source: Guardian

The Guardian focused on his perceived charisma, and while doing so, the media house became distracted from the essential truth: Nasrallah was a man who led a terrorist organisation responsible for numerous attacks. One of the notable terrorist attacks initiated by Hezbollah during his tenure includes the 1983 bombing of the US Marine barracks in Beirut, which took the lives of 241 Americans.

Interestingly, The Guardian gave him a clean chit on the 7th October terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel and stated, “There is no evidence that Nasrallah knew what Hamas had planned for 7 October, but he reacted to the bloody raids on Israel with what must have seemed fine judgment. Hezbollah did not launch a major offensive but began firing some of its vast stocks of rockets and missiles into Israel in a bid to maintain its “resistance” credentials.” For The Guardian, firing “few rockets and missiles” towards Israel was not a big deal.

The Guardian should have critically analysed the destruction Hezbollah caused under Nasrallah’s leadership. However, it chose to imply that his leadership style was something to be admired. It is a fact that Nasrallah was revered by some in Lebanon, and even in other parts of the world, including India, where he was seen as a “warrior”. However, this does not whitewash Hezbollah’s violent role in the region. It does not excuse the fact that the international community has classified Hezbollah as a terrorist group. The focus on Nasrallah’s so-called charisma risks normalising and even legitimising the very terrorism that has destabilised the Middle East for decades.

The New York Times’ whitewashing of Nasrallah’s terrorism

The Guardian is not the only media outlet that has gone to great lengths to whitewash Nasrallah’s terrifying legacy of terrorism. The New York Times took a similarly problematic approach. It offered a long, detailed account of his political and military achievements. In a 28th September article, The New York Times referred to Nasrallah as someone who built Hezbollah into “the most formidable military and political force in Lebanon”, as if this were a neutral or even positive development.

Source: NYT

While doing so, NYT completely failed to emphasise that Hezbollah’s rise to power came at the cost of thousands of innocent lives. It destabilised not only Lebanon but also the broader Middle East. Instead of dwelling on the countless acts of violence that Nasrallah orchestrated, including rocket attacks on Israeli civilians and the terrorist organisation’s role in the Syrian Civil War, the NYT article spent a significant portion of its time recounting Nasrallah’s “determination” and “strategic thinking”.

NYT normalised Hezbollah’s violent methods and presented them as a necessary evil for political gain rather than the terroristic acts they truly are. This dangerous narrative not only erodes public understanding of Hezbollah’s true nature but also emboldens other terrorist organisations by offering them the same media legitimacy.

Le Monde: More than a terrorist leader?

Le Monde is one of France’s most prestigious newspapers. While covering the death of the head of a terrorist organisation, Le Monde did not “disappoint” and behaved exactly like its counterparts. The coverage was an obituary that described Nasrallah as “a charismatic leader for more than three decades.” The headline itself was enough to raise eyebrows as it reduced Nasrallah’s life to that of a mere political figurehead while sidestepping the heinous crimes committed by Hezbollah under his leadership.

Source: Le Monde

The article painted Nasrallah as an influential political figure with a towering stature in Lebanon. However, it failed to grapple with the core truth that his leadership was responsible for fostering a terrorist group that aimed to sow division and destruction in the region.

Le Monde portrayed him as a larger-than-life political leader, which was not only misleading but immensely dangerous for society. By framing Nasrallah as a “charismatic leader” without delving deeply into the ramifications of his leadership, the publication effectively whitewashes his crimes. There was no explanation of how Hezbollah, under Nasrallah, caused thousands of deaths, particularly, through suicide bombings and missile attacks targeting civilians.

When media houses paint an aura of legitimacy around terrorists, projecting them as political actors, they contribute to the obfuscation of the real dangers these organisations pose.

