Home Blog Page 728

Karnataka HC quashes case against NCPCR chief, slams complainant Ashraf Khan for ‘deliberate mischief’ to disturb peace. Read scathing observations by court

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Karnataka HC quashes case against NCPCR chief, slams complainant Ashraf Khan for ‘deliberate mischief’ to disturb peace. Read scathing observations by court

On 18 September 2024, the Karnataka High Court quashed criminal proceedings initiated against Priyank Kanoongo, chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) for offences including trespass and acts intended to outrage religious feelings. The matter pertained to his post over Darul Uloom Sayideeya Yatheemkhana in Bengaluru, an unregistered orphanage housing 200 children and functioning in violation of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.

Kanoongo had paid a surprise visit to the facility on 19th November of last year. He had also sent a communication note to the Chief Secretary to ensure registration of a First Information Report (FIR) and sought an action taken report. Ashraf Khan, who ran the aforementioned orphanage, complained to the Devarajeevanahalli police in response to his statement on X (formerly Twitter). A case was registered under Indian Penal Code sections 447, 448 (for trespass) and 295A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs).

The complaint which was filed on 21 November 2023 claimed that Kanoongo had said, “Taliban-like terrorist activities are taking place in madarasa.” Justice M. Nagaprasanna passed the order while allowing the petition filed by Kanoongo, questioning the complaint registered by Ashraf Khan with the authorities. “What the complainant would seek to project is that the petitioner on his Twitter had uploaded a message commenting on the yateemkhana as ‘Taliban like terrorist activities taking place in madrasa.’ These sentences are not found in the tweet,” the high court emphasised.

It pointed out, “What the petitioner has tweeted is that they are the children who are living a medieval Taliban life. This can at best be a metaphor, used by the petitioner, to describe the condition as to how they were living. This has never been tweeted that Taliban-like terrorist activities taking place in madrasa. It is not a madrasa, it is an orphanage. The complainant has deliberately added these words to create animosity, in place of harmony. The allegation is that the statement of the petitioner has disturbed the peace and tranquillity, it is the other way around. The addition in the complaint is a clear mischief, which is likely to disturb the peace and tranquillity and not by the statements made by the petitioner.”

Such complaints if permitted to be continued, no public servant/s can be safe in the performance of their official duty: High Court

The complainant’s attorney acknowledged that there was no mention of “Taliban-like terrorist activities taking place in madrasa” in response to a pointed question from the court which further pronounced, “The act of the complainant is unpardonable but this court is holding its hands in not directing any coercive action against the complainant for the aforesaid act while observing that the officers should also encourage restraint as they are performing duties under the statute.”

It declared, “Therefore, the offence under Section 295A of the IPC cannot be laid as it is the product of falsehood and mischief on the part of the complainant.” The court explored the meaning of the statute and delved into previous judgements. It then added, “In the light of the fact that none of the ingredients of Section 295A of the IPC is made out, even to its remotest sense, the offence under Section 295A of the IPC is loosely laid against the petitioner.”

The court also brought up other sections invoked against Kanoongo and reprimanded, “The petitioner was performing his duties under the statute and in the discharge of his official duty, visits the yateemkhana/orphanage, finds illegalities and reports illegalities. The action of the public servants performing their duties under the statute and inspecting any premises can by no stretch of the imagination be a criminal trespass or house trespass by those public servants performing their public duties unless there are glaring facts otherwise present. In the case at hand does not project anything glaring except the mischief of the complainant.”

It also mentioned, “The subject complaint is deliberately registered by the complainant as a counterblast to the complaint made by the petitioner to the Chief Secretary of the Government of Karnataka and the Deputy Commissioner, exposing the manner of children living in the yatheemkhana by the petitioner. Such complaints if permitted to be continued, no public servant/s can be safe in the performance of their official duty. Therefore, finding no ingredients of the offences alleged against the petitioner, permitting further proceedings to continue on the face of it, would become an abuse of the process of the law and putting a premium on the mischief played by the complainant.”

The high court refers to the pitiful condition of the orphanage

Kanoongo sent a report to the Deputy Commissioner and other officers requesting corrective action, as well as an account to the Chief Secretary of the Karnataka government following the inspection. He observed several irregularities in the management of the orphanage while communicating with the officers. The court stated that the petitioner intended to inspect juvenile or custodial homes, as well as any other place of residence or institution meant for children, as part of the official tour program, in the exercise of the powers granted under Section 13 of the Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005.

“Section 13 of the CPCR (Commissions for Protection of Child Rights) Act thus empowered the petitioner to enter into any home that houses children in whatever name they were existing. The petitioner comes to Bangalore, seeks to conduct an inspection of the orphanage, yateemkhana run by the complainant, finds several illegalities and communicates those illegalities to the Chief Secretary of the Government of Karnataka,” the court asserted after looking into its definition.

It added, “The petitioner also communicates the same to the Deputy Commissioner, Bangalore Urban District under whose precincts the orphanage was functioning and seeks action to be taken against the said orphanage.” The court stated that Kanoongo, who was on an official visit, had inspected three orphanages in the city and found that the present orphanage was running illegally without registration and lacked infrastructure for 200 children.

It informed, “The broad illegalities that the petitioner found in the yateemkhana were that the orphanage was not fulfilling the infrastructural requirement, there were 5 rooms approximately 100 sq. ft. each and about 150 children were staying in those rooms, 16 children slept on 4 bunk beds and 150 children were made to sleep in two big halls used for making prayers. None of the children were sent to school, no recreational facilities were available in the orphanage and those conditions violated the provisions of the Act.” Kanoongo asked the state to make sure that the complaint is officially recorded as having committed offences that fall under Sections 34, 42, and 75 of the Act.

