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18 murders in 20 days: Chennai mirrors TN’s rising crime graph

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bheel

Citing the recent killings in Chennai, former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition K. Palaniswami has said that the state capital is “turning into a murder city with 18 murders in 20 days”. However, Greater Chennai City police commissioner, Shankar Jiwal refuted the claim, saying that only 10 murders took place in the city, and of them, four were due to personal enmity and six because of family disputes.

Palaniswami made the remark immediately after the killing of BJP’s district leader, K. Balachander in Chennai’s Chintadripet area.

While the top police officer has all the right to defend his force, the killing of a small-time financier, Arumugham (36), on the busy Aminjikarai road in broad daylight was a shock. Four men chased the financier and hacked him to death.

The DMK government has assumed office in May 2021 with the promise that the police will be strict and would deal with the miscreants with an iron fist. However, with the number of killings on rise in many parts of Tamil Nadu, the police force and the state administration seem to be on the receiving end.

On May 26, the day when the Prime Minister was arriving in the state, Lakshmanan, a 55-year-old priest, was hacked to death in Madurai by a three-member gang while he was on his way to the temple. This was another major blow for the Tamil Nadu Police, forcing the Director-General of Police (DGP) to intervene in the matter. Police acted swiftly and arrested the culprits who were close relatives of the deceased priest.

Meanwhile, in another embarrassment for the state police, two alleged custodial deaths took place on April 19 and 26 in two seperate incidents in Chennai and Myladuthurai. In Chennai, a Scheduled Caste youth Vignesh who was picked up by the police along with an accomplice Suresh on April 18 died on 19 in the police station. Autopsy revealed that Vignesh had 13 injuries including a broken right leg and bruises on the face, hands, shoulders, and chest. Sub-Inspector of Police and constables were arrested in the case.

Similarly, on April 26, Thangamani(46) died in Myladuthurai sub-jail. He was picked by the police on April 25 charging that he was brewing illicit liquor. The relatives of the deceased alleged that Thangamani was brutally tortured in the station and he died in sub-jail on next day morning due to the torture inflicted in the station.

In Chengalpattu district, adjoining Chennai, two youths were hacked to death by a three-member gang in January. Chengalpattu district is home to several major industries in Tamil Nadu including international automobile manufacturers and software companies, and the brutal killings could possibly lead to the loss of investors’ confidence.

R. Swaminathan, head of industrial relations in a big multinational company in Chengalpattu while speaking to IANS said: “Any investor will be comfortable when the law and order situation is good but after the murder of two youths and another killing have led to sort of uneasiness in our management. The government is trying its best it seems, but we need assurance that the police will deal with an iron hand.”

Even as killings have turned routine and people are worried over the frequent murders, DGP C. Sylendrababu told reporters on May 24 that the law and order situation was well maintained in the state.

The DGP said: “No instances of caste or communal clashes in Tamil Nadu or firing or deaths due to spurious liquor, occurred in the state. So it is very peaceful.”

However, he admitted that illicit liquor was brewed in certain parts of the state but the police have arrested several people who were indulging in illicit brewing of liquor.

While the DGP is claiming that there are no caste-related killings in the state, four beheadings in 10 days during September 2021 had sent a chill through the spines of people of south Tamil Nadu. All the murders were caste-related and the DGP had to camp in Madurai and intervene to quench the violence that erupted following the incidents.

C. Rajeev, Director, Centre for Policy and Development Studies, a think tank based out of Chennai, while speaking to IANS, said: “Back to back killings and custodial deaths have dented the image of Tamil Nadu police and the Chief Minister who is in charge of the home department must ensure that law and order are maintained properly for a safe and peaceful Tamil Nadu. No one must be allowed to take the law into his hands, and beyond a point, the situation would turn grave and out of control if it is not handled now.”

(The story has been published via a syndicated feed.)

Father-son duo working tirelessly to get all Hindu cultural heritage and places of worship back

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hindu

Even as the Gyanvapi mosque dispute occupies the center stage of politics in the country, two lawyers — father and son — are busy drumming up legal support for other places that are being claimed to be Hindu shrines.

