Madhya Pradesh Police has arrested seven Islamist men involved in assaulting a Hindu man identified as Bhavesh Sunhare. Sunhare was attacked while returning from a dinner with a Muslim woman identified as Nasreen Sultana, a college friend of Bhavesh. The incident took place on May 25.
As per reports, the duo was stopped by a group of 20-30 Islamist men while returning from a restaurant. In a statement, Additional DCP Rajesh Singh Raghuwanshi said, “The woman argued that she had her parents’ permission. The accused beat up her friend. Some bystanders tried to intervene to protect the man, but they were attacked with knives.”
Bhavesh was the victim of the ‘Bhagwa Love Trap’ conspiracy targeting Hindu men. On May 25, a mob of 20-30 Islamists started following Bhavesh and Nasreen who were travelling back after having dinner at a restaurant in the Tukoganj area of Indore. Two cases were registered against several people. Six were reportedly arrested by May 27 including Shoaib, Shavez Lala, Muzzamin, Amin Lala, Saif, and Arbaaz.
A video of the incident went viral on social media with netizens seeking action against the attacking mob seen in the video. The mob surrounded the victim duo in the Gwaltoli area and questioned the girl why she was roaming with a Hindu boy. Nasreen objected to the mob’s misbehaviour and told her that she had informed her parents about her dinner plans with Bhavesh.
Meanwhile, Additional DCP Rajesh Raghuvanshi said, “After informing her parents, the woman told them she had come to have dinner with the man.” She also objected to their misbehaviour. Meanwhile, two others who came to the couple’s rescue were attacked with a knife by someone in the crowd.
Additional DCP Raghuvanshi also informed that two cases have been registered in the matter, one at the Tukoganj police station and the other at the Gwaltoli police station. An FIR was registered under Section 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code, and seven suspects were identified, according to Tukoganj police station in-charge Kamlesh Sharma.
Efforts are being made to apprehend the other accused.
OpIndia tried reaching out to the police stations where FIRs were registered and DCP Rajesh Raghuvanshi but could not connect.
Two days after the Karnataka cabinet reached its full strength of 34, the portfolios were allocated with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah keeping Finance and his deputy DK Shivakumar getting Major and Medium Irrigation, and Bengaluru City Development ministries.
Other than this, CM Siddaramaiah has also kept the ministries of Cabinet Affairs, Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms, Intelligence, Information, IT and BT Infrastructure development and all unallocated portfolios. DK Shivakumar, under the Bengaluru City Development Ministry, will be having control over BBMP, BWSSB, BMRDA, BMRCL and BDA.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s son and Chittapur MLA Priyank Kharge have been given the Ministry of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj.
G Parameshwara was allocated the crucial Home Ministry in the state of Karnataka.
HK Patil has been allocated the Ministry of Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Legislation and Tourism. Former Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao was allocated the Health and Family Welfare Ministry. Former Minister and Batarayanapur MLA Krishna Byregowda got the Revenue Ministry (excluding Muzrai).
MC Sudhakar has been allocated the Education Ministry and D Sudhakar has been assigned to the Ministry of Planning and Statistics.
Karnataka cabinet reached its full strength of 34 with 24 ministers taking oath as ministers on May 27. Earlier, eight ministers along with CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar had taken oath on May 20.
The eight MLAs who took oath on May 20 were; Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s son Priyank Kharge, party’s MLAs G Parameshwara and MB Patil, KH Muniyappa, KJ George, Satish Jarkiholi, Ramalinga Reddy and BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan.
The 24 ministers who took oath on May 27 taking the state cabinet to its full strength were; HK Patil, Krishna Byregowda, N Cheluvarayaswamy, K Venkatesh, HC Mahadevappa, Eshwar Khandre, Kyathasandra N Rajanna, Dinesh Gundu Rao, Sharanabasappa Darshanapur, Shivanand Patil, Timmapur Ramappa Balappa, SS Mallikarjun, Tangadagi Shivaraj Sangappa, Sharanaprakash Rudrappa Patil, Mankal Vaidya, Laxmi R Hebbalkar, Rahim Khan, D Sudhakar, Santosh S Lad, NS Boseraju, Suresha BS, Madhu Bangarappa, MC Sudhakar, and B Nagendra.
The Karnataka cabinet expansion was done after the Chief Minister and Shivakumar held consultations with the party’s central leadership. Congress bagged 135 seats in the May 10 elections for the 224-member Karnataka Assembly ousting the ruling BJP, which got 66 seats in the southern state.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
On Monday, the Tamil Nadu Police arrested nine persons including two DMK Councillors for stopping the government officials from performing their duty. The accused persons are said to have stopped the Income Tax Officials from doing their duty while the latter had tried to search premises linked to State Minister Senthil Balaji on May 26.