AP News: A sanitised legacy

Even media agency AP News, which is generally known for its straightforward reporting, failed to deliver a truthful portrayal of the terroristic legacy of Nasrallah. The publication covered airstrikes involving Hezbollah and acknowledged the group’s military actions. However, the tone surrounding Nasrallah’s death leaned towards a neutral, almost detached perspective. It described him as an “astute strategist” and “fiery orator”.

Source: AP

The article published by AP News mentioned his political influence and Hezbollah’s role in Lebanon’s government. However, it failed to take a firm stance on the organisation’s violent actions and terrorist activities. AP News focused on Nasrallah’s political influence rather than the terror he endorsed, leaving readers with the impression that he was a complex political figure and not a terrorist leader.

The sanitised version of his legacy will serve to downplay the organisation’s role in violence, not only against Israel but also against moderate Lebanese who have suffered under Hezbollah’s domination. Many moderate groups celebrated his death, but at the same time, it was celebrated by radicals worldwide. Such reporting on Nasrallah’s life only fuels the problematic sentiments of the latter.

The danger of glorifying terrorists

The dangerous trend of romanticising figures like Hassan Nasrallah reflects a broader issue within media coverage of terrorist organisations and their leaders. Publications that choose to downplay or sanitise the terrorist activities of the likes of Nasrallah are complicit in distorting public perception of these individuals.

Nasrallah’s case is not the only one. The same was done with the legacy of Osama Bin Laden, Burhan Wani, Afzal Guru and many others. By portraying Nasrallah as a political leader or focusing on his charisma and influence, these media outlets became an obstruction between reality and a false narrative. Such reporting whitewashes the violence and suffering that terrorist leaders like him have caused. It not only dishonours the memory of those who died at Hezbollah’s hands but also emboldens other terrorist organisations, who may see that their leaders can be eulogised in Western media as “charismatic” figures rather than the violent criminals they are.

A call for honest reporting

It is the responsibility of the media to be careful when reporting on figures like Hassan Nasrallah. Any sort of glorification of these leaders not only projects the irresponsible behaviour of the authors of these articles but also poses a threat to the future. Such reporting shapes public opinion in ways that downplay the severity of terrorism. It inadvertently legitimises organisations that threaten global peace.

Journalists must tell the truth. In the case of Hassan Nasrallah, the truth is that he was not a figure of charisma or political acumen, but a man responsible for bloodshed and terror. His legacy is one of violence, hatred, and death. It is time for the media to report that truth without glossing over the reality of who Hassan Nasrallah truly was. The world does not need another glorified image of a terrorist; it needs an honest account of the devastation Hezbollah caused under his leadership.

Coldplay tickets ‘black marketing’ case: Mumbai Police sends 2nd summons to BookMyShow CEO; All you need to know

OpIndia Staff
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Coldplay tickets ‘black marketing’ case: Mumbai Police sends 2nd summons to BookMyShow CEO; All you need to know

On Monday, 30th September, the Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) issued summons to the CEO of Big Tree Entertainment Private Limited, Ashish Hemrajani, concerning the alleged black marketing of the tickets for the Coldplay concert. Notably, this is the second summons notice sent to Hemrajani in the issue as the person in question failed to appear before the authorities.

“Mumbai Police’s EOW sent a summons to CEO Ashish Hemrajani of Big Tree Entertainment Private Limited, the parent company of BookMyShow, and the company’s technical head yesterday. EOW had sent them summons earlier on September 27th but they didn’t appear before the agency. They have been asked to appear before the investigating officer today and record their statements. Advocate Amit Vyas had complained to EOW about the alleged black marketing of the Coldplay concert tickets,” the Mumbai Police was quoted as saying in the statement.

Ashish Hemrajani is the CEO of Big Tree Entertainment Private Limited which is the parent company of BookMyShow. As per the reports, the tickets for Coldplay’s ‘Music Of The Spheres World Tour 2025’ in India price are Rs 2500 but the resellers and the influencers are selling the same for as much as Rs 3 lac.

