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Maharashtra: BJP shares audio, slams INC MP Shobha Bachhav for ‘supporting cow slaughter’ for Eid, asks if that is the payback for ‘Vote Jihad’

OpIndia Staff
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Maharashtra: BJP shares audio, slams INC MP Shobha Bachhav for ‘supporting cow slaughter’ for Eid, asks if that is the payback for ‘Vote Jihad’

The BJP Maharashtra branch shared a startling audio recording on their official social media handle on X leveling allegations at the newly elected Congress MP from Dhule for allegedly assisting the Islamist community in slaughtering of ‘animals’ (allegedly cows) on Bakrid. The party released the audio clip on Wednesday 19th June, alleging that the newly elected MP from Maharashtra’s Dhule, Shobha Bachhav, has been pressuring the authorities to allow cow slaughter in the district.

The BJP further added that this measure is a way of payback for ‘Vote Jihad’ and that such actions are part of the Congress’ objective of religious appeasement for votes while confronting Hindu sentiments.

“Dhule Lok Sabha MP Shobha Bachhav’s pressure on the administration for cow slaughter failed but is this a payback for VOTE Jihad? People have now recognized the Congress’s agenda of religious appeasement for votes while challenging the sentiments of Hindus. Shame on Congress,” the BJP Maharashtra posted on X.

A similar video was shared by BJP’s Ankit Jain on X who said that the ‘goods’ belonging to the Islamists held in transit by the local police were cows for slaughter on Eid.

In the viral audio recording, a man introduces himself to Dhule MP Shobha Bachhav as the cousin of a Malegaon-based corporator. The man makes an emotional appeal to her, telling her that he considers her his mother since his own mother died a few years ago.

The man later informs her that a big shipment of ‘animals’ worth about a crore has been halted by the local police. He can be heard fake crying and pleading with her to help him release his ‘goods.’ The Congress leader meanwhile can be heard comforting him and offering assistance with the problem. She however can be heard asking consistently about the shipment of animals being brought for slaughter on Bakrid, but the man avoids the question and says its an investment of his Muslim brothers and that they need help. 

Bachhav can also be heard purportedly indicating that she spoke with police officials about the situation and will assist him with it. She allegedly assured him that she will talk to Malegaon’s Additional SP, Aniket Bharti. The Islamist man identified by BJP as ‘Abdul Latif Don’ begs her to help him, reminding her that he and his community helped her win the seat in the recent Lok Sabha elections.

There is no official confirmation that the voice in the viral audio tape is that of Congress politician and Dhule MP Shobha Bachhav. However, the video went viral on the internet, resulting in criticism of the newly elected MP and the Congress party.

TN govt constituted committee makes anti-Hindu recommendations to eliminate ‘casteism’: Here are 10 suggestions designed to ‘eradicate Sanatan Dharma’

OpIndia Staff
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TN govt constituted committee makes anti-Hindu recommendations to eliminate ‘casteism’: Here are 10 suggestions designed to ‘eradicate Sanatan Dharma’

The Tamil Nadu government-constituted committee to propose solutions for preventing ‘caste-based discrimination’ and violence in educational institutions submitted its report on Tuesday. The contentious recommendations by the committee include, among other measures, no coloured wristbands, rings, and tilaks on the forehead, which it said served as ‘caste markers’. 

The single-member committee, led by retired Madras High Court judge Justice K Chandru, presented its findings to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin. The committee was established in August 2023 following an incident in Tirunelveli’s Nanguneri, where a brother and sister from the Scheduled Caste community were attacked by their classmates due to caste-related issues.

According to the report accessed by OpIndia, the committee proposed that students be prohibited from wearing coloured wristbands, rings, or forehead marks (tilaka) that indicate caste. The committee also advised that students should not use bicycles painted with caste references or display any caste-related sentiments.

From prohibiting tilak to controlling how children sit in classrooms to the appointment of a School Welfare Officer (SWO) to proposing state govt to constitute special units to investigate the ‘saffronisation’ of educational institutes, if followed in full letter and spirit, the recommendations made by the Justice Chandru committee to the MK Stalin government in Tamil Nadu would grant enormous powers to the state to control and shape the thought process of impressionable young children in schools and colleges, which, in the current political atmosphere in the state, could be susceptible to being used to ‘eradicate Sanatana Dharma’.

“Non-compliance with these rules should result in appropriate action, and parents or guardians should be informed,” the committee’s report stated.

While the trigger for the formation of the Committee came from the reprehensible Nanugeri incident, it is also worth noting that some of the recommendations made have, advertently or inadvertently, the potential of adversely impacting the Hindu cause and lead to what Tamil Nadu minister Udhayanidhi Stalin infamously vowed—’to eradicate Sanatana Dharma‘—stoking controversy across the country as he compared it with Malaria, Dengue etc.

In light of Stalin’s comments and the recommendations made by the committee, here are 10 such suggestions that appear to be designed to ‘eradicate Sanatana Dharma’ from the state.

1. Names of govt and private schools with ‘caste appellations’ should be changed, and those resisting change should be legally prosecuted

One of the first recommendations made by the committee is to drop caste appellations from the names of the schools. “The government must mandate the removal of any caste prefix or suffix associated with government schools that indicate either the donor or their family,” the committee states. 

The committee says in the case of private schools, they should be requested to change the name but if they fail to comply, appropriate legal steps should be considered, including legislative changes.

For teachers, the committee advised regular transfers of high school and higher secondary school staff.

“Guidelines should be issued to prevent officers such as CEOs, DEOs, BEOs, and headmasters from being posted in areas where they belong to the dominant caste,” the committee stated.