Lawyer Hari Shankar Jain, 68, and now his son Vishnu Shankar Jain, 36, are now an integral part of all legal battles for ‘Hindu shrines’ — from Gyanvapi to Idgah in Mathura and the Qutub Minar in Delhi.

Together, they have filed around 110 cases across various courts, seeking worship rights for Hindus or representing Hindu deities.

Hari Shankar Jain had represented the Hindu Mahasabha in the decades-old Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute that was decided in favor of Hindus by the Supreme Court on November 9, 2019.

He is now spearheading the legal battle in the Gyanvapi mosque case.

His son, Vishnu Shankar Jain, is also at the forefront of all these high-profile legal battles.

“Injustice meted out to the Hindus angers me. I will continue to fight legal battles till Hindus get back their places of worship,” said Hari Shankar Jain, who began his legal career in Lucknow and thereafter relocated to New Delhi to practice in the Supreme Court.

His son Vishnu Shankar Jain has been practicing law since 2010.

Jain, when asked how he manages to contest so many cases at one time, said, “I draft the petition and build a fool-proof case. Thereafter, I select local petitioners to make the case stronger.”

Hari Shankar Jain drafted six applications that were filed in Varanasi district court, including the one in which his son is representing five Hindu women in the Shringar Gauri case.

In addition to this, he has filed five more petitions, either claiming to be a friend of Hindu deities or seeking a Hindu right to worship them.

The father and son are also contesting the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah case in Mathura and the Qutub Minar dispute in Delhi.

The Jains are confident of victory as they claim that “facts are in the favour of Hindus.”

Talking about the Places of Worship Act, 1991, Jain said, “The Places of Worship Act (1991) is not applicable in almost all the cases I am contesting, including the Gyanvapi dispute in Varanasi and the Shahi Eidgah in Mathura.

The Hindu community had access to all these shrines on August 15, 1947, and was regularly carrying out puja and other rituals.”

In Mathura, he has filed a petition on behalf of Bhagwan Krishna, seeking the removal of the Shahi Eidgah adjacent to the Shri Krishna temple complex in Mathura and the transfer of 13.37-acre land to the deity.

“I have filed another lawsuit in the district court of Indore, seeking religious rights for Hindus to perform puja at the Saraswati temple in Bhojshala (in Madhya Pradesh) throughout the year,” he said.

The father-son duo has pledged to work tirelessly till Hindus get back all their cultural heritage and places of worship back.

Hari Shankar Jain, and fellow lawyer Ranjana Agnihotri, also made headlines when they challenged the then Samajwadi Party government’s decision in Allahabad high court in July 2013 to withdraw cases against terrorists.

(Featured Image Source: OpIndia)

(The story has been published via a syndicated feed with a modified headline and minor edits to conform to the HinduPost style guide)

Hindus under attack: a weekly roundup of hate crimes, persecution, and discrimination against Hindus

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Hindu

Attacks on Hindus and Hindu Dharma, both in Bharat and overseas, are frequent and unrelenting. In many regions of the world, this persecution is like a genocide slowly unfolding before our eyes. For decades, the true depth and breadth of these attacks, driven by disturbing anti-Hindu bigotry, have been ignored by the world. From murders, forced conversions, land grabs, assault on festivals, desecration of temples and murtis, hate speech, and sexual violence to institutionalized & legal discrimination, Hindus are facing an increasing assault on their very existence along with an unprecedented Hindu hatred.

In this weekly summary for the period from 22 May to 28 May 2022, we hope to provide a snapshot of such crimes and hopefully awaken more people around the world to this human rights crisis:

Bharat

1) Surat police have booked one Rafiq Mansoor for hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus. He is a resident of Mandavi Taluk’s Tadkeshwar Village. Locals have demanded strong action against Mansoor.

2) A woman has accused her Muslim husband and in-laws of harassing her and forcing her to convert to Islam. She has also alleged that they have been subjecting her to physical and mental torture.

3) Hindu organizations have lodged a complaint against a Christian school in Tamil Nadu for proselytizing underage children on the pretext of conducting summer classes. The children were taught how to love others and were given prizes for listening to the preaching.

4) Kydganj police in UP’s Prayagraj have booked one Mohammed Shahid for reportedly sexually exploiting a minor and forcing her to convert to Islam. The police have registered a case under sections of rape, fraud, POCSO Act, and prohibition of unlawful religious conversion.