A spokesperson for BookMyShow responded to the charges, saying “With 13 million (1.3 crore) fans eager to get tickets and logged in, emotions ran high on September 22nd for Coldplay’s Music Of The Spheres World Tour 2025 in India.” The company also stated that they had taken steps to ensure fair ticket allocation, including limiting sales to four tickets per user and adding a third Mumbai concert owing to high demand. The representative also addressed the problem of unauthorized ticket-selling platforms.

“BookMyShow has no association with any such unauthorized ticket selling/reselling platforms including, but not limited to Viagogo and Ginsberg or third-party individuals, to resell Coldplay’s Music Of The Spheres World Tour 2025 in India,” the statement read.

The company representative also stated that due to extraordinary demand, a third Mumbai show was added. “We implemented a queueing system to manage the overwhelming demand and addressed issues, resulting in a brief delay but ensuring minimal disruption for genuine fans. Due to the unusual demand, a third Mumbai show was added shortly after, and it also had a tremendous response,” he added. 

Regarding black marketing, the representative claimed, “Scalping and black marketing of tickets is strictly condemned and punishable by law in India, and BookMyShow vehemently opposes this practice.” They stated that the corporation had filed a complaint with the police and was fully cooperating with the authorities in the investigation. Further, the spokesperson warned the fans and said that any ticket brought through unfair means would be at their own risk and advised that the fans shall buy tickets only by legal way.

The incident of alleged black marketing came to the fore when one Advocate Amit Vyas accused BookMyShow of fooling the public, especially Coldplay fans, and asked the police to file an FIR on fraud charges. The EOW recorded Vyas’ comments and identified other brokers who allegedly engaged in ticket scalping. Further investigations are underway, and additional summons are expected to be issued.

Who are Coldplay

Coldplay has been making news ever since the band announced their ‘Music of the Spheres’ World Tour, which includes India. On September 22nd, tickets for its show in Mumbai went on sale, and they sold out within a few hours. People in India are becoming increasingly interested in Coldplay as a result of the band’s tremendous popularity.

Coldplay is a British rock band made up of four members: Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, Will Champion, and Philip Harvey. The group was created in 1997 and was previously known as ‘Big Fat Noises and ‘Starfish’.

Coldplay’s lead guitarist is Jonny Buckland, while Chris Martin is the main vocalist and pianist. Guy Berryman and Will Champion are the bassist and drummer, respectively. The trio made their debut in 2000 with the album ‘Parachutes’ and soared to prominence with the album’s single ‘Yellow’.

Coldplay has a strong fan base in India, owing to the country’s massive English-speaking population. The band has repeatedly proclaimed their affection for India, and they even shot the music video for their song ‘Hymn Of The Weekend’ in Mumbai. The video showed Indian culture, including temples, priests, colorful cabs, Mumbai’s Maratha Mandir, rivers, the Holi festival, and much more. 

Coldplay ticket booking issue

Coldplay’s ticket prices in India ranged from Rs 2500 to Rs 35,000. BookMyShow tickets were reported sold out within a few minutes, and the website and app crashed due to overwhelming usage. Several netizens also alleged the tickets are being resold as high as Rs. 3 lakh. BookMyShow formally issued a warning to the public via social media, reminding them that ticket reselling is illegal in India.

“It has come to our attention that unauthorized platforms are listing tickets for Coldplay’s Music Of The Spheres World Tour 2025 in India, both before and after the official sale. These tickets are invalid. Ticket scalping is illegal in India and punishable by law. Please don’t fall prey to this because you will be buying fake tickets. Avoid scams! BookMyShow is the only official platform for ticket sales,” the warning read.

Their most popular songs include Yellow, Clocks, Fix You, Paradise, Viva La Vida, A Sky Full Of Stars, Hymn For The Weekend, Adventure Of A Lifetime, and Orphans, among others.

The Coldplay concert, which will take place from January 19 to 21, 2025, at DY Patil Stadium, is one of the most widely anticipated events. The event is slated for January 19-21st, 2025, at DY Patil Stadium.