The high court concluded, “If the original complaint in Kannada, the tweet in Hindi and the English translation and the judgment rendered by the apex court is considered, it would lead to an unmistakable inference that this would become a fit case where proceedings against the petitioner will have to be quashed by the exercise of jurisdiction under Section 482 of the CrPC (Code of Criminal Procedure) failing which, it will not only fall foul of the judgment of the apex court but result in patent injustice.”

What did Priyank Kanoongo post?

In a tweet on 20th November, Priyank Kanoongo informed, “A surprise inspection was conducted of an unregistered orphanage running illegally by the name of Darul Uloom Sayyediya Yatim Khana in Bengaluru, Karnataka, in which many irregularities were found. Around 200 orphan children are kept here. 8 children are kept in a 100 square feet room, 40 children live in 5 such rooms and 16 children live in the corridor. The remaining 150 children sleep at night in two separate halls to offer prayers in the mosque. All 200 children study Islamic religious education in the madrasa in these prayer halls throughout the day. No children are sent to school.”

The tweet further added, “There is no play material, the kids don’t even watch TV, and the little kids are very innocent and are so scared that on seeing the maulana coming all of them become still and close their eyes, they wake up at 3:30 in the morning and start studying in the madrasa and sleep in the afternoon, then there is study from evening till night, there are short breaks for namaz during the day. There is no other place for eating, rest, entertainment etc. One has to stay in the mosque only. It has come to light that this orphanage, which has Waqf property worth crores, has a separate building in which a school is running but these children are not allowed to go there. These children are living a medieval Talibani life, this life is not written for them in the Constitution. This is the negligence of the Karnataka government, a violation of the Constitution. NCPCR is taking cognizance, notice is being issued to the Chief Secretary of the state.”

“Bharat Mata ki Jai slogan is not hate speech”: Karnataka HC quashes FIR against 5 men who raised the slogan to celebrate PM Modi’s swearing-in ceremony

OpIndia Staff
-
0
“Bharat Mata ki Jai slogan is not hate speech”: Karnataka HC quashes FIR against 5 men who raised the slogan to celebrate PM Modi’s swearing-in ceremony

In a recent ruling, the Karnataka High Court said that chanting Bharat Mata ki Jai slogans can never foment discord rather the slogan would only lead to harmony in the country. The single judge bench of Justice K Nagaprasanna made this observation while accepting the plea moved by five Hindu men identified as Suresh, Vinay, Ranjan, Dhananjay and Subhas seeking the quashing of FIR filed against them by Karnataka Police accusing them of allegedly promoting communal enmity and disrupting harmony among different religious groups.

The petitioners, who are residents of the Ulal taluka stated that on the 9th of June, as they returned from celebrating Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s oath ceremony, they were attacked by 25 people. The petitioners claimed that the attackers asked them about how they could raise “slogans of Bharath Matha Ki Jai”; one of the 25 individuals allegedly stabbed two of the petitioners. The petitioners informed the court that the same night they filed a complaint against the attackers, an FIR was registered against the petitioners under several provisions of the IPC, including Section 153A. Notably, Section 153A penalises promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race and place of birth. This FIR was lodged on the complaint of a Muslim man who accused the petitioners of ‘threatening’ him.

While quashing the FIR on the 20th of September, the High Court said: “In the light of the afore-narrated facts and the judgments extracted supra, permitting even investigation into the case at hand would be prima facie permitting investigation into the sloganeering of Bharath Matha Ki Jai inter alia, which can by no stretch of imagination be promoting disharmony or enmity amongst religions.”

During the hearing,  Justice Nagaprasanna deemed the FIR filed against the petitioners as a counterblast to the complaint filed by them. Justice Nagaprasanna went on to say that the case did not meet any of the Section 153A provisions.

Excerpt from the relevant court order

“Section 153A makes it an offence if enmity is promoted between different groups of religion. The present case is a classic illustration of misuse of Section 153A of the IPC. It is a case of counterblast to a complaint registered by these petitioners. The defence is that the petitioners were shouting Bharath Matha Ki Jai and praising the Prime Minister of the nation. The allegation by the complainant does not even refer to any of those things,” the High Court said.

“To protect the skin of the complainant and others, the skin of the petitioners is sought to be ripped off. It does not meet even a single ingredient of Section 153A of the IPC. A pure case of counterblast is sought to be projected as a crime under Section 153A of the IPC. The ingredients that are necessary to bring home the complaint under Section 153A need not detain this Court for long or delve deep into the matter,” Justice Nagaprasanna continued.

The first 100 days of the Modi government 3.0 promises a path of inclusive growth, committed to the goal of long-term reforms and nation-building

Tulla Veerender Goud
-
0
The first 100 days of the Modi government 3.0 promises a path of inclusive growth, committed to the goal of long-term reforms and nation-building

In 1999, when the Congress unjustly toppled the Vajpayee led BJP government in 13 months, Atal Bihari Vajpayee delivered a memorable and dignified speech in the Parliament. He said –

““Sarkarein banti bigadti rahengi, lekin yeh desh rehna chahiye, iska loktantra amar rehna chahiye” (Governments will come and go, but this country must remain, and its democracy must be eternal).”

Years later, the democracy has spoken through the people of India. The people of this country demonstrated their faith and elected Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a third consecutive term. As Shri Amit Shah released the Report Card of 100 days of the Modi government, his assurance of victory of the NDA government in 2029 under the leadership of Narendra Modi sets the path for PM Modi to become the only Prime Minister with four consecutive terms, surpassing Nehru.

The people’s trust in Narendra Modi reflects not just their faith in him, but in the vision of a stronger, more prosperous India—one that continues to stand tall, no matter the challenges. Under the visionary leadership of Narendra Modi, Nation stands united in her Viksit Bharat Sankalp and the 100 days of NDA government are a testament of that. A question that one might ask is – What is it that makes people of India repose their faith in the Modi government?

It is the leadership of a person born in poor family, who dedicated his entire life to the welfare and development of poor– first as a swamsevak, then as a Chief Minister and then as the Prime Minister of the country. The empathy and understanding of the problems coupled with conviction to uplift the poor has been the inspiration of the governance model.