5) Family members of a married Hindu woman accused one Jafar of trapping her and luring her. The duo was caught when they were on their way to getting married in court. The woman’s brother reached Ujjain along with Hindu organizations.

6) History-sheeter Shamsher alias Bablu Khan has been accused of murdering his ‘friend’ Shivdatt alias Shiva Bhalerao. He suspected that Shiva was having an affair with Khan’s live-in partner Asha Thakur. The murder took place 8 months ago.

7) A Muslim woman, her parents, and a cleric have been arrested for converting an underage boy forcefully and marrying him off to a woman. The woman is divorced and has kids. The 16-year-old Hindu boy was converted to Islam by the woman’s family after grooming him for a year.

8) India Today resorted to editing out the vibhuti tika in a news on teenage grandmaster (GM) Praggnanandhaa. The stark contrast in the images used by India Today and other media outlets is ample proof that the image was deliberately edited by the former.

9) Two incidents of brutality against Hindu priests have come forward, one from Madhya Pradesh’s (MP) Khandwa and the other from Uttar Pradesh’s (UP) Barabanki.

10) 25-year-old Vijaya Kamble was murdered by his Muslim girlfriend’s family in Karnataka’s Kalaburagi.

11) 21-year-old Lubna Shahzeen from Bareilly in UP did Ghar Wapsi to marry Bobby Kashyap and changed her name to Arohi. She has been receiving threats from her family and Muslim leaders.

11) A Pak Hindu refugee family was attacked by a mob of 300 Muslims in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur district. As per available information, the incident took place yesterday evening. The victim’s family had come to Jodhpur from Pakistan 12 years ago. At least four people including a woman were severely injured in the attack.

12) Bulandshahr police have arrested one Abbas and his two accomplices for attempting to kill his estranged wife. The police acted on the complaint registered by the 21-year-old woman who is a resident of Bulandshahr’s Jahangiribad. 

Bangladesh

Attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh are relentless and designed to gradually cleanse the religious minority from the country. As per a study by Prof. Abul Barakat of Dhaka University, there will be no Hindus left in Bangladesh by 2050 due to systemic and institutionalized persecution. Temple desecration, land grabbing, mob attacks after false blasphemy charges, rape/forced conversion of women, and hate speech are some of the tools used to intimidate and drive Hindus out.

1) Subrata Mondal was murdered by Mohammad Monir on Sunday (May 22) in Narayanganj (Tweet archived).

Most hate crimes are driven by anti-Hindu bigotry encoded in certain religious teachings and political ideologies. While the anti-Hindu hate in Islamic countries is obvious, there is another subtler form of anti-Hindu sentiment within institutions and the public sphere of ostensibly secular states (like India) that provides an enabling environment for Hinduphobia and hate crimes. This subtle, everyday discrimination can be missed unless one studies prevailing laws and patterns. The gradual ban on firecrackers during Diwali is a good example – it might seem pollution-related on the surface, but the double standards at play become clear when one looks at the larger picture of restrictions on Hindu festivals, and the lack of sound reasoning behind the ban.

We request all readers to share other anti-Hindu hate crimes that we might have missed in this period in the comments below or by dropping an email to [email protected]. We also solicit support in the maintenance of the Hindu human rights tracker database started by us.

Abu Dhabi BAPS Hindu Mandir to open doors by Feb 2024

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BAPS

BAPS Hindu Mandir, Abu Dhabi, marked a significant milestone in the construction journey with the ‘MahaPeeth’ ceremony — laying the first stone of the first floor of the Mandir. Thus far, the foundation and the ground floor consisting of 14 layers of stone have been completed and this ceremony marked the start of the next stage in the construction of the Mandir which is set to open its doors in 2024.

Swami Brahmaviharidas, head of the upcoming mandir, and Swami Akshaymunidas Swami who oversees international mandir construction graced this event, along with over 500 distinguished guests of the UAE including the Ambassador of Bharat to the UAE His Excellency Sunjay Sudhir, community leaders and members of the congregation. The excitement of the architects, technical consultants, community officials, and volunteers who attended this event was palpable.