Why did the US Ambassador have to visit Puri Jagannath temple from outside? The difference between Patitapavan Darshan and ‘Chaturdha Murti’ darshan

Sanghamitra
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Why did the US Ambassador have to visit Puri Jagannath temple from outside? The difference between Patitapavan Darshan and ‘Chaturdha Murti’ darshan

On September 28, US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti was on a visit to Odisha with his family. Garcetti, who often visits popular places in India and shares pictures, had posted on X about his visit to the Puri Jagannath temple and witnessing the famous Dhwaja Parivartan (flag-changing ritual).

Garcetti shared that during the visit to the temple, he witnessed the nightly flag changing ritual and walked the streets of Puri. Media channels had shared the images of Garcetti and his wife visiting the Parikrama prakalpa (Jagannath Temple corridor project) which surrounds the temple. Garcetti was also seen posing for pictures before the Singha Dwara (Lion Gate).

Amid all these, there was some noise on social media about the US Ambassador’s visit to the temple which has a strict rule on entry. While many devotees are aware that non-Hindus are not allowed inside the Puri Jagannath temple, some on social media raised questions on how a non-Hindu was allowed to enter the temple.

It is to be noted here that Eric Garcetti did not actually ‘enter’ the Puri Jagannath temple. The temple management follows a very strict entry policy that bars all non-Hindus. Even the non-Indian ISKCON devotees, who are not India-born Hindus but foreigners who embrace the practices and rituals of Hinduism, worshipping Hindu Gods, are not allowed entry to the temple.

News of Garcetti’s visit to Puri in Odia media

Odia newspapers have covered Garetti’s itinerary on September 28. Garcetti had arrived at Puri’s Swosti Hotel at 11.30 am. He then visited the famous blue flag beach for a short walk at 12 pm. He then arrived in the evening near the temple along with his wife and took a ‘Darshan’ of ‘Patitapavana’, the grand flag of the Jagannath temple.

It is notable here that every evening, the Sevayats of Puri Jagannath temple carry out the ancient ritual of changing the flag atop the temple. The Dhwaja Parivartan process is a difficult ritual that involves a young sevayat expertly climbing on the 1000-year-old stone temple, with the new flag tied to his body. He then ties the new flag and brings the old flag down. Hundreds of devotees gather outside the main temple premises to witness the ancient ritual.

It was that ritual that Garcetti witnessed, and posted about. The US Ambassador did not ‘enter’ the main temple to take a Darshan of the ‘Chaturdha Murti’, but he took a Darshan of Patitapavan, the grand flag, which is a representation of Lord Jagannath himself.

The Darshan of ‘Chaturdha Murti’ means entering the inner structure of the main temple, and having the Darshan of the grand idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and Sudarshana. People who cannot enter the temple get the blessing of having the Darshan of the Chaturdha Murti only during the Ratha Yatra and Snana Purnima, when the deities step out of the temple. There is no entry barrier to the Grand Road for any religion or nationality during Ratha Yatra.

Significance of the Patitapavan Dhwaja

The Patitapavan Dhwaja is no less significant for the Odia devotees. Since the temple is a tall structure, it is visible from several kilometers away in the skyline of Puri. Odias living in Puri, and all surrounding villages, start their day by bowing down to this very flag after their morning bath. During the daily Dhwaja Parivartan rituals, devotees line up to offer a small flag of their own, to be tied up along with Patitapavan flag. When the sevayat climbs down daily after changing the flag, devotees seek fragments of the old flag, to keep in their homes as a sacred relic of Lord Jagannath and worship it.

The controversy over banning entry of non-Hindus

For hundreds of years, the Puri Jagannath temple has maintained a strict rule on granting entry. Only traditional Hindus are allowed. Neo-converts, the ISKCON devotees who are from foreign nations and not born in traditional Hindu families, and even some ‘reformists’ who have renounced faith in Hinduism, despite being born as Hindus, were historically denied entry.