In the last 100 days, the Modi government has demonstrated a strong commitment to infrastructure and development, with over ₹3 lakh crore worth of projects cleared, including the landmark Vadhavan Port in Maharashtra. At the same time, farmers have been given top priority through initiatives such as the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi and an increase in MSP. The tribal communities have also been a focus, with special campaigns launched under the PM Janman Yojana to enhance their health and well-being.

On the industrial front, reforms have been enacted to improve the ease of doing business for MSMEs, showcasing the government’s commitment to equitable growth and inclusivity. Additionally, the Ayushman Bharat scheme with inclusion of all senior citizens continues to provide critical healthcare coverage, enhancing the well-being of countless families. This comprehensive approach underscores the principle of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas”—ensuring that every stakeholder is given due attention and opportunity.

In order to provide impetus to infrastructure, approval was granted for the construction of 62,500 km of roads and bridges to connect 25,000 unconnected villages with central assistance of Rs. 49,000 Crore. Further, to nudge India’s growth and development, reforms such as abolishing of angel tax and corporate tax along with Rs. 1000 crore venture capital fund for space sector has been envisioned.

In just 100 days, vision for Telangana has sparked remarkable progress as well. The launch of Vande Bharat Express trains connecting Hyderabad to Nagpur boosts regional connectivity, while the development of Zaheerabad as a New Industrial Smart City promises significant economic growth. A new railway line from Bhadrachalam to Malkangiri, costing Rs. 4109 crore, will further enhance transportation infrastructure. The transfer of defence lands to Telangana further supports local development. These achievements underscore the commitment to transforming Telangana and driving its future success.

Beyond these measurable achievements, the ideological progress of the nation also contributes to the deepening faith of the Indian people in the Modi government. The government’s efforts to shed India’s colonial past by repealing outdated criminal laws—replacing them with the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita, Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bhartiya Sakshya Adhiniyam—reflect the spirit of a New India. This move embodies a nation ready to embrace justice, fairness, and modern governance suited to Indian context.

Furthermore, the recognition of Samvidhan Hatya Diwas (Day of Constitutional Murder) serves as a powerful acknowledgment of past undemocratic practices, setting the record straight for future generations. With the release of a White Paper on the Indian Economy, the government is ensuring transparency, providing citizens with a clear picture of the economic conditions before and after 2014, and showcasing the incredible progress made. As Home Minister Amit Shah rightly pointed out – it is for the first time, there is an atmosphere for political stability, communal peace and continuity of policies in the country.

India is also asserting her place in the global arena by becoming a leading voice in crucial matters of geopolitics, such as – Russia-Ukraine conflict, partnerships on semi-conductor supply chains, voice at G7 and the historic G20 summit. Thus, as India strengthens itself internally, it also is marking its place as ‘vishwa-guru’ in the global diplomacy.

BJP under the leadership of Narendra Modi brings this confidence in the minds of citizens of the stability New India needs to flourish and prosper instead of narrow political interests, U-turns and appeasements. Unlike other governments, wherein first few months were only marked with celebrations, the commitment to the service of nation is marked by immediately setting the wheel of governance in motion soon after the oath-taking.

Thus, unlike the opposition coalitions mired with policy paralysis, the first 100 days of the Modi government promises a path of inclusive growth, staying committed to the goal of long-term reforms and nation-building.

MP: VHP and Bajrang Dal protest against construction of illegal mosque on Gayatri Mandir land in Jabalpur

OpIndia Staff
-
0
MP: VHP and Bajrang Dal protest against construction of illegal mosque on Gayatri Mandir land in Jabalpur

On Thursday (26th September), hundreds of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal activists protested in Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur demanding the demolition of an illegal mosque. The Hindu activists contended that the mosque had been constructed illegally.

The incident unfolded in the Madhai region of the Ranjhi area of Jabalpur. The Hindu rights organisations alleged that the mosque question was built over land allotted for a Hindu temple. Amidst the protests by VHP and Bajrang Dal, the road connecting the mosque was closed and the surrounding area was cordoned off by the police.

The Hindu activists have alleged that the mosque was erected on Gayatri Mandir land. They further stated that people from various parts of the city who belong to the Muslim community have been secretly meeting at the mosque in significant numbers and that the government had given the mosque electricity and water connections. The protestors provided documents and questioned the mosque’s construction on Gayatri Mandir’s land.

The Hindu activists and the police discussed the matter and the police assured that a fresh investigation into the mosque’s construction and a review of documents will be conducted. The Hindu groups gave a 10-day ultimatum to the administration and said that if the administration fails to demolish the alleged illegal mosque, they would take the matter into their own hands. 

Notably, VHP sent a memorandum to the collectorate on 12th June 2021, claiming the construction was illegal. After no action was taken, they planned a demonstration on 27th July 2021, leading to the then-SDM temporarily halting the mosque’s construction. The VHP alleges that despite the restriction, people continue to visit the site secretly.

On the 21st of March 2023, the VHP staged a third protest before the Ranjhi SDM office to reiterate their call for the mosque’s destruction. The VHP raised concerns over the presence of Rohingyas, however, the authorities did not take any action. 

Hamas claims ‘Israel is Waqf property’: How the politics of Islamic dominance uses the idea of Waqf as a tool in India too

Shraddha Pandey
-
0
Hamas claims ‘Israel is Waqf property’: How the politics of Islamic dominance uses the idea of Waqf as a tool in India too

“This is a Waqf world and we all are living in it”. With the scale at which Islamists are claiming small plots to vast swathes of land to an entire country as Waqf property, the day is not far when the Islamists will declare the whole planet Earth as Waqf property. Islamists use myriad tactics to assert the supremacy of Islam, be it terrorism, brainwashing and conversion, or playing the Islamophobia card when confronted to oust non-Muslims from their houses by randomly claiming ownership in the name of Waqf. Waqf has proven to be one of the most lucrative methods to spread the dominance of Islam.