The construction of the first floor of the Mandir is an important feature as it will shape the ‘Garbhagruha’ (inner sanctum) which is the central shrine in a Mandir which houses the Deities. In addition to the intricately stone-carved Mandir, the complex spread over 55,000 square meters will also include a large amphitheater, an exhibition hall, a library, a food court, a majlis, and two community halls with a total capacity to seat 5,000 people.

With seven spires to represent each of the UAE’s emirates, the place of worship will be 32 meters tall when it opens in 2024.

Architects and engineers pore over the large floor plan to match columns and carvings sent from Bharat to the exact slot at the temple site. Work on the ground floor facade is almost complete. Construction will start soon on the first floor with engravings that depict the lives of Hindu gods, along with friezes decorated with musicians, dancers, peacocks, camels, horses, and elephants.

More than 1,000 carvings of deities will be added to brackets across the temple’s exterior, with at least 30 planned of the elephant-headed Bhagwan Ganesha. The steps leading to the temple will portray teachings from other ancient civilizations, such as the Mayans.

(The story has been published via a syndicated feed with minor edits to conform to the HinduPost style guide)

जयंती विशेष – हिंदुत्व और राष्ट्रवाद के सबसे बड़े नायक वीर सावरकर

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Picture Source - Outlook

भारतीय स्वतंत्रता आंदोलन के प्रखर सेनानी और महान हिंदुत्ववादी नेता वीर सावरकर जी की आज 139वीं जयंती है। उनका जन्म 28 मई को 1883 में महाराष्ट्र के नासिक जिले के ग्राम भगूर में हुआ था। सावरकर जी ना सिर्फ एक महान क्रांतिकारी थे, बल्कि एक अति उत्कृष्ट लेखक, प्रेरक कवि और समाज सुधारक भी थे। सावरकर जी भारतीय स्वतंत्रता आन्दोलन की पहली पंक्ति के सेनानी और प्रखर राष्ट्रवादी नेता थे, जिन्हें सम्मान से स्वातंत्र्यवीर या वीर सावरकर के नाम से भी जाना जाता है।

सावरकर जी का बचपन

सावरकर जी की माता का नाम राधाबाई सावरकर और पिता दामोदर पंत सावरकर थे, उनके तीन भाई और एक बहन भी थी। उनकी प्रारंभिक शिक्षा नासिक के शिवाजी स्कूल से हुयी थी। मात्र 9 साल की उम्र में हैजा बीमारी से उनकी मां का देहांत हो गया था जिसके कुछ वर्ष बाद ही उनके पिता की भी मृत्यु हो गई। घर परिवार का समस्त उत्तरदायित्व सावरकर के बड़े भाई गणेश सावरकर पर आ गया था, जिसका उन्होंने अच्छे से पालन भी किया।

सावरकर बचपन से ही प्रतिभाशाली थे और कुछ अलग करने की उनकी प्रवृत्ति थी। जब वे मात्र ग्यारह वर्ष के थे तभी उन्होंने ̔वानर सेना ̕नाम का समूह बनाया था। वह बाल गंगाधर तिलक जी से अत्यंत प्रभावित थे, और उनके द्वारा शुरू किए गए ̔शिवाजी उत्सव ̕और ̔गणेश उत्सव ̕ का हर वर्ष बढ़ चढ़कर आयोजन किया करते थे।

युवावस्था और विवाह

वर्ष 1901 मार्च में उनका विवाह ̔यमुनाबाई ̕ से हो गया था। वर्ष 1902 में उन्होंने स्नातक के लिए पुणे के ̔फर्ग्युसन कॉलेज में प्रवेश लिया। आर्थिक स्थिति अच्छी न होने के कारण उनके अध्ययन का खर्च उनके ससुर जी ने ही उठाया था।

सावरकर जी ने पुणे के प्रतिष्ठित फर्ग्यूसन कॉलेज से कला स्नातक (बीए), उसके पश्चात वर्ष 1906 में कानून की पढ़ाई करने के लिए इंग्लैंड चले गए थे। लंदन में वह इंडिया हाउस में प्रवास करते थे, और साथ ही लेखन आदि कार्य भी करते थे। उन दिनों इंडिया हाउस का सञ्चालन पंडित श्याम जी किया करते थे, और वह स्थान मात्र राजनीतिक गतिविधियों का केंद्र ही नहीं था बल्कि क्रांतिकारी गतिविधियों के लिए भी प्रख्यात था।