Some of the most famous personalities throughout history, who were denied entry to the Jagannath temple in Puri include Sant Kabir, BR Ambedkar, Lord Curzon the then Viceroy of India, former queen of Thailand Mahachakri Siridharan, and former PM Indira Gandhi, because she was married to a Parsi.

One of the rare exceptions is an incident when Shri Dayamata, an American woman who succeeded Shri Paramahansa Yogananda to lead his institutions, was allowed to enter. The Mukti Mandap, the committee of priests that decides the religious affairs of the temple, allowed entry to her personally accompanied by the Gajapati Maharaja himself in 1959.

In 2018, the management of the Jagannath Temple was asked by the Supreme Court to consider allowing non-Hindus entry, with the caveat that they adhere to a dress code or promise to uphold the traditions of the temple.

However, the Gajapati Maharaj, the chief servitor of Lord Jagannath, and the temple priests said a firm ‘No’ to the Supreme Court’s suggestion. Gajapati Maharaj Dibya Singha Deva said, “The sibling deities Lord Jagannath, Lord Balaram, and Devi Subhadra bless all their devotees regardless of their religion during the annual Rath Yatra, adding lakhs of devotees also get the Darshan of the deities during  ‘Snan Purnima’ (bathing festival)”.

He added, “Let me say for the sake of argument that if the Shankaracharya implies there is no issue with allowing entry of people of all faith into the temple, then also the government has to think carefully while keeping the temple’s security in mind.”

“When the world is under the threat of terrorism, can the government provide total security to Temple?”, he asked.

Multiple invasions by Muslims to destroy the Puri Jagannath temple

The Puri Jagannath temple is one of the most sacred pillars of faith for Hindus, and has been so for hundreds of years. It is one of the 4 sacred Dhams that a Hindu is required to travel to, to complete their pilgrimage. For that reason, the temple has been attacked by Islamic invaders multiple times during their conquests.

Illias Shah, the Sultan of Bengal, launched the first Muslim invasion of the Jagannath temple in 1340. Around 1360, Firoz Shah Tughlaq destroyed the Jagannath temple and desecrated the idols. In 1509, Ismail Ghazi, the commander of Bengal’s Sultan Husain Shah seized Puri and demolished the idols in the Jagannath Temple. Although Hindu King Prataprudradev chased out Ismail Ghazi, the temple witnessed multiple invasions even after this. Amir Fateh Khan conducted the fifteenth invasion in 1647. It was only after the Marathas made their way into Odisha that the constant invasions of the Jagannath temple stopped. 

During the repeated invasions and pillages, the temple’s idols were moved and hidden at distant places. The repeated attacks and destruction of the temple have led the people of Odisha to protect their temple and restrict entry only to the Hindus. 

Clear signboards are placed outside the temple premises, telling visitors that only Hindus are allowed to enter.

The restriction is followed so strictly that even a Gajapati King himself was not allowed to enter the temple since he was married to a Mughal soldier’s daughter. 

As per Madala Panji, the palm leaf chronicles of the Jagannath temple, one of the Gajapati King Ramachandra Deb was denied entry into the Shri Mandir despite being the first servitor of Lord Jagannath as he was married to Rejiya, who was a Mughal soldier’s daughter. 

In 1984 When Indira Gandhi was prime minister, priests objected because she was married to a non-Hindu, consequently, she had darshan from the Raghunandan Library. Even Vinoba Bhave and Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi were refused entry into the temple in 1934 when they tried to do so while traveling with foreigners and non-Hindu followers.

The documents of the Temple note that when Guru Nanak visited Puri in 1508 AD with a non-Hindu associate, he was denied entry at first by the sevayats. But Lord Jagannath himself intervened. He appeared in the dream of Gajapati Maharaja and ordered him to allow entry to Guru Nanak, because he was Lord Jagannth’s beloved devotee.