It is the very desire to establish Islamic supremacy across the world that numerous Islamist groups, both armed and unarmed, are engaged in conflict with forces that refuse to cede their land, religion and culture to the Islamists. One such force is Israel, the West Asian country that has long been thwarting the violent designs of Palestinian Islamic terror group Hamas to take over Israel in the garb of the farcical ‘resistance’ to ‘free Palestine’. While the Hamas attack on Israel on 7th October 2023, snowballed into a full-fledged war as Israel resolved to annihilate Hamas, the Islamic terror group has used Waqf as an instrument to assert its exclusive claim over Israel. Yes, Hamas has claimed that this entire country is Waqf property.

Before delving into the 1988 Hamas Charter [also called Hamas Covenant], it is essential to understand what is Waqf. The literal meaning of Waqf is detention, confinement, and prohibition. According to Islam, the property marked as Waqf is now available only for (Islamic) religious or charitable purposes, with any other use or sale prohibited. According to Sharia law, once a Waqf is established and property is dedicated to it, it becomes Waqf property forever.

Hamas Charter and the ‘Waqf’ of Israel

The Hamas Charter, adopted in 1988, outlines Hamas’s ideological standpoint regarding Israel, Palestine, and the larger conflict between Jews and Muslims. One of the key assertions in the charter is that all of Israel, from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, is considered Waqf land that belongs exclusively to Muslims. This argument is based on the concept that once a land has been claimed by Islam, it will never return to non-Muslim control. Thus, Hamas considers all of Israel to be ‘illegitimately occupied’ by the Jews and is hell-bent on bringing it under Islamic autonomy.

One of the most common phrases used by Islamists and their non-Muslim cheerleaders [read left-liberal, DEI enthusiasts] to garner support and sympathy for Hamas and Palestine is “You don’t have to be a Muslim to stand with Palestine”. This appeal has proven to lure even those like the LGBTQ+ community members, and non-Muslim university students, who are despised by Islamists to extend their support to Hamas. However, the Islamic terrorist group Hamas has clearly stated in its charter that the Palestinian movement aims to establish the supremacy of Allah over “every inch of Palestine”.

Article 6 of the Hamas Charter says: “The Islamic Resistance Movement is a distinguished Palestinian movement, whose allegiance is to Allah, and whose way of life is Islam. It strives to raise the banner of Allah over every inch of Palestine.”

The Hamas Charter has declared Israel as Islamic Waqf hallowed for the coming Muslim generations until the Yawm ad-Din or Judgment Day.

“The land of Palestine is an Islamic Waqf [Holy Possession] consecrated for future Moslem generations until Judgment Day. No one can renounce it or any part, or abandon it or any part of it,” Article 11 of the Hamas Charter reads.

The very reason why all the efforts by Israel to reach a peaceful solution to the Israel-Palestine dispute have gone in vain can be understood from Article 13 of the Hamas Charter which outrightly dismisses even any possibility of a peaceful resolution of the dispute with Israel as a “waste of time” since “Jews are infidels and only Jihad is the solution.”

Notably, the Israel-Palestine-Hamas conflict stems from Israel’s independence in 1948 and the succeeding Arab-Israeli wars. But Hamas’ unwillingness to recognise Israel’s right to exist, as well as its desire for its annihilation, as written in the Hamas Charter, leaves no room for any peace talks. Israel’s military retaliation to Hamas rocket launches and invasions is part of its overall self-defence plan. However, Hamas continues to deploy violent tactics, in addition to using civilians as human shields in Gaza.

“[Peace] initiatives, and so-called peaceful solutions and international conferences are in contradiction to the principles of the Islamic Resistance Movement… Those conferences are no more than a means to appoint the infidels as arbitrators in the lands of Islam… There is no solution for the Palestinian problem except by Jihad. Initiatives, proposals, and international conferences are but a waste of time, an exercise in futility,” Article 13 of the Hamas Charter states.

Hamas’s call to Jihad and annihilation of Jews

Hamas also called for the slaughtering of Jews and asserted that the “Judgment Day” would not come until the Muslims fight and kill the Jews. To back its call to violence, Hamas cites references to the Islamic text.

“The Day of Judgment will not come about until Moslems fight Jews and kill them. Then, the Jews will hide behind rocks and trees, and the rocks and trees will cry out: ‘O Moslem, there is a Jew hiding behind me, come and kill him,” Article 7 of the Hamas Charter reads.

Notably, the Islamic verse mentioned in Hamas Charter’s Article 7 is taken from Sahih Al Bukhari (a collection of Hadith and book of Sunnah) which reads: “The hour will not come until the Muslims fight the Jews and the Muslims kill them, until the Jew hides behind the stones and trees and the stones or trees say, ‘O Muslim, O servant of Allah, this is a Jew behind me, come and kill him.”

Source: Sunnah.com

The Hamas Charter also portrays Jews as deserving only humiliation and a miserable existence. According to the charter, Jews are worthy of a life of misery and dishonour since they “displeased Allah, rejected the Quran and killed the prophets.” The text also contains anti-Semitic stereotypes based on The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, as referenced in Article 32, about Jewish dominance over the media, film industry, and education. The lies are regularly repeated to portray Jews as responsible for the French and Russian revolutions, as well as all world and local wars: “No war takes place anywhere without the Jews’ being behind it,” Article 22 states.