वीर सावरकर ने वहीं ‘फ्री इंडिया’ सोसाइटी का निर्माण किया, जहां भारतीय छात्रों को स्वतंत्रता के लिए लड़ने के लिए प्रेरित किया जाता था। वीर सावरकर ने अपने उत्कृष्ट लेखन के कारण जल्द ही अच्छी खासी ख्याति प्राप्त कर ली थी, उनके क्रांतिकारी विचारों से युवा वर्ग बहुत प्रभावित हुआ करता था। उनके मन में आजादी की अलख जल रही थी, और इसे से प्रेरित हो कर उन्होंने वर्ष 1907 में ‘1857 का स्वातंत्र्य समर’ नामक बेहतरीन पुस्तक लिखनी प्रारंभ की थी।

इंग्लैंड से आरम्भ किया स्वतंत्रता का अभियान

सावरकर ने अपने इंग्लैंड प्रवास से समय ही भारत को मुक्त कराने के लिए हथियारों के इस्तेमाल को महत्वपूर्ण बताया था, और इसी कारण से उन्होंने हथियारों से सुसज्जित एक दल का गठन भी किया था। सावरकर द्वारा लिखे गए लेख ̔’तलवार’ और इंडियन सोशियोलाजिस्ट’ जैसी लोकप्रिय पत्रिकाओं में प्रकाशित होते थे। वह एक ऐसे लेखक थे जिनकी रचना के प्रकाशित होने के पहले ही ब्रिटिश सरकार उन पर प्रतिबंध लगा दिया करती थी । इसी समयकाल में उनकी पुस्तक ̔द इंडियन वार ऑफ़ इंडिपेंडेंस 1857’ लिखी जा चुकी थी, परंतु ब्रिटिश सरकार ने उसके प्रकाशित होने पर भी रोक लगा दी।

स्वतंत्रता सेनानी मैडम भीकाजी ने उनकी सहायता की, और इस पुस्तक की को गुपचुप तरीके से हॉलैंड में प्रकाशित हुयी और इसकी प्रतियां फ्रांस और अन्य यूरोपीय देशो में पहुंची, साथ ही इस पुस्तक को भारत भी पहुंचाया गया । सावरकर ने इस पुस्तक में ‘1857 के विद्रोह’ को ब्रिटिश सरकार के विरुद्ध स्वतंत्रता की पहली लड़ाई बताया था।

वीर सावरकर का ब्रिटिश सरकार से सीधा टकराव

वर्ष 1909 में मदनलाल ढींगरा ने लार्ड कर्जन की हत्या का असफल प्रयास किया, और बाद में सर विएली को गोली मार दी। उसी दौरान नासिक के तत्कालीन ब्रिटिश कलेक्टर ए.एम.टी जैक्सन की भी गोली मारकर हत्या कर दी गयी थी। इस हत्या के बाद सावरकर पर ब्रिटिश सरकार की कुदृष्टि पड़ गयी थी, क्योंकि ढींगरा उनके सहयोगी थे।

ब्रिटिश पुलिस ने उन्हें गिरफ्तार किया और 13 मार्च 1910 को उन्हें लंदन में कैद कर लिया गया। ब्रिटिश न्यायलय ने उनपर गंभीर आरोप लगाये गए, और उन्हें 50 साल की कठोर कारावास की सजा सुनाई गयी। उस समय कालापानी की सज़ा को सबसे कठोर माना जाता था, सावरकर को काला पानी की सज़ा देकर अंडमान के सेलुलर जेल भेज दिया गया था।

सावरकर ने 14 साल कालापानी में सजा काटी, और उसके बाद ही उन्हें मुक्त किया गया था। कालापानी जेल में उन्होंने कील और कोयले से कविताएं लिखीं और उनको याद कर लिया था। उन्होंने कंठस्त की हुई दस हजार पंक्तियों की कविता को जेल से बाहर आने के बाद फिर से लिखा।वर्ष 1920 में महात्मा गाँधी, बाल गंगाधर तिलक, और विट्ठलभाई पटेल ने सावरकर को मुक्त करने मांग की। 2 मई 1921 में उनको रत्नागिरी जेल भेजा गया और वहां से सावरकर को यरवदा जेल भेज दिया गया था। रत्नागिरी जेल में उन्होंने ̔हिंदुत्व पुस्तक ̕की रचना की।