According to the reports, DMK workers prevented an Income-Tax (I-T) team from examining the leased residence of Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji and his brother Ashok in Karur town and damaged their car as the officials conducted simultaneous searches at around 40 locations connected to the two on Friday morning.
Based on CCTV visuals, we identified the persons who attacked and prevented IT officials from doing their duty. So far, we have arrested 10 which includes two DMK Councillors. They were also sent to remand. Further investigation is going on: Karur Police official#TamilNadu
I-T authorities said that because of demonstrations, searches had to be stopped at a few other locations as well. The police said that the CCTV visuals were checked to identify the persons who attacked and prevented IT officials from doing their duty. “So far, we have arrested 10 which includes two DMK Councillors. They were also sent to remand. Further investigation is going on,” the Police said.
The searches were carried out at properties in Chennai, Coimbatore and Karur districts. “Around 40 premises linked to Balaji and his brother Ashok are under inspection since morning. The properties mostly belong to Balaji, his brother, and their close allies and friends,” the IT officials were quoted as saying.
V Senthil Balaji is the Minister of Electricity, Excise and Prohibition. He alleged that the Income Tax officials scaled the compound wall of his rented accommodation in Karur.
However, it was reported that more than 200 DMK workers, including Karur Mayor Kavitha Ganesan, accosted the I-T officials earlier in the day and demanded that they provide their ID cards. They also vandalized a car belonging to the Income Tax (I-T) department and manhandled officials of the department.
VIDEO | Supporters of Tamil Nadu minister Senthil Balaji vandalise a car in Karur where Income Tax searches are underway. pic.twitter.com/8Pt8CZJByY
The ruckus came under control only after the Police were called on the spot. The DMK stated that the BJP had been attacking opposition parties via government organisations like the Income Tax. DMK organisation secretary R S Bharathi also claimed that the BJP was targeting the DMK because of the M K Stalin-led government’s popularity in Tamil Nadu.
Meanwhil, K Annamalai, head of the BJP’s state unit, criticized the state government over the Karur event, stating that ‘the law and order in the state has failed’. He demanded harsh punishment for anyone who hindered the I-T team. Balaji, a prominent figure in Karur, joined the DMK before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. He was formerly a powerful minister in the AIADMK Cabinet.
The I-T searches were initiated in response to charges made against Balaji, including claims of a cash-for-jobs fraud, inconsistencies, and a lack of transparency in the management of the financially successful Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Limited, which markets imported alcohol throughout the state.
Earlier the state police had also said that neither the police nor the CRPF were informed about the searches and that the IT officials had reached at the minister’s brother’s house in plainclothes. However, the Police on Monday took cognizance of the event and arrested nine persons including DMK councillor for stopping the government officials from performing their duty.
On May 28, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that the upcoming Bandra-Versova sea link will be named after the freedom fighter and Hindutva ideologue Veer Damodar Savarkar. He also announced that a state-level gallantry award along the lines of the one that the Central government gives will be named after Savarkar. The Sea Link will be called ‘Swatantrya Veer Savarkar Sea Link’.
#WATCH | "Bandra-Versova sea-link bridge will be named after VD Savarkar and will be known as Veer Savarkar Setu," announces Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde on the occasion of #SavarkarJayantipic.twitter.com/la9RbZlLf8
While speaking on Savarkar’s birth anniversary, CM Shinde said that the former’s name has been maligned by some people with vested interests and out of fright that their shops would be shut if his thoughts become mainstream. Notably, this was the first time Savarkar’s birth anniversary was celebrated at Maharashtra Sadan constructed by the state government.
#स्वातंत्र्यवीर सावरकर यांच्या कार्याचा गौरव म्हणून मुंबईतील वांद्रे – वर्सोवा सागरी मार्गाला ‘स्वातंत्र्यवीर सावरकर वांद्रे- वर्सोवा सागरी सेतू’ असे नाव देण्याची घोषणा मुख्यमंत्री @mieknathshinde यांनी आज केली. केंद्र सरकारच्या शौर्य पुरस्कारांच्या धर्तीवर अतुलनीय शौर्य… pic.twitter.com/g7ZH3cMKCA
He said, “The critics of Savarkar know if his thoughts become popular in society, they will have to shut shop. Imagine how terrified they are that they oppose Savarkar even after 57 years of his death There have been deliberate and consistent attempts to malign the image of Savarkar by some for their selfish gains. It is unfortunate even after 57 years of his death, some people fail to understand him. It angers me to see some people deliberately try to malign his image.”