Israel to India: Waqf as an effective tool of Islamists to suppress its ‘infidel’ enemies

Incidentally, the menace of Waqf is nowhere near as rampant as it is in India. Waqf has a long history in India, dating back to the early days of the Delhi Sultanate when Sultan Muizuddin Sam Ghaor granted two villages to the Multan Jama Masjid and delegated management to Shaikhul Islam. As the Delhi Sultanate and the following Islamic dynasties thrived in India, the number of Waqf properties soared. While Islamic and Muslim-dominating nations like Turkey, Indonesia, Syria, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia have adopted a centralised approach in Waqf management to ensure transparency, in India, the powers of the Waqf Board have largely been unchecked. However, the ruling Modi government has been making some attempts through its Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024, which amends the Waqf Act, of 1995. The bill has been sent to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for further scrutiny.

Even in post-independence India, the Waqf Board controls huge tracts of land and is often involved in legal battles over land ownership. The Waqf board has also gone to court for literally any property they eyed and litigated the hell out of the system, often making ludicrous claims.

Interestingly, while the leftists and Islamists cry hoarse that the Muslim ‘minority’ [read second largest majority] is oppressed in India, the nearly invincible Waqf Board in a Hindu-majority India is the third-largest landowner in India, after the government and the Indian Railways, with its control extending over 600,000 acres of land while Hindu majority has no such body. Too much oppression of Muslims, isn’t it?

A detailed OpIndia report on Waqf and its history in India as well as how Muslim appeasement politics of the Congress party made the Waqf Board powerful beyond imagination, can be read here.

Outrageous claims of land ownership

Waqf Board also has a record of making the most outrageous land ownership claims. Back in 2018, the Sunni Waqf Board was asked by the Supreme Court to submit papers signed by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in which they were given the rights to the Taj Mahal. This came after the Board claimed ownership of the Taj Mahal. In 2005, the Sunni Waqf Board passed an order in July 2005 which decreed that the monument should be registered as their property. There has been a stay on this order.

In 2022, Hindus were denied permission to hold Ganesh Chaturthi Puja on the Bengaluru Eidgah ground as a dispute was ongoing between the Karnataka Waqf Board and the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike over the ground’s ownership. In this case, even though there was no title transfer to any Muslim organisation as per the government, Waqf’s claims that it was a Waqf property from the 1850s means that it is now forever a Waqf property since they say “Once a Waqf, always a Waqf”.

In 2022, the Gujarat Waqf Board had staked claim to the Surat Municipal Corporation building which is now the property of the Waqf because the documents were not updated. As per Waqf, back during the Mughal era, the Surat Municipal Corporation building was a Sarai and used during the Hajj travels. The property then belonged to the British Empire during British rule. However, when India gained independence in 1947, the properties were then shifted to the government of India. However, since the documents were not updated, the SMC building then became Waqf property, as per them. Remember? Once a Waqf, always a Waqf.

Similarly, the Gujarat Waqf Board had also staked a claim on the ownership of two islands in Bet Dwarka in Devbhoomi Dwarka, however, the court baffled over the bizarre claim asked the Board to revise its plea.  

Another such shocking case was reported in Surat wherein one of the plot owners registered his plot in Shiv Shakti society with the Gujarat Waqf Board, making it a holy place for Muslims, and people started offering Namaz there.

In continuance of what may seem absurd to non-Muslims, but in reality a dogged effort by the Muslims to bring yet another important property under Islamic control, the Gujarat Waqf Board partially approved an application and declared the Surat Municipal Corporation Headquarters as Waqf property in November 2021. After three years, SMC’s efforts paid off and the Waqf Tribunal quashed the Waqf Board’s order.

In September 2022, OpIndia reported how the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board claimed ownership of the Hindu-majority Thiruchenthurai village near Trichy. The issue was uncovered when a person named Rajagopal attempted to sell his 1 acre 2 cents of land to one Rajarajeshwari. When Rajagopal, a resident of the nearby village Mullikarupur village arrived at the Registrar’s office to get the sale of his land registered, he was surprised to learn that the land did not belong to him and instead belonged to the Waqf Board.

In August this year, the Bihar Sunni Waqf Board issued a notice in the Hindu-majority Govindpur village of Fatuha near Patna claiming ownership of around 7 Hindu houses. This village has a 95% Hindu population. Waqf Board gave 1 month time to Hindu residents to vacate their homes. However, the Hindus approached the high court and the court asked the Waqf Board to furnish evidence to back its land ownership claim. Unsurprisingly, the board failed to provide evidence since none existed.

In its latest attempt to illegally claim ownership of public property, the Shahi Idgah (Waqf) Managing Committee claimed ownership of the Shahi Idgah Park and opposed the installation of renowned freedom fighter Rani of Jhansi, Lakshmibai. The Committee had claimed that the park too where the statue was to be installed, was Waqf property. The Delhi High Court, however, ruled that there was no dispute that the surrounding area of the mosque and the park belonged to the DDA and was not a waqf property.

Ayodhya Ram Mandir to Kashi Vishwanath: Waqf Board’s fixation with claiming ownership of Hindu temples

The Sunni Waqf Board was one of the main litigants contesting the ownership of the site where the Babri structure stood on the birthplace of Lord Ram. Waqf Board has contended that the 16th-century Babri structure constructed by Mughal tyrant Babur was a historical mosque, and its legal ownership rested with the Muslims, as the site had been used for centuries as a place of worship. The matter reached Allahabad High Court. While the Sunni Waqf Board sought ownership of the disputed land and restoration of the Babri structure razed to the ground by Karsevaks in 1992, the Hindu side sought control of the Ram Janmabhoomi site to construct a grand Ram Mandir.

In 2019, the Supreme Court delivered a historic verdict ruling that the Ram Janmabhoomi site be handed over to the Hindu side and trust would be formed, while the Waqf Board was allotted 5 acres of land at an alternate location for the construction of a mosque. Waqf Board managed to keep Hindus away from one of their most sacred sites for decades.