वर्ष 1924 में ब्रिटिश सरकार ने उन्हें मुक्त किया, लेकिन कई तरह के प्रतिबन्ध उन पर लगा दिए गए थे। उनको रत्नागिरी से बाहर जाने की अनुमति नहीं थी, और न ही वह पांच वर्ष तक कोई राजनीति कार्य कर सकते थे। कारावास से मुक्त होने के बाद उन्होंने 23 जनवरी 1924 को ̔रत्नागिरी हिंदू सभा’ का गठन किया और भारतीय संस्कृति और समाज कल्याण के लिए काम करना शुरू किया।

सावरकर और कालेपानी की सजा

वीर सावरकर को उनकी क्रांतिकारी गतिविधियों की वजह से ब्रिटिश सरकार ने एक नहीं दो-दो आजीवन कारावास यानि 50 वर्ष की सजा दी थी। वह पहले इंसान थे जिन्हे दोहरे आजीवन कारावास की सज़ा सुनाई गयी थी, और इसके लिए उन्हें कालापानी (अंडमान और निकोबार द्वीप समूह ) भेजा गया था।

सेलुलर जेल में रखे गए कैदीयों से ब्रिटिश सरकार खूब काम कराया करती थी और उनका शोषण भी किया जाता था। उन्हें भरपूर यातनाएं दी जाती थी, उन्हे भर पेट खाना भी नहीं दिया जाता था, जंगलों से लकड़ियाँ काटना, नारियल छील कर उसका तेल निकालना, तेल निकालने की चक्कियों में कोल्हू के बैल की तरह मजदूरी करना और पहाड़ी क्षेत्रों में दुर्गम जगहों पर काम करना, यह सब वीर सावरकर और उनके सहयोगियों को करने पड़े थे। कोई भी गलती होने पर जेल प्रशासन क्रांतिकारियों की पिटाई भी करता था, और काल कोठरी में उन्हें कई-कई दिन तक भूखे प्यासे रखा जाता था।

सावरकर और हिन्दू महासभा का सम्बन्ध

कुछ समय बाद सावरकर बालगंगाधर तिलक की स्वराज पार्टी में सम्मिलित हो गए थे, उसके कुछ ही समय बाद उन्होंने हिन्दुओं के उत्थान के लिए हिंदू महासभा नाम का एक अलग संगठन भी बना लिया था । वर्ष 1937 में अखिल भारतीय हिंदू महासभा के अध्यक्ष बने और आगे जाकर भारत छोड़ो आंदोलन’ ̕का अंग भी बने।

सावरकर ने हमेशा पाकिस्तान निर्माण का विरोध किया और गांधीजी को भी ऐसा ही करने के लिए निवेदन किया। नाथूराम गोडसे ने 1948 में महात्मा गांधी की हत्या कर दी जिसमें सावरकर का भी नाम आया। सावरकर को एक बार फिर जेल जाना पड़ा परंतु साक्ष्यों के अभाव में उन्हें मुक्त कर दिया गया। वह सावरकर ही थे, जिन्होंने हमारे ध्वज तिरंगे के बीच में धर्म चक्र लगाने का सुझाव सर्वप्रथम दिया गया था। स्वतंत्रता के पश्चात उनको 8 अक्टूबर 1951 में पुणे विश्वविद्यालय द्वारा डी.लिट की उपाधि से सम्मानित भी किया गया था।

सावरकर कैसे बने ‘वीर’ सावरकर?