2. Students are prohibited from wearing coloured wristbands, rings, or forehead marks (Tilaks)

The statutory body formed by the Tamil Nadu government has also recommended prohibiting students from wearing coloured wristbands, rings, or forehead marks like Tilaks in the schools. For many practising Hindus, wearing a wristband or donning a tilak on the head is an article of faith and a religious belief, not a marker of caste identity, but the committee has nevertheless suggested against sporting them.

Predictably, the committee has no recommendations for students choosing to wear a veil or hijab to schools, or turbans, which are a dead giveaway of their identity and social standing. The recommendations are only limited to wristbands and tilaks. In short, this particular recommendation apply only to the Hindu majority. 

3. Children to sit in classrooms based on alphabetical order

The children or their teachers will no longer be able to decide where they will sit in the classrooms and with whom as the committee suggested children in schools and colleges be made to sit in alphabetical order, except physically challenged students who may be accommodated in the front row irrespective of where their name falls in the alphabetical order.

Schools are places where students exercise their discretion to forge lifelong bonds and create friendships and memories with pupils of their choice. The committee’s recommendation on how students should sit in the classroom is the first step towards robbing them of their agency.

4. Caste names to be kept confidential

The committee also recommends that the attendance register should not contain any column or details relating to their castes and there should be no mention of students’ castes in the classroom.

“At no point can the class teacher call out students by either directly or indirectly referring to their caste, nor make any derogatory remarks about the student’s caste or the so-called character attributed to the caste,” the committee recommends, although it does not elaborate if it means using only the first name of the students in the class as in many cases, the announcement of full names, and in some cases, partial names, often leads to the identification of his or her caste.

Enhance Local Body’s control over primary education

The committee notes that the current limited role of local bodies in controlling primary education should be expanded to full control over primary education. It says block-level administrations (Panchayat Unions) must have full control over schools, including appointing, posting, and removing staff.

However, such a move is fraught with risks as it assumes that there is no caste discrimination or consciousness about caste identities at the Panchayat levels. Granting a casteist person greater control over primary education can have counterproductive results for the committee that made the recommendation to eliminate casteism in schools.

Scholarships granted to students to be announced in private

Another intriguing recommendation made by the Tamil Nadu government-instituted committee is the non-disclosure of scholarships received by students in the classroom. The committee wants the government to continue dispensing scholarships, which are often based on the caste identities of the students, but it doesn’t want fellow students to know who among them has received which scholarship. 

“Classrooms are not the forum for announcing details of communications received regarding the scholarships of any student. If such communications are received, the headmaster shall call the student to his room and privately furnish such information,” the committee report accessed by OpIndia says. 

Appointment of School Welfare Officer (SWO)

The Committee has opined the appointment of a School Welfare Officer by the state government. The responsibilities envisioned for SWOs include monitoring the functioning of the school regarding issues of ragging, drug menace, sexual assault and offences related to caste discrimination, and conducting orientation programmes on the aforementioned issues at the beginning of every academic year.

The SWOs would directly report to a State-level Monitoring Committee constituted by the Director of School Education (DSE) in collaboration with the Director of School Education (Private Schools) (DSEPS). The SWO also has been granted the power to file a complaint against members of the School Management Committee to the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights and has the authority to recommend action against teachers and school staff. 

The SWO, as mentioned above, has been vested with sweeping powers to take action they deem fit. This could include acting against teachers, staff, and traditions followed in the school, among other things, thereby controlling everyday operations in an educational institute in the name of warding off ‘caste discrimination’.

TN govt to establish Social Justice Force (SJSF) to fight ‘social evils’

The Committee also proposed the establishment of a student force called Social Justice Students Force (SJSF) which would work ‘independently’ of the union government. 

“The primary objective of creating the SJSF is to combat social evils and to participate in community-level programs organised by the government. Special care should be taken to include students from minority groups, women, Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes,” the Committee stated.

But it won’t be a surprise if the force is put to use to perpetuate a particular political narrative, especially in the absence of the union government oversight, with the incumbent state governments having the power to use them as an instrument to shore up their agenda. 

Restriction on the use of school properties for ‘Non-educational purposes’

The committee also put forth that the government introduce regulations prohibiting the use of school or college facilities for activities that promote communal or caste-related messages, such as mass drills or parades.

Any activity or tradition followed in the school can be accused of being communal or sending caste-related messages, leading to suspension. And with powers vested in SWO, teachers and school staff will be unwilling to allow their school property used for any event, particularly those that can be arbitrarily branded as communal and designed to ‘propagate casteism’. 

Declaration of Areas as Caste Atrocities Prone and the Constitution of Special Intelligence Units to Investigate ‘saffronisation’ of Institutes

Another contentious measure that the Committee proposes is the declaration of specific areas as “caste atrocity-prone” and government-constituted Special Intelligence Units to collect intelligence on caste violence and identify persons or organisations involved in fomenting caste discrimination.

The law enforcement agencies already exist to fight caste discrimination and caste-based atrocities. There are already legislations that outlaw and penalise caste-based discrimination such as the SC/ST Act, yet the declaration of a ‘caste atrocity prone’ area and constitution of new intelligence units could make it susceptible to exploitation by those in power. 

Additionally, the committee recommended the government appoint an expert body to investigate allegations of saffronisation of education and activities that undermine caste and communal harmony within educational institutions.

Lucknow: Demolition drive to clear illegal encroachments completed in Akbar Nagar, LDA recovers land for Kukrail river project

OpIndia Staff
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Lucknow: Demolition drive to clear illegal encroachments completed in Akbar Nagar, LDA recovers land for Kukrail river project

After a massive demolition drive undertaken by the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) and Municipal Corporation, all the illegal encroachments in Akbar Nagar were cleared on the 18th of June. Over 1,169 unlawful residential properties and over 100 commercial structures were demolished with heavy machinery, including bulldozers.