Even in the Kashi Vishwanath Temple case, the Sunni Waqf Board out of nowhere claimed that the temple land was a Waqf property. Advocate Vijay Rastogi challenged the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board’s claim that the disputed property upon which the Gyanvapi Masjid stands today is a Waqf property. While the Gyanvapi-Kashi Vishwanath land dispute is ongoing in the court, it will not be surprising if the case takes an Ayodhya-like turn and the Waqf Board ends up getting land for constructing a new mosque as a gesture to preserve ‘communal harmony’ instead of being reprimanded for mindlessly claiming ownership of the disputed site.

If the systematic approach of the Islamists to use Waqf as a tool to spread Islamic dominance and targeting Hindus was not alarming enough, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) informed the Joint Parliamentary Committee examining the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2024 that the Waqf Board has arbitrarily claimed over 120 protected historical monuments. The ASI also extended support to the Bill.

Conclusion

From Israel to India, the hatred of Islamic radicalism uses the idea of Waqf as a tool to spread Islamic dominance and strip non-Muslims of the legitimate claim over their houses, properties and even the motherland. The idea of Waqf and the manner in which it is used to justify land claims is part of a larger pattern wherein Islamic doctrine is used to claim rights over land. In the context of Hamas, the assertion that all of Israel is Waqf property exacerbates the intractable dispute with Israel. How can a peaceful resolution of the Palestine-Israel dispute ever come up when Hamas finds legitimacy in massacring the Jewish people in the Islamic texts itself? The Preamble of the Hamas Charter says that “Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it.” In such a case, Israel is left with no option but to retaliate against Hamas in the same violent fashion if Israel does not want the only Jewish nation to turn into Waqf property for eternity.

In the Indian context, the Waqf Act of 1995 gives the Waqf Board broad authority over Muslim religious and charitable properties. However, the law has been extensively abused as evident from the above discussion. Many properties have been arbitrarily claimed as Waqf, resulting in legal battles, communal tensions and riots. Muhammad Iqbal, the 20th-century poet and main proponent of the two-nation theory that culminated in the partition of India on religious lines, wrote in “Tarana-e-Milli”, “Muslim hain hum watan hai saara jahan humara [We are Muslims and the entire world is our homeland].” This literary composition reflects the mindset that Islamists have perpetuated to legitimise their dream of turning the entire world into “Dar-ul-Islam”. This mindset finds ways to assert Islamic dominance in non-Islamic nations like India and Israel, with Waqf being one of the most successful ways of doing the same. In a Muslim -majority Bangladesh, in place of Waqf, the Islamist governments have framed laws dedicated to declaring Hindus as ‘enemy’ and usurping their properties rendering them homeless and at the mercy of Islamists.

The mother of all ironies in this context is that, despite the fact that Islamists are trying to kill and drive out non-Muslim communities, particularly Jews and Hindus, the latter are presented as bigoted hatemongers and oppressors, while Islamists remain the ‘oppressed victims’ in mainstream media.

Army Special Train narrowly averts sabotage attempt in Burhanpur: Read why railway employee Sabir had placed 10 detonators on tracks

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Army Special Train narrowly averts sabotage attempt in Burhanpur: Read why railway employee Sabir had placed 10 detonators on tracks

On Thursday, 26th September, the Madhya Pradesh police revealed that one individual identified as Sabir (38) who was arrested for placing 10 detonators on a railway track in Madhya Pradesh’s Khandwa did it to pin the blame on a senior officer who harassed him at work. “A railway staffer held for allegedly stealing 10 detonators that went off on a track during the passing of a train in Madhya Pradesh’s Khandwa recently was remanded in RPF custody for seven days,” an official was quoted as saying.

On September 18th, ten detonators went off near Sagphata between Nepanagar and Khandwa stations in the Bhusawal division, forcing officials to halt a military special train for two minutes. On September 22nd, Sabir (38) was detained in connection with the crime.

As per the reports, he is a mate, an upper hand than a gang member, who monitors the rails. Sabir has been accused under Section 3 (a) of the Railway Property (Unlawful Possession) Act for allegedly stealing detonators. On September 23rd, he was sent to RPF custody for three days.

“Sabir was produced before the railway magistrate on Wednesday. We sought a further 7-day remand as he is giving contradictory statements. Our plea was accepted by the court,” Khandwa Railway Protection Force (RPF) inspector Sanjeev Kumar said. He added that the authorities wanted to know why he attempted to target a military train and not any other.

However, the police later found out that the accused was a habitual drinker and that he had committed the said act out of frustration given he was being denied leave by the authorities.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA), Intelligence Bureau (IB), and MP Anti-Terror Squad all attended the location and conducted an investigation. According to RPF personnel, these signal detonators are non-explosive crackers that are meant to notify train drivers of any obstructions, such as fog. These are also known as fog signals.

According to a Railway official, the military special train on its route to Khandwa was stopped for a few minutes after the detonators went off before being allowed to continue after a thorough check.

Uttarakhand: Mob led by Asif Qureshi run riots at Dehradun railway station after Muslim girl travels from UP to meet Hindu lover

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Uttarakhand: Mob led by Asif Qureshi run riots at Dehradun railway station after Muslim girl travels from UP to meet Hindu lover

On Thursday (26th September) night, a frenzied Muslim mob laid siege at the Dehradun railway station in Uttarakhand after learning about a meeting between a Muslim girl and a Hindu boy.

As per reports, the girl is a minor and had travelled from Badaun in Uttar Pradesh to meet her lover. On learning about the matter, the co-religionists of the girl resorted to violence at the Dehradun railway station.

They were led by one Asif Qureshi, who happens to be the President of the Azad Samaj Party (Dehradun unit). The Muslim mob pelted stones and vandalised the trains.

Groups of Hindu men, who had reached the station after learning about the matter, were also attacked. They were led by one Vikas Verma. A clash thereafter broke out between the two sides.

A total of 8 two-wheelers and a police vehicle were destroyed. The police reached the station immediately after being informed.

A large contingent of police, led by SSP Ajay Singh, managed to restore the law and order situation in the area.

The cops conducted foot marches in and around the Dehradun railway station to maintain peace.