Karnataka: Old video of donation theft at Bengaluru temple goes viral, FIR filed, accused barred from entering the Hindu place of worship

OpIndia Staff
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Karnataka: Old video of donation theft at Bengaluru temple goes viral, FIR filed, accused barred from entering the Hindu place of worship

In a shocking incident, a video showing donation theft at the Gaali Anjaneya Swamy Temple in Bengaluru’s Byatarayanapura has gone viral on social media. The viral video shows two people tallying the temple’s donations, with one surreptitiously passing the other a bundle of cash.

An X user whose post went viral said: “This is why Government should handover the administrative duties to the temples.. Here in Gaali Anjaneya Swamy Temple, Bengaluru, administration staff is pocketing money while it’s counted.. and after few seconds picked up another bundle and handing it over to another guy.. Shame.”

In another video, the same person is seen stealing more cash and handing it over to someone who appears to be a priest based on his clothes. The incident has sparked outrage on social media.

Amidst the outrage, the temple’s head priest, Ramachandra told the media that the incident in question occurred more than a year ago. The temple management acted quickly at the time.

Consequently, two executive committee members were suspended for their involvement in the fund embezzlement, and two cooks were found to have been involved in the plot and barred from returning to the temple. 

Meanwhile, an IndiaToday report cited local authorities saying that an FIR was filed in this incident in June this year based on the viral video in question. It added that an investigation is underway to identify and arrest the accused.

J&K witnesses rise of radical Islam, sitting National Conference MP hails dead Hezbollah terrorist as ‘martyr’, ‘spirit of resistance’ for ummah

OpIndia Staff
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J&K witnesses rise of radical Islam, sitting National Conference MP hails dead Hezbollah terrorist as ‘martyr’, ‘spirit of resistance’ for ummah

On Friday (28th September), a prominent National Conference (NC) MP, Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, stirred the hornet’s nest by openly expressing support for slain Hezbollah terrorist Hassan Nasrallah.

While speaking to the media, Ruhullah stated, “A great martyrdom has taken place. He was the strength of the Muslim ummah. He was fighting against Israeli oppression. He was one of the great leaders.”

“Just like Ismail Haniyeh, Hassan Nasrallah was a great leader and a spirit of resistance. He has been martyred today. We have suffered a huge loss. The Muslim ummah is grieving his death,” the sitting NC Parliamentarian endorsed two terrorists at the same time.

“This is why I ended my election campaign. I pray to Allah for the martyrs of Karbala and Badr, to bless the ummah and provide strength to the people of Palestine,” he further added.

During the interview, Aga Ruhullah Mehdi emphasised, “The cause of Palestine is the cause of Muslim Ummah. The Palestinian cause is the cause of Prophet Mohammade’s religion. It is the school of martyrdom.”

He announced that the death of the Hezbollah chief would further bolster attacks on Israel. “You will see an improvement in the resistance. Oppressed Palestinians will be liberated soon,” Ruhullah shared his fantasies.

“Calling off campaign,” he had tweeted soon after the death of Hassan Nasrallah.

Ruhullah is a Member of the Parliament from the Srinagar constituency and has served as a MLA from the Budgam constituency 3 times.

For the unversed, Hezbollah came into existence in the aftermath of the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon. Hezbollah was founded by Shia clerics of Lebanon with the backing of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Coincidentally, Ruhullah happens to be a Shia cleric.

Protest march for dead terrorist, Opposition PDP joins solidarity campaign

A protest march was organised in Jammu and Kashmir following the killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah by Israeli Defence Forces on Friday (28th September).

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets in Kashmir holding portraits of Nasrallah and raising slogans against Israel. Not just men, but a large number of women also participated in the protests, chanting slogans in support of Hezbollah.

Meanwhile, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti also called off her political campaign scheduled for Sunday in “solidarity” with ‘martyrs’ of Lebanon and Gaza.