Late at night, action was initiated to demolish an illegally erected mosque and madrasa in Akbarnagar. Previously, action has been taken against a temple.

In the visuals, an illegally constructed four-storey mosque can be seen being razed to the ground in late-night action. The last leg of the demolition drive was started on 10th June and completed on Tuesday. The delay was caused due to Bakrid. The entire area was closed, and traffic was diverted to allow for the demolition drive on Tuesday.

The demolition drive to remove an illegal encroachment on 24.5 acres of land began in December of last year. Over 1,320 illegal buildings including religious sites of Hindus and Muslims have been removed in the area.

According to LDA authorities, around 100 buildings were demolished on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the work of cleaning the rubble is already underway.

It is pertinent to note that families in Akbarnagar who have lost their homes have been provided with alternate housing in other parts of the city through the PM Awas Yojna. Nearly 1,800 affected families have received accommodation.

As reported earlier, all the houses and commercial properties that are being razed down by the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) are illegal. Several families years ago started staying on the banks of the Kukrail River and eventually permanent structures were constructed. Consecutive governments overlooked the encroachment and constriction of the crucial water body for reasons best known to them.

The LDA in the year 2023 had asked the residents to vacate their homes to carry out the anti-encroachment drive by sending notices and letters. The residents of Akbar Nagar in Lucknow then knocked on the doors of the High Court getting a breather ahead of the demolition drive in the area.

As per the court orders, the demolition drive was initiated after marrying out rehabilitation efforts for the affected individuals.

After Canada Parliament pays respect to a terrorist, here’s an interview where resident from the same area as Nijjar talked about who the ‘gangster’ really was

OpIndia Staff
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After Canada Parliament pays respect to a terrorist, here’s an interview where resident from the same area as Nijjar talked about who the ‘gangster’ really was

On 18th June, Canadian Parliament observed a moment of silence to honor Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar who was murdered in Surrey, British Columbia last year. While the Canadian parliament honored a terrorist by observing a minute of silence, pro-Khalistani elements observed the same by running a mock trial against Prime Minister Narendra Modi outside the Indian consulate.

Amidst the drama running in Canada, a two-month-old interview of a former Sikh Bob Rai started to make rounds on social media with investigative journalist Mocha Bezirgan. During the interview, Rai said that Nijjar was nothing more than a gangster and he was killed as a result of a gang war. Notably, pro-Khalistani elements and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have accused India of killing Najjar.

During the interview, Bob Rai, a former Sikh, talked about the Khalistani movement and its implications in Canada and the United States. He described the movement’s non-binding referendum in Sacramento as a deflection tactic by organizations like Sikhs for Justice, aimed at collecting donations by misleading new immigrants.

According to Rai, Khalistani elements distort the Sikh religion leading to violence and hatred against Hindus and India. He also highlighted the 1985 Air India bombing in which over 300 lives were lost, most of whom were Canadians. He pointed out that the bombing is celebrated by radicals very often. Rai urged Sikhs not to support criminal organizations like Sikhs for Justice which continue to fuel the Khalistani movement in Canada and the US. He also called for government vigilance against these groups due to their history of violence and manipulation.

Speaking about Hardeep Singh Nijjar, He said that Nijjar was a questionable character who gained control over a Gurdwara in British Columbia. He argued that Nijjar was a gangster and was eliminated by other gangsters in Canada. He said, “Hardeep Singh Nijjar was a questionable character who gained control over a Sikh temple in British Columbia. He was a gangster eliminated by other gangsters in Canada. His murder created an uproar in Canada, and these nefarious Sikh organizations began slandering India, even making the prime minister of Canada claim that the Indian government was involved in his murder.”

When asked about credibility in the New York indictment where Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national, was accused of plotting to kill Khalistani terrorist and founder of Sikhs for Justice, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, he said, “There is no mention of Hardeep Nijjar. If he is connected to the New York indictment, it will also be linked to organized Sikh religious gangs operating as charities in Canada.”

Lawrance Bishnoi gang-linked men arrested in Nijjar’s murder

Notably, four persons identified as nationals Karan Brar, Amandeep Singh Kamalpreet Singh and Karanpreet Singh were arrested by Canadian investigating agencies in May 2024. These accused were allegedly linked to the Lawrance Bishnoi gang. Bishnoi is a notorious criminal currently in an Indian prison and runs his syndicate from jail. While gang-related arrests in Nijjar’s murder happened in May, Rai’s statement that Nijjar was killed in a gang war came in April making it evident that the possibility of his murder being a gang-related assassination evident.

The murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar and Canada’s politically motivated accusations against India

On 18th June 2023, Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was murdered in Canada. Khalistani elements accused India of killing Najjar. Almost three months after the murder, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau makes shocking accusations against India in Canada’s Parliament. In his statement, Trudeau claimed that there were “credible allegations” against India. Following the accusations, Canada immediately expelled the top Indian diplomat.

In retaliation, India rejected the claims calling them absurd, and expelled Canadian diplomats with immediate effect. From that day, the snowball rolled in a way that the relationship between Canada and India got worse. In October, India asked around 40 Canadian diplomats and their families to leave the country which they did by the end of the month. Furthermore, India has remained strong on its stand that no Indian agents were involved in Nijjar’s murder. So far, Canada has failed to provide any credible evidence against India that links any Indian agents to the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar had a questionable past with Canada

While Canada claims that Hardeep Singh Nijjar was its citizen, it has to be noted that Nijjar escaped India on a fake passport and entered Canada in the 1990s. After entering Canada on false identity, Nijjar attempted for years to gain Canadian citizenship but failed. However, after his murder, Canada openly claimed that he was granted citizenship years before India requested his extradition. Najjar was a designated terrorist in India. In Canada, he was linked to the terrorist organization Sikhs For Justice and was the leading man to organize so-called referendum voting in different regions.