SSP Singh informed, “As per what we know so far, a minor girl from Badaun came to Dehradun to meet some person here. There is already a missing person’s report registered in Badaun. The police also informed the GRP (government railway police) based on the girl’s location and provided her details…”

He added, “Meanwhile, the matter escalated somehow and both Hindu and Muslim organisations confronted each other. There was a ruckus and some stone pelting. The situation is under control and we have deployed heavy police force in the area.”

The senior police official engaged with the mob and appealed to them to return home. The cops are analysing the CCTV footage to ascertain the identity of the rioters.

In the meantime, they have booked over 100 people in connection to the case including Vikas Verma, Asif Qureshi, Rohit Maurya, Sunny, Rajesh, Shoaib, Nawab Qureshi, Itad Khan, Aqib, Taufiq Khan, Arsh, Siddhant Badoni, Aman Swedia and Anil.

They were charged under BNS Sections 191(2) (rioting), 221(obstructing a public servant from discharging his duties), 223 (disobedience of order passed by public servant), 324(4) (damaging property) and Criminal law (amendment) Act Section 7.”

Owners of plots near land owned by Lalu Yadav’s family were persuaded to sell at lower prices with promise of railway jobs: ED in supplementary chargesheet

ANI
-
0
Owners of plots near land owned by Lalu Yadav’s family were persuaded to sell at lower prices with promise of railway jobs: ED in supplementary chargesheet

The Enforcement Directorate (ED), in its Supplementary Prosecution complaint (chargesheet) filed in the Land for Jobs scam case, has accused Lalu Prasad Yadav, the former Railway Minister, and his family members of obtaining illegal gratification in the form of land parcels in exchange for appointments in the Indian Railways.

These land parcels, which were acquired in a way to consolidate holdings already in the Yadav family’s possession, have been classified as “proceeds of crime” (PoC) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.

According to the ED, Lalu Prasad Yadav, through his family and associates, orchestrated a criminal conspiracy to conceal the acquisition of the PoC. He ensured that the land parcels were transferred in a manner that obscured his direct involvement while allowing his family to benefit.

ED stated that the investigation revealed that landowners, primarily in Mahua Bagh, Patna, were persuaded to sell their land at undervalued prices with the promise of jobs in the Railways. Several of these parcels were located adjacent to lands already held by the Yadav family. Six of the seven land parcels involved were linked to Rabri Devi, Lalu Prasad Yadav’s wife, and were obtained either directly or indirectly.

It is stated that during investigation ED found that M/s A K Infosystems Private Limited and other entities were used to further layer and obscure the connection between the land acquisitions and the job-for-land scheme. In a continuation of the conspiracy, Amit Katyal, a close associate, transferred the ownership of A K Infosystems, which held valuable land parcels, to Rabri Devi and Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, Lalu’s son, at a nominal price.

Bhola Yadav, a close associate of Lalu Prasad Yadav, was identified as the key facilitator in these transactions. He admitted to persuading landowners near the Yadav family’s holdings to sell their properties in exchange for jobs in the Railways. These deals were structured to benefit Lalu Prasad Yadav’s family, with properties transferred through intermediaries like the personal staff of Rabri Devi, namely Hridyanand Chaudhary and Lallan Chaudhary, stated the ED.

The properties in question were often portrayed as gifts from distant relatives, but Misa Bharti, Lalu Prasad’s daughter, denied knowing these individuals. The ED highlighted the use of gift deeds and shell companies to obscure the illegal nature of these land acquisitions, ED mentioned in its chargesheet.

According to the Enforcement Directorate, Tejashwi Yadav, during his statement under PMLA, admitted that while he was a shareholder in A K Infosystems, the company had not engaged in any business activity, and he was unaware of many details concerning its operations. He also acknowledged investments made by him in the property at New Friends Colony, New Delhi, which was linked to the scam.

It is also stated that, Lalu Prasad Yadav consistently denied any involvement in the acquisition of land through illegal means and claimed ignorance of the companies and individuals involved in the transactions. However, the investigation contradicted these claims, showing his direct role in appointments and the land deals.

The ED has concluded that Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family used their influence and official positions to derive personal benefits, masking the illicit transactions through a series of complex financial maneuvers and entities. The scam, involving the illegal transfer of land in exchange for government jobs, is a significant breach of public trust and abuse of power.

The Rouse Avenue court recently issued Summons to Lalu Prasad Yadav, his sons Tejaswi Yadav and other charge sheeted accused in Land for Job Money Laundering case. The court additionally issued summons to Tej Pratap Yadav also. The Court has summons Akhileshwar Singh as well his wife Kiran Devi.

Special CBI judge Vishal Gogne issued summons to Lalu Prasad Yadav and his two sons and other six accused. They have been directed to appear on October 7.

The court said that there is sufficient material to proceed further against the accused persons. The Court said that involvement of Tej Pratap Yadav cannot be ruled out. He was also a director of AK Infosys Ltd. He is also has been summoned.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had filed a supplementary charge sheet against 11 accused on August 6. Four of them died.

Tej Pratap Yadav was not charge sheeted by the ED but the court found sufficient material against him to issue summons.

Tej Pratap Yadav has been summoned for the first time in land for job case.

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

Tirupati Laddu controversy, beef tallow and the mockery of the Hindu idea of pure vegetarianism

Rahul Roushan
-
0
Tirupati Laddu controversy, beef tallow and the mockery of the Hindu idea of pure vegetarianism

One of the aspects not touched on in the whole Tirupati Laddu controversy is the idea of “pure vegetarianism” and how the same is mocked and defamed, especially by those calling themselves ‘secular and liberal’. Over time, anyone demanding “pure vegetarian” environment is immediately attacked and branded as regressive and casteist. We have seen it multiple examples in recent times.

A few months back, Zomato had decided to introduce a “pure veg” fleet to deliver such orders, but the food delivery company had to withdraw the order after woke backlash that accused the company of aiding discrimination, casteism, regressive thoughts, and so on.