Praising the move, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis thanked CM Shinde. Notably, in March this year, Fadnavis sent an official letter to CM Shinde requesting him to name the sea link after Veer Savarkar. He said, “This will ensure Savarkar’s name and work remain etched in the memory of people.”
स्वातंत्र्यवीर विनायक दामोदर सावरकर यांच्या जयंतीदिनाचे औचित्य साधून, मुंबईतील वांद्रे-वर्सोवा सागरी मार्गाला ‘स्वातंत्र्यवीर सावरकर वांद्रे-वर्सोवा सागरी सेतू’ असे नाव देण्याची घोषणा मुख्यमंत्री एकनाथराव शिंदे यांनी केल्याबद्दल मी त्यांचा नितांत आभारी आहे. 16 मार्च 2023 रोजी… https://t.co/VLaPMJBrUapic.twitter.com/CaTg2VRp9v
NCP chose Rajiv Gandhi over Savarkar for the Bandra-Worli sea link
This is not the first time Savarkar’s name has been proposed for a sea link. In 2009, BJP-Shiv Sena proposed Savarkar’s name for the Bandra-Worli sea link. However, the then-Maharashtra government under Congress-NCP denied the proposal and chose Rajiv Gandhi’s name for the same.
According to an Indian Express report from July 2009, NCP chief Sharad Pawar suggested Rajiv Gandhi’s name for the sea link. In an editorial, Sena mouthpiece Saamna pointed out that the sea link could have been named after personalities born in Maharashtra including Savarkar, Babasaheb Ambedkar, Mahatma Jotiba Phule or Babu Genu. However, Pawar suggested Rajiv Gandhi’s name to “please Sonia”.
While BJP-Sena said a decision was made to name the sea link after Savarkar, NCP leader and then-deputy CM CHhagan Bhujbal claimed there were no documents to show that the link was originally named after Veer Sawarkar.
About Bandra-Versova Sea Link
Bandra-Versova Sea Link is an upcoming 17.17 KM bridge connecting Versova and Banfra-Worli Sea Link in Bandra. It is part of the Coastal Road. The project was scheduled to be started in 2019 and completed in 2023. However, the construction began in August 2022 and the deadline for the project was shifted to 2026.
On May 25, Rajasthan High Court allowed a physical trainer to change his name and gender on his service record from female to male. The petitioner identified as Chinder Pal Singh got his sex reassignment surgery after a psychological evaluation between 2014 and 2017 from Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai. He was on hormone replacement therapy since then.
Human Being’s Right To Choose Sex Or Gender One Of Most Basic Aspects Of Self Determination, Dignity And Freedom: Rajasthan High Court #RajasthanHChttps://t.co/oEG8ARaPOl
In the judgment, Justice Anoop Kumar Dhand remarked that the right of a human being to choose his or her sex or gender identity is an integral part of his or her personality. He added that it is one of the most basic aspects of self-determination, dignity and freedom.
Right to equality is guaranteed by our Constitution which is our basic Fundamental Right which we inherit since we become a part of our mother’s womb. Everybody on this planet has a right to be treated with respect and dignity, be it a Male or a Female or any other gender: HC
Furthermore, Justice Dhand remarked that every person is entitled to enjoy all human rights that are a basic necessity to survive without any discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation. The court said, “Gender identity is the most fundamental aspect of life which refers to a person’s intrinsic value of being a Male or Female. There are times when the human body is not formed with all of its proper attributes, therefore genital anatomy problems may arise and many of them do not choose to undergo gender reassignment surgery to change their gender.”
Citing Rigveda, the court remarked, “According to the Rigveda, in Hindu mythology, three types of genders have been considered – the Male, that is the ‘Purush’, the Female that is the ‘Prakriti’ and the third gender that is the ‘Tritiya Prakriti’. In recent times modern Indian society has considered them as the third gender otherwise there was no such identity given to them legally. Still, all is not well, and the third gender people are struggling to constitute a part of the civil society.”
The petitioner was born as a female student and completed her studies as a female. She was later appointed as a physical training instructor, Grade III under General Female Category in 2013. At the age of 32, she was diagnosed with Gender Identity Disorder and the psychiatrist who did her evaluation found her fit for ‘Sex Reassignment Surgery’.
The petitioner then underwent the required surgery with Phalloplasty in the year 2014-2017 at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai and became male from female. In August 2018, the consultant Urologist doctor issued a certificate that gave the petitioner status of the male gender. The name was changed from Chinder Pal Kaur to Chinder Pal Singh in the Official Gazette of India. He also got his name changed on the Aadhaar Card.