“Cancelling my campaign tomorrow in solidarity with the martyrs of Lebanon & Gaza, especially Hassan Nasarullah. We stand with the people of Palestine & Lebanon in this hour of immense grief & exemplary resistance,” she tweeted.

Nepal disaster: Death toll touches 170 as heavy rain and floods trigger multiple landslides

ANI
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Nepal disaster: Death toll touches 170 as heavy rain and floods trigger multiple landslides

The death toll in Nepal has risen to 170 after torrential rain combined with a devastating series of floods, and landslides pounded the Himalayan nation on Saturday.

The search and rescue operations are underway across the nation.

The trails of damage are visible within a few meters, after crossing the major entry point, the Thankot Check Post, from where small landslides, uprooted trees and debris are clearly visible to explain the situation.

The 6.8-kilometre road section falling on the Tribhuvan Highway has been blocked due to a mudslide that has buried multiple vehicles, whose number is yet to be ascertained and bodies being taken out from the debris.

“We are suspecting four buses were buried in the debris, three already are visible and we are excavating another one as well,” Gautam KC, Chief of the Dhading District Police, told ANI.

Excavators are working turn by turn searching for the remains of buses as they were buried by a mudslide that ran down the hill, sweeping a few passenger buses in pitch dark. The rescuers and searchers are only able to find the dead bodies buried beneath the debris, which are being transported to the capital Kathmandu for autopsy and handover to the families.

“A joint team from Kathmandu and Dhading Police is conducting the search and excavation of the dead bodies from the debris. All the security agencies–the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, Nepal Police are working together. We retrieved 14 dead bodies yesterday (September 28) and till afternoon today (September 29), we have retrieved 13 more bodies; we are still continuing the search operation and we are working on it in coordination with the authorities and families of those riding on the buses from various districts by establishing a desk here at the site. Families and relatives who are arriving are taking part in the identification process,” police official KC told ANI.

The rescue team till late evening today retrieved a total of 35 bodies, with more to be recovered from the mud. As the search operation continues, thousands of vehicles have been left stranded along the highway watching the search operation with fear of traveling by road in Nepal.

Currently, over a hundred security personnel are working in the disaster site round the clock, “We have a manpower of about one hundred who are involved in the search operation,” Police Chief KC added.

The rescuers on Saturday evening, after the rain had receded, retrieved 14 bodies from a winger with registration number LU 1 KHA 4578 that was en route to Kathmandu from Butwal. On Sunday, 21 more bodies were recovered from the disaster site from two additional vehicles.

The security personnel had retrieved 16 bodies from a microbus that departed from Chitwan and 5 bodies from a bus that had started off its journey from Gorkha District.

The vehicular movement across Nepal through the major highways has been stalled since early Saturday morning, forcing goods carrying vehicles to park themselves on the roadside.

Home to the world’s nine of the 10 highest peaks in the world, Nepal this year already had estimated more rain than average and 1.8 million people will be affected. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) also estimated 412 thousand households to be affected by monsoon-related disasters.

The monsoon season in the Himalayan nation generally begins on June 13. The exit, which was usually on September 23, has been extended to late October. This year, the clouds from the south entered Nepal from the western region on June 10, three days ahead of the usual onset date. Last year, the weather phenomenon started on June 14, a day after the normal onset day.

The monsoon period, which delivers around 80 per cent of the country’s total annual rainfall, generally lasts 105 days. But, in recent years, it has been taking more time to withdraw.

Nepal has already recorded above-average rainfall this season. According to the Met Office data, the country received 1,586.3 millimetres of rainfall as of Friday morning since the monsoon entered on June 10, 107.2 per cent -7.2 per cent above the average monsoon rainfall.

Normally, the country receives an average of 1,472 mm of rainfall in the four months: June, July, August, and September. Last year the country witnessed only 1,303 mm of rainfall in the season, 88.5 per cent of the average.


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

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