जब सावरकर पुणे में थे, तब कांग्रेस ने वक्तव्य को लेकर उन्हें प्रतिबंधित कर दिया था, और उनका हर जगह कड़ा विरोध किया जाता था। ऐसे में एक बार उन्हें नाटक और फिल्म कलाकार पी के अत्रे ने बालमोहन थिएटर में एक कार्यक्रम के लिए आमंत्रित किया था। जैसे ही यह जानकारी कांग्रेस के कार्यकर्ताओं को पता लगी, उन्होंने सावरकर का विरोध करना शुरू कर दिया, उनके विरोध में दुष्प्रचार करने के लिए पर्चे बांटे जाने लगे, और उन्हें काले झंडे दिखाने के लिए हजारों कांग्रेस कार्यकर्त्ता इकठ्ठा हो गए थे।

इस सबके बाद भी सावरकर ने अपना कार्यक्रम सफलतापूर्वक किया, जिससे प्रभावित हो कर अत्रे ने कहा कि जो इंसान कालेपानी की सजा से नहीं डरा हो, वो इन कांग्रेस के लोगो से क्या डरेगा। अत्रे जी ने उन्हें ‘वीर’ की उपाधि दी, जो आज तक उनके नाम से जुडी हुई है। उन्होंने हिंदी भाषा को देश भर में आम भाषा के रूप में अपनाने पर जोर दिया था और हिन्दू धर्म में व्याप्त जाति भेद व छुआछूत को ख़त्म करने का आह्वान भी किया था।

Police arrest father of 10-yr old boy who raised slogans against non-Muslims in PFI rally: Kerala

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A day after the Kerala High Court took a strong position and directed the government to take firm action against those responsible for a ten-year-old child raising provocative slogans against non-Muslims at a Popular Front of India (PFI) rally in Alappuzha on May 21, the police on Saturday took into custody the boy’s father.

Confirming this, a top police official said he was picked up from his house here and has been handed over to the Alappuzha police.

But the father of the boy said that none had tutored the boy and he did it on his own.

“This same slogans have been aired a few times in the past and surprisingly, when no action took place then, how come this time it has turned out to be like this,” asked the boy’s father before he was taken away by the police.

When the police arrived at the house of the boy, a good number of PFI activists were present and they shouted slogans against the police.

On Friday around 18 people, who took part in the rally held at Alappuzha sloganeered, were arrested.

The boy, who lives at Thoppumpady near here, was identified, a few days back but the police failed to find anyone in the house as it was locked, when they came.

Meanwhile the police are looking into if the boy needs to be sent for counselling and are also contemplating on what needs to be done to his mother, as guardians have been held responsible.

As the video of the incident went viral, there were numerous protests against it following which the police swung into action and the High Court took up the matter early this week and on Friday the court came down heavily against this act and asked for strong action to be taken.

The boy’s father was earlier identified as a known PFI activist who had participated in the Citizenship (Amendment) Act protests.

The boy was brought to Alappuzha to take part in the rally by his father and was spotted sitting atop the shoulders of a man called Anzar, and leading the sloganeering.

Anzar, who hails from Kottayam district, was the first to be taken into custody and he is now in judicial custody.

A case has been registered against the organisers of the rally for promoting rivalry and hatred among communities.

The PFI has also attempted to downplay the incident saying that the slogans were against “Hindutva fascists” and not against Hindus or Christians.

(The story has been published via a syndicated feed.)

Hijab row: Only uniforms are allowed, says K’taka Minister

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Source: Dhakatribune.com; Sylhet teacher in hiding for a month over ‘false’ allegation

While commenting on the resurfacing of the hijab issue in Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka Education Minister B.C. Nagesh on Saturday categorically stated that only uniforms are allowed in school and college campuses across the state.

He further said that the order of the Karnataka High Court must be followed regarding the issue.

The Minister’s remark comes after hundreds of students from Mangaluru’s University College staged a protest on Thursday against wearing hijab in classrooms.

The students expressed anger at the authorities for allowing this despite the court and government orders.

In his statement on Saturday, the Education Minister also said that textbooks were already being printed, adding that “there is history and nationalism in the syllabus”.

He blamed the opposition Congress for creating confusion among students and also in the state regarding the textbook revision row.

Top Congress leaders Siddaramaiah and R Mallikarjun Kharge have launched fierce attacks on the state’s ruling BJP in connection with the row. Kharge slammed the state government for the inclusion of RSS founder K.B. Hedgewar’s speech in the syllabus.

(The story has been published via a syndicated feed.)