Telangana: Congress govt files FIR against journalist who tried to highlight the harassment of a woman by electricity department staff and power cuts

OpIndia Staff
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Telangana: Congress govt files FIR against journalist who tried to highlight the harassment of a woman by electricity department staff and power cuts

On Wednesday (19th June), the Telangana Police filed an FIR against a journalist who had been highlighting public grievances regarding the electricity department, frequent power cuts, and subsequent alleged harassment of customers by electricity department. The journalist has been booked on allegations of intentionally spreading false propaganda and “defaming” the state government and their organization, TGSPDCL.

Reacting to the registration of an FIR against her, Hyderabad-based journalist Revathi described it as “her medal of Honour” for her journalistic endevours. 

Taking to X, she questioned the double-speak of the Congress party on the issue of press freedom and selective application of law. She wrote, “In a BIZARRE move, an FIR has been lodged against me while the actual culprits from Telangana Power & Co, who harassed a female consumer in broad daylight, walk free!” 

She tagged Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and Telangana CM Revanth Reddy and asked, “Is this your stance on media independence? Is your government trying to silence journalists who expose the truth? 

She demanded that if Congress leaders mean to stand for democracy, they should protect the freedom of the press when journalists fight for justice. 

As per her X (Twitter) timeline, she has been highlighting public grievances regarding the electricity department. In an earlier post, Revathi had shared the concerns of a woman who was harassed allegedly by the electricity department for posting against frequent power cuts in her area. The woman, whose identity has not been disclosed by journalist Revathi, had reported that a lineman visited her residence and she was asked to delete her post. 

It is further alleged that when the female customer informed the power department officials about it, they responded by telling her that she should have called them instead of tweeting about it. As per the customer, she was told, “There is too much pressure on the electricity department from the people above”. Revathi added that she cross-checked the incident and has the recording of the said interaction, however, for safety concerns, she didn’t want to share it.  

According to the journalist, the female customer who initially tweeted about the power cut feared for her safety as she lived in a rented house and the power department staff knew her address. Incidentally, a Hyderabad-based journalist, Naveena said that she has been an anxious tenant ever since she raised a complaint online about power cuts.

In another tweet, she questioned the selective response of the Telangana Police as she highlighted their response to two complaints she posted about. She noted that while the police responded by issuing a veiled threat – later an FIR was registered against her for the same – her other complaint against CM’s brother was ignored.

According to her, on 12th June, a man named Syed Salim was attacked allegedly by the henchmen of Tirupathi Reddy, brother of state CM Revanth Reddy. 

Details mentioned in the FIR

As per the FIR copy shared by Revathi, the Police received a complaint from an Assistant Engineer, M Dileep (33), working in the LB Nagar area in the early hours of 19th June 2024. The complainant stated that on 18th June around 5 PM, he received a message from his higher officials that an X handle @revathitweets posted a message that power was interrupted in the LB Nagar area for 7 hours. 

However, after an inquiry from data sheets of the substation, the electricity department officials found that there was no power interruption of 7 hours in the LB Nagar Area in the last 6 months.

The complainant further stated that it was merely a “false allegation and intentionally defaming the state government and their organization TGSPDCL”. Hence, he requested to take necessary action against Twitter(X) account holder @revathitweets who is intentionally spreading false propaganda against the state government and their organization and making it viral in social media by creating an incident that did not happen. Hence FIR, the FIR copy added. 

Based on the complaint, the Police registered a case in Cr No 662/2024, under sections 505 IPC & Sec 66 (D) of IT ACT and the investigation was handed over to Inspector L Ramanjaneyulu.

Several X users, including many Hyderabad-based journalists and prominent politicians, lambasted the Congress party for filing an FIR against a journalist and threatening her for airing public grievances concerning the Electricity department. Many of them argued that even if her claims were not true, the electricity department could have clarified them with rejoinders rather than filing a criminal case over highlighting issues of power cuts and subsequent harassment of customers by power department personnel.

Former Minister in the KCR Cabinet and BRS leader KTR asked whether it is the Police department that is running the Energy department or if there is a Police Raj in the state.

BJP IT-cell head Amit Malviya took a jibe at Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Khata Khata’ freebies election promises and wrote, “Woman harassed in Congress-ruled Telangana for complaining against extended power cut.” 

PM Modi inaugurates new Nalanda University campus in Rajgir, visits the old ruins where Bakhtiyar Khilji burned down the ancient Nalanda

Shraddha Pandey
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PM Modi inaugurates new Nalanda University campus in Rajgir, visits the old ruins where Bakhtiyar Khilji burned down the ancient Nalanda

On the 19th of June, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the ruins of ancient Nalanda, a UNESCO world heritage site, in Bihar’s Rajgir. PM Modi also inaugurated the new campus of the 1600-year-old Nalanda University.

Before the inauguration, PM Modi called this a special day for India’s education sector and underscored that Nalanda has a strong connection with India’s glorious history. “It’s a very special day for our education sector. At around 10:30 AM today, the new campus of the Nalanda University would be inaugurated at Rajgir. Nalanda has a strong connect with our glorious past. This university will surely go a long way in catering to the educational needs of the youth,” PM Modi posted on X.