The online outrage soon turned into a blatant misinformation campaign where fake ‘advertisements’ of Zomato’s rival Swiggy started doing rounds, declaring how their service will keep the customers ‘eviction safe’ and even will protect the delivery partners from attack by non-existent goons over alleged ‘non-veg food’. Soon, Zomato had to take the decision back, declaring that their delivery partners would continue to wear the same uniform and there would be no change in box packaging indicating a ‘pure veg’ order.

Sudha Murthy, the former chairperson of Infosys Foundation, writer, and philanthropist was criticised last year by the same wokes/liberals for saying that carries her own bag of food and cooking items when travelling abroad because she is a pure vegetarian. She was even labelled a ‘casteist’ for being a pure vegetarian. These same wokes who accuse Brahmins of preserving and practising “untouchability” have over the years spearheaded vicious campaigns against Brahmins, ostracising them for their pure veg food and other lifestyle preferences.

Similarly, a group of students at IIT Bombay wanted a vegetarian corner for themselves in the institute mess, but their demands were opposed and students were defamed. The hate was at such a level that Suryakant Waghmare, a Professor of sociology at the same institute, equated the students to ‘militants‘.

In an opinion piece published in The Indian Express, Waghmare typically blamed the Hindu, more so the upper caste Hindu, for “militant vegetarianism” whose followers “seek to continually sustain the traditional ethics and aesthetics of segregation and hierarchy in food consumption”.

He even blamed such vegetarians, who he has implied are upper-caste Hindus, for citing environmental concerns as the reason for being vegetarians.

How veg-shaming is just a step away from becoming a blatant justification of sacrilege

While all such controversies about pure vegetarianism might look like only part of some “food wars”, it has an unintended outcome, such as the justification of “a little bit of beef tallow” in ghee that was used to make Tirupati Laddu prasadam.

Controversial ‘mythologist’ Devdutt Patnaik, who has been accused of distorting Hindu beliefs and practices by many, was one of the persons who tried to go down this path. “As per Google AI, ghee is animal fat. Pure Vegetarians disagree. Yes?” he posted on X, which he had to finally delete after facing backlash.

People could understand what he was coming to – that if ghee is also animal fat, what is wrong if some bit of beef tallow, a kind of animal fat only, finds its way into the ghee? He was essentially saying no big cause of concern if beef tallow is found in Tirupati Laddu prasadam.

Devdutta wasn’t alone. Many folks came up with such “arguments” if they can be called so, especially followers of Dravidian ideology that vows to eradicate Sanatan Dharma.

Image from X

If we go by rational arguments and logic, beef tallow indeed is just ‘animal fat’ like ghee (the process of extraction obviously is far different). It is an ingredient used in cooking and is not a health hazard. You don’t consume actual morsels of beef if you eat some food that was cooked using oil or ghee where some amount of beef tallow was present. And using such arguments, “pure vegetarian” concerns can be mocked and proved to be silly, which is what the likes of Devdutt and Dravidians did.

However, these incidents shouldn’t just be seen as isolated incidents to “troll” vegetarians. The aim, always, is to strike the belief systems, to weaken the faith. You consider eating beef a sin, a social taboo, so they’re trying to normalize it so that your belief is diluted and finally drained away.

A lot of people eat both veg and non-veg food, while many prefer not to eat non-veg on specific days, and then some people do not eat non-veg food at all for religious beliefs like Ahimsa, or Satvik or for health-related reasons. The Brahmin-hating lot usually rattled over the “pure vegetarian” food preference of a section of people calling it discriminatory, encouraging untouchability, and whatnot completely ignores that these people are not forcing their preferences on others.

Hindus demanding the preservation of the sanctity of Tirupati Laddu prasadam is a matter of basic faith. Even the Hindus who eat non-veg food, which is normal practice for the majority of Hindus of India, do not take the non-veg food items to their Puja place in their homes. They practice certain rituals of cleanliness and keep certain food items away. No Hindu goes to a temple without bathing and wearing fresh, clean clothes. Most Hindus do not consume any non-veg during holy festivals like Navratri and the month of Shravan. The idea of using beef tallow or pork fat in Laddu prasadam is not about ‘food safety’ or the chemical properties of fat, it is about attacking the faith. ‘Secular liberals’ using the issue as another stick to beat the beliefs of Hinduism is not a flex, it is a sad example of how blatant hatred against a community is normalised.

It is also crucial to note that pure vegetarians do not impose their dietary preferences on others. Furthermore, they are not demanding or pressuring non-vegetarians to give up their food preferences; instead, they simply want to uphold their choice without harming or affecting others in any manner.

It is not a mockery coming from progressiveness or rationalism, often it’s a mockery that is coming from a sinister and vile agenda to weaken the faith and shame a community and culture that forms the civilisational fabric of India.

Assam: Mizo gospel singer and husband booked for forced religious conversion in ‘prayer’ meetings

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Assam: Mizo gospel singer and husband booked for forced religious conversion in ‘prayer’ meetings

An FIR has been lodged in Assam against Bethsy Lalrinsangi, a Mizo gospel singer, and her husband, BCM-recognized evangelist C. Lalhriatpuia, over alleged forced religious conversion work. The accused couple held a gospel meeting at Mount Olive School in Debitola, Assam, where they performed ‘prayers’ for children.

Reports say that the FIR was registered on the complaint lodged by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) affiliated Hindu rights organisation This came after the complainant found that the accused duo were converting children to Christianity in their gospel meetings.

Earlier this week, the couple was summoned to the Kokrajhar District Court in connection with this alleged child conversion case. During the court hearing, the couple requested interim bail, but the court rejected their plea.

“We are yet to receive the official documents and are not sure of the organisation or individual behind the FIR,” a church official said.

1...727728729...7,606Page 728 of 7,606