2 terrorists killed in encounter at Anantnag in J&K

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Two unidentified terrorists have been killed in an ongoing encounter between terrorists and security forces at Bijbehara in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, officials said on Saturday.

“Two terrorists killed. Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition recovered. Search going on,” police said.

The firefight between terrorists and security forces took place after a joint team of the police and the security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation on the basis of specific information about the presence of terrorists.

When security forces reached the spot where terrorists were hiding they came under a heavy volume of fire that triggered the encounter.

(The story has been published via a syndicated feed.)

Bharat slams OIC-IPHRC’s stand on Yasin Malik’s life term

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Bharat has strongly condemned the remarks of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation-Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (OIC-IPHRC) on NIA sentencing Kashmiri terrorist Yasin Malik to life imprisonment in a terror funding case.

Terming the remark “unacceptable”, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on Friday: “India finds unacceptable the comments made by OIC-IPHRC today criticizing India for the judgment in the case of Yasin Malik. Through these comments, OIC-IPHRC has implicitly expressed support for the terrorist activities of Yasin Malik, which were documented and presented in the Court. The world seeks zero tolerance of terrorism and we urge OIC not to justify it in any manner.”

Taking to Twitter, the OIC had said: “OIC-IPHRC condemned the illegal conviction of prominent Kashmiri politician Mr. Yassen Malik on concocted charges following a sham trial in India. He is imprisoned under inhumane conditions which are reflective of systemic Indian bias and persecution of Kashmiri Muslims in IOJK.”

“Such acts of blatant human rights violations against innocent Kashmiris are aimed at denying Kashmiris their legitimate right to self-determination. It not only constitutes a travesty of Indian justice but also exposed the claims of democracy,” it said in another tweet.

The two tweets sparked a huge controversy forcing the MEA to release a statement condemning the OIC’s stand.

(The story has been published via a syndicated feed with a modified headline and minor edits to conform to the HinduPost style guide)

Assam: Christian Missionaries appropriating Bihu dance music to convert members of backward communities

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Image source: YouTube video

While we often highlight the increasing threats of Islamists on Assam, the equally nefarious expansion of missionary activities in the state has not been discussed much. These Christian Missionaries have been active in Assam for the past several years. They primarily target the economically backward people from the Nepalese and Adivasi/Banvasi community who work in the tea gardens of Assam. Now a section of these Christian evangelists has been accused of offending the local cultural ethos of Assam by appropriating Bihu. 

Performed usually by young men and women, the Bihu dance is an indigenous folk dance of Assam. The Bihu festivals have great significance in the Assamese culture. And the evangelists are accused of contorting this dance and music form of immense cultural connotation to promote Christianity in Assam. It is also alleged that the Christians have distorted several Bihu songs and music and are promoting the name of Jesus through them. Reportedly, they are also organizing Bihu festivals. During the performances, they play songs with Jesus’s name inserted in them – which is opposed to the Bihu culture. 

Such instances have also been reported from the Udalguri district lately. The Bihu festival organized by the Nepali Baptist Christian Association in Udalguri has come under the radar. The concern expressed by locals is that though the Christian Association uses traditional Assamese musical instruments and plays cultural music, the language and lyrics have been changed to praise and promote Jesus.

Several videos showing young women performing the Bihu while promoting Christianity, spreading the gospel, and glorifying Jesus have also surfaced on various social media platforms. YouTube is also flushed with professionally made Bihu videos propagating Christianity and singing laurels of “Prabhu”Jesus Christ.

It is established that the missionaries have found fertile grounds in Assam and they are exploiting the innocence and financial challenges of backward communities. 

As per a report by Hindu Voice, evangelists of the Sonapur Christian Missionary are conducting large-scale conversions of members of the Vanvasi (Adivasi) community by luring them with money. If any individual refuses to take money for religious conversion, the missionaries try to sway them by promising free education for their children.

The villages within the Sonapur area have seen an increase in the number of churches in the past 30 years. Unfortunately, there were not many reports on the expansion of Christianity in this region and the ways adopted by the evangelists to convert people. Recently several Hindu associations have expressed their objections to this practice and have voiced their anger and displeasure against them. However, converting under-privileged communities to Christianity is still being carried out in full swing.