In his speech after inaugurating the new Nalanda University, PM Modi said, “It is a significant step in the journey of India’s development…It’s not just a name, but an identity and pride. Nalanda’s shutdown pushed India into darkness. Nalanda is a symbol of India’s academic heritage and vibrant cultural exchange….We need to revive the old tradition of Nalanda. I am happy that I got the opportunity to visit Nalanda within 10 days after swearing in as PM for the 3rd time…Nalanda is not just a name, it is an identity and respect. Nalanda is a value and mantra…fire can burn books but it can’t destroy knowledge…”

PM Modi also shared some pictures clicked during his visit to the excavated remains of ancient Nalanda. “Visiting the excavated remains of Nalanda was exemplary. It was an opportunity to be at one of the greatest seats of learning in the ancient world. This site offers a profound glimpse into the scholarly past that once thrived here. Nalanda has created an intellectual spirit that continues to thrive in our nation,” he wrote.

The University is conceived as a joint collaboration between India and East Asia Summit(EAS) countries. The inauguration ceremony was attended by several eminent people including the Head of Missions of 17 Countries.

Nalanda University’s net zero campus

The new Nalanda University campus, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, represents a blend of ancient architectural heritage and modern sustainability practices. The campus, located in Rajgir, Bihar, spans 455 acres and incorporates a “Net-Zero” approach, aiming to be carbon neutral and zero waste. This includes extensive use of solar power with a 6.5 MW solar farm, a 1.5 MW biogas plant, and over 100 acres dedicated to water bodies and 300 acres to green landscaping.

The design of the university pays homage to the ancient Nalanda University, which was a renowned centre of learning in ancient India. The infrastructure uses Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks (CSEB) instead of traditional burnt clay bricks, contributing to environmental sustainability. Efficient water management practices, including the indigenous ‘Ahar-Pyne’ system, and Decentralized Waste Treatment (DeWAT) systems, further enhance its eco-friendly credentials​.

Architecturally, the campus features thick cavity walls utilizing Desiccant Evaporative (DEVAP) technology for efficient thermal resistance, ensuring comfortable indoor climates with minimal energy use.

The new campus stands as a testament to India’s commitment to sustainable development and the preservation of cultural heritage, while also symbolizing the country’s efforts to restore the ancient glory of Nalanda University​.

The unmatched glory of Nalanda

Nalanda University, established in the 5th century CE in Bihar, India, was one of the world’s first residential universities and an esteemed centre for education in ancient India. At its peak, it housed over 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers, attracting scholars from across Asia, including China, Korea, Japan, Tibet, Mongolia, Turkey, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia. The university offered a wide range of subjects, including theology, grammar, logic, astronomy, metaphysics, medicine, and philosophy.

Ruins of the ancient Nalanda University (Source: Scroll)

Nalanda was distinguished by its impressive infrastructure, including multi-story buildings, vast libraries, and meticulously maintained gardens and lakes. The library, known as Dharma Gunj (Mountain of Truth), was a treasure trove of knowledge, comprising millions of manuscripts and texts stored in three large multi-story buildings. These texts were invaluable resources for scholars and researchers of the time.

Excavated site of ancient Nalanda university (Source: Alamy/BBC)

How Bakhtiyar Khilji destroyed Nalanda-the treasure trove of knowledge

Through Nalanda, India was disseminating its ancient Vedic knowledge and science to the local students as well as those arriving from beyond the periphery our country. However, the prosperity and intellectual prominence of Nalanda came to an abrupt end in the late 12th century. In 1193 CE, the Turkish Islamic fanatic Bakhtiyar Khilji invaded Bihar and set his sights on Nalanda. Historical references, such as those by Persian historian Minhaj-i-Siraj in the “Tabaqat-i Nasiri,” describe how Khilji’s troops ransacked the university and set its grand library ablaze. The fire burned for several months, consuming centuries of accumulated knowledge and wisdom. The destruction of Nalanda marked a significant loss for the world of academia and is often seen as a symbol of the cultural and intellectual devastation brought by invasions. It is said that over 9 million manuscripts were burnt down by Khilji and his troops.

Describing the attack by the army of the Mamluk Dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate under Bakhtiyar Khilji on Nalanda and how Brahmins were killed, Minhaj-i-Siraj wrote, “Muhammad-i-Bakht-yar, by the force of his intrepidity, threw himself into the postern of the gateway of the place, and they captured the fortress, and acquired great booty. The greater number of the inhabitants of that place were Brahmans, and the whole of those Brahmans had their heads shaven; and they were all slain. There were a great number of books there; and, when all these books came under the observation of the Musalmans, they summoned a number of Hindus that they might give them information respecting the import of those books; but the whole of the Hindus had been killed. On becoming acquainted [with the contents of those books], it was found that the whole of that fortress and city was a college, and in the Hindui tongue, they call a college Bihar.”

Excerpt from Tabkat-i-Nasiri (Source: MyIndiaMyGlory)

The sacking of Nalanda had far-reaching implications. The loss of its vast repositories of knowledge dealt a severe blow to the Vedic as well as Buddhist education and scholarship in the region. Scholars and students were either killed or dispersed, leading to a decline in the region’s status as a hub of intellectual and cultural exchange.

Reviving Nalanda: An Injustice Undone

After Ram Mandir in Ayodhya which was razed by Mughal tyrant Babur’s army, the revival of Nalanda is a grave injustice and damage undone. The ancient Nalanda University stood as a beacon of learning, and the enduring quest for knowledge that transcends centuries and civilizations and the new university would certainly aim to take that broken legacy forward.

Re-establishing Nalanda in Rajgir, Bihar, not only honours its ancient legacy but also reaffirms, as emphasised by PM Modi, India’s commitment to reclaiming its position as a global leader in education. This revival is crucial for preserving cultural heritage and fostering intellectual renaissance.

While Khilji could burn the books and kill the Kafirs, the Hindus have doggedly strived and continue to do so to reclaim the sites of historic, cultural and religious significance be it the Ayodhya Ram Mandir, Nalanda in Bihar or the ongoing struggle for the rightful abode of Lord Kashi Vishveshwara in Varanasi and the Janmabhoomi of Lord Krishna in Mathura.

Gautam Adani credits governance as ‘single most important catalyst’ for infrastructure growth post 2014, predicts India adding 1 trillion to GDP every year by 2050

OpIndia Staff
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Gautam Adani credits governance as ‘single most important catalyst’ for infrastructure growth post 2014, predicts India adding 1 trillion to GDP every year by 2050

Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani on 19th June compared the Indian Economy during the term of the Modi government to an aircraft taking off, while saying that the period before that since 1991 was about building foundations and the runway. Delivering the keynote address at the ‘Infrastructure – The Catalyst For India’s Future’ event by CRISIL in Mumbai, Adani praised the government of the past 10 years for the rapid growth in the development of infrastructure.

In his keynote address, Gautam Adani talked about the role of government policies and governance in building infrastructure, the future of infrastructure and its interconnection with sustainability, and Adani Group’s areas of focus and the role we are playing in developing national infrastructure. He said that he can very confidently say that India’s infrastructure industry is undergoing a stunning change, and the people will be able to appreciate its impact fully after a decade.

Talking about the development of Indian economy, he said that the liberalization in 1991 marked a major turning point. “The breaking down of the License Raj meant that the government did away with industrial licensing for most sectors. It eliminated much of the requirement for businesses to obtain government permission to invest, or set prices, or build capacity,” he said.

Adani said that while the period from 1991 to 2014 was about establishing a strong foundation, the period from 2014 to 2024 saw rapid growth on this foundation. Comparing it with an airport, he said, “If the period between 1991 and 2014 was about putting down the foundations and building the runway the period from 2014 to 2024 has been about the aircraft taking off.”

Talking about the two terms of Modi govt, Gautam Adani said, “the single most important catalyst enabling this take off has been the quality of governance over the past decade. India’s remarkable infrastructure journey is fundamentally rooted in this government’s effectiveness in institutionalizing policy for transforming our nation’s landscape—from one of challenges—to one of possibilities.”

The Adani Group chief praised the Modi govt’s National Infrastructure Pipeline project that has outlined a projected investment of ₹111 lakh crore over the period FY20 to FY25. He said this is the benchmark in ow a government can galvanize an entire sector and put in view of several thousand infrastructure projects across sectors like energy, logistics, airports and social infrastructure.

Adani said how foreigners now-a-days talk about the infrastructure development in India. He said at the event, “almost every foreign visitor that I meet these days talks about the extraordinary infrastructure growth they see in India be it the quality of the multi-lane highways, the massive construction projects all over the country, access to ports across the nation’s coastline, the rapid penetration of green energy, a world class and modern transmission grid, dedicated freight corridors, the quality and access to airports across the country, several new metro rail networks, and the massive trans-sea links.”

He also said that Indian govt has transformed the financial system in with digital economy. He said, “Indian Government’s Aadhaar UPI infrastructure has transformed the financial ecosystem in India. This system has democratized access to financial services to such an extreme level that it has allowed even the previously unbanked population to participate in the digital economy.”

Echoing the Modi government’s target of Indian economy, Gautam Adani said that India will become a 10 trillion-dollar economy by 2032, adding that cumulative spend on infrastructure will exceed 2.5 trillion-dollars. He said that about 25% of this entire spending is expected to be on energy and energy transition.

He further predicted that within the next decade, India will start adding a trillion dollars to its GDP every 12 to 18 months. This will put India well on track to be a 30 trillion-dollar economy by 2050. He added that by 2050, he expects the the stock market capitalization tp exceed 40 trillion dollars.

Talking about rapid growth of green energy in the country, he said that the availability of green electron will be the primary driver of a nation’s economic progress, adding that in his opinion the market for the green electron as of now has no growth limits. He said, “We will produce the world’s least expensive green electron that will become the feedstock for several sectors that must meet the sustainability mandate”.

Gautam Adani also talked about investments in building data centres and its role in AI. He said, “At the heart of AI revolution is Data Centre—the critical infrastructure needed to power the computational need of AI systems. AI revolution depends on machine learning algorithms, natural language processing, computer vision, deep learning and a host of other functions, all of which depend on the ability to process data at unprecedented speed and scale – capabilities that data centres provide.”

He said that the data centres need massive amounts of energy making the data centre business the largest energy consuming industry in the world, elaborating how the group’s investments in energy and data centres are complimentary. Gautam Adani said, “The fact is that the infrastructure required for energy transition and infrastructure required for digital transformation are inseparable as the technology sector becomes the largest consumer of precious green molecules. We already have India’s largest order book for data centres and now in discussion for additional gigawatt scale AI data centres.”

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Hindus attacked for protesting against the slaughter of cows on Bakrid, Amhed, Naser, Imran, and 16 others booked

OpIndia Staff
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Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Hindus attacked for protesting against the slaughter of cows on Bakrid, Amhed, Naser, Imran, and 16 others booked

On 17th June, massive controversy erupted in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, after Islamists in the region allegedly slaughtered cows instead of goats on the occasion of Bakrid. The accused Islamists also are said to have attacked local Hindus and Hindu activists who protested against the act. The incident is said to have happened in the Daulatabad region of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district.

As per the exclusive report by Sudarshan News, the Islamists are said to have launched a dreadful attack on the protesting Hindus by destroying vehicles belonging to the protestors. The police were immediately called to the spot who tried to pacify the matter. Several Hindus who were injured in the incident have been admitted to the hospital for proper medical treatment, as per reports.

The Hindu activists initially got a tip that the Islamists were slaughtering cows instead of goats on Bakrid. They then informed the police about the matter who further raided the premises of the Islamists discovering the truth. The police found that several cows were being slaughtered on the occasion of Bakrid instead of goats. The Hindus protested against the incident and raised slogans after which the Islamists attacked several Hindu activists for allegedly informing the police about the slaughtering of cows.

A police complaint in this case has been filed by a Hindu woman who said that she was molested and her husband was threatened by Islamists for informing the police about the slaughter of cows. The police, in this case, have booked 19 individuals identified as Ahmed Sayyed, Lala Sheikh, Naser Sheikh, Imran Pathan, Ismail Pathan, Arbaz Patel, Baba Sheikh Andyawala, Baba Addu Wakharwala, Ajju Tikkiyapavwala, Rahim Sheikh, Sayyed Matin, Sayyed Baba, Rahim Sheikh, Shehzad Sayyed, Arbaz Qureshi, Junaid Sheikh, Sayyed Sheru, Sayyed Harun and Munni Baji.

These accused persons have been booked by the police under sections 395 (dacoity), 354A (sexual harassment), 452 (house-trespass), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (intentional insult), 506 (criminal intimidation), 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting) and 149 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

Copy obtained by OpIndia

The woman in the complaint mentioned that the accused persons barged into her home on 17th June and began searching for her husband who had informed the police about the slaughtering of cattle on Bakrid at the hands of Islamists. The woman, however, said that her husband was not at home. After this, the accused persons abused the woman, molested her, and threatened to kill her and her husband.

Further, the accused persons are also said to have looted the woman for Rs 14,000. “Arbaz Qureshi, Junaid Sheikh molested me and threatened to kill us. They yelled at me and abused saying that my husband had informed the police about the cow slaughter. The others meanwhile snatched my gold mangal sutra amounting to Rs 14,000,” the Hindu complainant mentioned in the complaint.

BJP’s Sanjay Kenekar meanwhile confirmed the incident. While exclusively talking to Sudarshan News, he stated that Muslim goons in the Daulatabad region barged into Hindu homes and molested women. “I totally condemn this incident on behalf of BJP. Muslim goons attacked Hindu women and Hindu activists for informing the police about the slaughtering of gauvansh. The police in this case took swift action and pacified the matter. They filed complaints and booked the accused persons avoiding any communal incident. I wish to congratulate and thank the police administration for taking such swift action in this case,” Kenekar said.

Notably, a counter-complaint was also filed by Islamists against Hindus identified as Aditya Bodkhe, Akshay Bodkhe, Tushar Mhaske, and Mayur Mhaske for allegedly barging into the home of a Muslim individual to check for the remains of the slaughtered animals. A Muslim woman in the complaint stated that these four Hindu individuals allegedly abused her and disturbed her home while searching for the remains. As per the complaint, the incident happened after the husband of the woman was detained by the police for slaughtering cows on Bakrid.

Why do Muslims slaughter animals on Bakrid?

Muslims every year slaughter livestock during the festival of Eid and believe that the tradition was first initiated by the Prophet Muhammed himself. They kill the animal by Halal method and then distribute the meat amongst their family members and others.

In reverence of Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son, Ismaeel, as an act of obedience to God’s order, God intervened and provided an animal as a substitute sacrifice, leading to the celebration of Bakrid or Eid-ul-Adha. Muslims commemorate this day every year, honoring Allah via the sacrifice of an animal. It is a three-day event and comprises goat and sheep sacrifices as well as namaz.

OpIndia has obtained both FIRs. Meanwhile, BJP’s Kenekar has said that such actions by Islamists will not be tolerated by the state administration. He has demanded strict action against all the 19 accused Islamists. Further investigations in the matter are underway.

Revival of Nalanda University will mark the beginning of ‘Golden Age’ of India, will give the world an introduction to India’s capability: PM Modi

ANI
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Revival of Nalanda University will mark the beginning of ‘Golden Age’ of India, will give the world an introduction to India’s capability: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that the revival of Nalanda will mark the beginning of the ‘Golden Age’ of India adding that the new campus of the university will give the world an introduction to India’s capability.

After inaugurating the new campus of Nalanda University in Rajgir, the Prime Minister said, “I am happy that I got the opportunity to visit Nalanda within 10 days after swearing in as PM for the third time.”

“Nalanda is more than just a name, it’s a mantra, an identity, a declaration that books might get destroyed in fire, but knowledge persists. The revival of Nalanda will mark the beginning of the Golden Age of India,” the PM said .

“Nalanda’s reawakening, this new campus, will give the world an introduction to India’s capability,” he said.

The Prime Minister said that Nalanda is not just limited to the renaissance of India’s past instead the heritage of various countries of the world and Asia is linked to it.

“Nalanda is not just a renaissance of India’s past. The heritage of many countries of the world and Asia is linked to it. Our partner countries have also participated in the reconstruction of Nalanda University. I greet all the friendly countries of India on this occasion,” he said.

“Nalanda was once the epicentre of India’s educational identity. Education goes beyond the realms of borders, profits and losses. Education shapes our thoughts and behaviour. During ancient times, admission to Nalanda University was not based on the nationality of the student. People from different walks of life used to come here in pursuit of education,” PM Modi said.

Highlighting International Yoga Day which is celebrated on June 21, the Prime Minister said that Yoga Day has become a global celebration.

“June 21 is International Yoga Day. Today hundreds of forms of yoga exist in India. How much deep research our sages must have done for this! But, no one created a monopoly on yoga. Today the whole world is adopting Yoga, Yoga Day has become a global celebration,” he said.

Sharing his missions, PM Modi said that he wants to make the country a centre of education and knowledge for the world. He said that India has carried progress and the environment together.

“My mission is–India should become a centre of education and knowledge for the world. India should once again be recognised as the most prominent knowledge centre in the world. India has lived as a model of sustainability for centuries. We have carried progress and environment together. Based on those very experiences, India has given the world a human vision like Mission Life,” he said.

“Nalanda is the first-ever campus in India which will work on the model of Net Zero energy, Net Zero emissions and Net Zero waste. Working on the idea of ‘Be your own light’, this campus will guide the world,” the PM added.

Noting that the 21st centre is being called the Asian century, PM Modi said that Nalanda University is working towards making Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) the India university network

“Nalanda University will soon become an important centre for our cultural exchange programmes. Documentation of various artworks from India and Southeast Asia is being undertaken here. Common Archival Resources Centre is also being established here. Nalanda University is working towards making ASEAN- the India University network… Many leading global institutions have joined in, and the 21st century is being called the Asian century,” he said.

Nalanda’s new campus has two academic blocks with 40 classrooms, with a total seating capacity of around 1900. It has two auditoriums with a capacity of 300 seats each. It has a student hostel with a capacity of around 550 students. It also has various other facilities, including an international centre, an amphitheatre that can accommodate up to 2000 individuals, a faculty club, and a sports complex, among others.

The Campus is a ‘Net Zero’ Green Campus. It is self-sustaining with solar plants, domestic and drinking water treatment plants, a water recycling plant for reusing wastewater, 100 acres of water bodies, and many other environment-friendly facilities.

The university is conceived as a collaboration between India and East Asia Summit (EAS) countries. It has a deep connection with history.

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

After the infamous Arnab Goswami interview, Rahul Gandhi has displayed disdain for media, despite doing only controlled press conferences

Sai Ram B
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After the infamous Arnab Goswami interview, Rahul Gandhi has displayed disdain for media, despite doing only controlled press conferences

Rahul Gandhi, MP-elect from Wayanad and Rae Bareli, has been a figure of great political heft since the year 2004. His rise to political fame from Amethi, a constituency that his father, Rajiv Gandhi, used to represent, to finally being ousted by the BJP’s Smriti Irani in 2019, is a saga of a man trying hard not to fumble on his way up. However, another very troublesome facet of Rahul Gandhi’s political personality has been exposed – his rude and dismissive behavior with journalists during the press conference and media interactions.

Rahul Gandhi began his political career in 2004 when the Congress-led UPA formed the government. In a surprise move, Sonia Gandhi handed over the prime ministership to Dr. Manmohan Singh, a seasoned economist and former governor of the Reserve Bank of India. Under Dr. Singh’s stewardship, India underwent a transformative change in the subsequent decade – some of it good, most of it catastrophic.

But as the 2014 elections neared, Sonia Gandhi made up her mind to let her son have a chance. The decision was taken against the backdrop of a relative greenhorn like Rahul Gandhi, who had only about a decade of experience in politics vis-a-vis Narendra Modi, who had already carved out a legacy as the three-term Chief Minister of Gujarat.

The 2014 elections were a turning point. To showcase his vision for India, the team of Rahul Gandhi selected Arnab Goswami for an interview. But it turned out to be a disaster of an interview. It was very clear that Rahul had not prepared, and though his team tried desperately to get Arnab Goswami to give them a second chance, the moment had passed.

Arnab Goswami himself revealed in an interview, that when his team recorded the interview with Rahul Gandhi, they thought that his level was very much below the mark and requested Arnab to give him a second chance, whereas by then, the tapes were already on the way to Mumbai. This marked a turning point in Indian politics regarding the preparedness of Rahul for leadership on a national scale. 

After this, Rahul Gandhi shied away from the media’s in-depth interaction, preferring press conferences, but then those too are controllable environments. However, his engagements with the press have often been marred with arrogance and rudeness. On March 2023, during a press conference, Rahul scolded Ravi Sisodia, a journalist from CNN News18, by saying, “Don’t pretend to be a pressman. Kyun hawa nikal gayi?” Such remarks not only question the professionalism of the journalist but also disgrace Rahul Gandhi’s ability to handle criticism.

The second one was on February 20, 2024, during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, where he questioned a journalist about his owner’s name and caste. This led to the journalist being beaten up by the crowd. Instead of calming things down, Rahul called him on stage to further humiliate him. Such acts are not only unprofessional but dangerously irresponsible at the same time because this undermines the role of a free press in a democracy.

More recently, Rahul’s interaction with Mausami Singh, a senior journalist with Aaj Tak and India Today, showed his utter lack of grace in dealing with critical questions. The moment Mausami raised the issue of the opposition’s role in stalling parliament and the consequent financial waste, Rahul began to disrupt her question rudely and accused her of being a mouthpiece for the BJP, suggesting that she wear a BJP badge. Dignified, Mausami shot back, ‘You can’t point fingers like this if you don’t like the question.’ And in that small response lay the huge difference between a journalist and a seasoned one and a politician who doesn’t want to be bothered.

These are not isolated incidents. These are incidents that draw a worrying picture of a politician who would rather be disrespectful and dismissive of journalists challenging him than constructively engage with the media. This doesn’t do a disservice to journalists alone, but to a democratic ethos that rests on the twin pillars of accountability and transparency.

Rahul Gandhi needs to understand that questioning power and the nature of that power is, undoubtedly, the role journalists play. Repeatedly proving disrespectful to them demeans the concept of democracy and, in turn, the common people who place their trust in the hands of leaders. If Rahul has to lead, he has to learn to face the media with respect, even in such situations. Only then can he hope to command the respect and support of a nation that values free speech and democratic principles.

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