However, when he submitted a request to make the required changes in the service record in October 2018, the file was forwarded to the Joint Director, of Secondary Education. After waiting for three years, the petitioner submitted a plea in court to get the required changes in order.
In the view of The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, the court said it is the right of a transgender person to be recognised not only as a transgender but also to have a right to self-perceived gender identity. The court said, “This court is of the opinion that the petitioner who has opted for the Male gender and has undergone sex reassignment surgeries for aiding his self-perception as a member of the said gender, would definitely be recognized as a Male gender and he is entitled to get the change and correction of his name and gender in his service record.”
The petitioner has been asked to submit an application before the District Magistrate and directions have been given to the DM to verify the application and issue the required certificate within a month. The court said, “Such procedure shall be completed by the District Magistrate within a period of sixty days from the date petitioner applies before him along with the certified copy of this order. On the basis of the certificate issued by the District Magistrate, the petitioner shall be at liberty to approach the authorities concerned i.e. the respondents, who shall take immediate steps to change the name and gender of the petitioner in his service record. Such exercise shall be completed within a period of one month from the date the petitioner approaches the respondents along with the certified copy of this order and the certificate issued to him by the District Magistrate.”
US authorities have arrested two suspected Chinese government agents in connection with an alleged plot by Beijing against the exiled anti-communist Falun Gong spiritual movement, Al Jazeera reported.
Falun Gong which is broadly based around meditation, was banned by China in 1999, after 10,000 members appeared at the central leadership compound in Beijing in silent protest. The group has called for people to renounce the ruling Chinese Communist Party.
According to CNN, John Chen and Lin Feng were charged in an indictment unsealed on Friday with scheming to revoke a New York-based Falun Gong organisation’s tax-exempt status and paying bribes to an undercover police officer posing as a US tax agent.
Chen, a 70-year-old US citizen, and Feng, a 43-year-old lawful permanent resident, are charged with acting as unregistered agents of a foreign government, bribing a public official and conspiracy to commit international money laundering.
Both Chen and Feng were born in China but now live in the Los Angeles area where they were arrested on Friday. Information on an initial court appearance or lawyers who could speak on their behalf was not immediately available.
Federal prosecutors allege that in seeking to undermine Falun Gong in the US, Chen and Feng urged the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to revoke the organisation’s non-profit tax status. In a whistle-blower complaint to the tax agency in February, Chen described Falun Gong as a “gigantic mega cult”, echoing the language China’s government uses to describe the movement.
Chen and Feng then turned to the undercover officer to make sure the IRS acted on the complaint, offering a payment of USD 50,000 – and handing over USD 5,000 in cash as a down payment – if the tax agency conducted an audit, prosecutors said, as per CNN.
The undercover police officer posing as the tax official recorded multiple conversations with Chen and investigators obtained a wiretap to record phone calls in which Chen and Feng discussed instructions they purportedly received from Chinese government officials, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors said that in one recording, Chen said Beijing would be “very generous” in rewarding the undercover officer’s help in cracking down on Falun Gong’s non-profit status.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
On the 140th birth anniversary of renowned freedom fighter Veer Savarkar, megastar Ram Charan announced the film ‘The India House’, the first film under his production banner ‘V Mega Pictures’. The RRR star has joined hands with Abhishek Agarwal, producer of blockbusters like ‘The Kashmir Files’ and ‘Karthikeya 2’. The Ram Vamsi Krishna directorial ‘The India House’ starring actor Nikhil Siddhartha and veteran actor Anupam Kher is inspired by the life of Veer Savarkar and his stay at India House in London during the freedom struggle.
Taking to Twitter to announce his debut production, Ram Charan wrote, “On the occasion of the 140th birth anniversary of our great freedom fighter Veer Savarkar Garu we are proud to announce our pan India film – THE INDIA HOUSE headlined by Nikhil Siddhartha, Anupam Kher ji & director Ram Vamsi Krishna! Jai Hind!”
On the occasion of the 140th birth anniversary of our great freedom fighter Veer Savarkar Garu we are proud to announce our pan India film – THE INDIA HOUSE headlined by Nikhil Siddhartha, Anupam Kher ji & director Ram Vamsi Krishna! Jai Hind!@actor_Nikhil@AnupamPKher… pic.twitter.com/YYOTOjmgkV
‘The India House’ promises to lead audiences back in time and captivate them with a heartwarming story. The film’s teaser is set in the pre-independence era in London and indicates that the film unfolds a love story during a time of political unrest around ‘The India House’. The teaser concludes with the dramatic sight of a burning India House, hinting at the action to come.
Veer Savarkar’s connection with the iconic India House in London
The promo of the movie posted by Ram Charan says that it is ‘based on a forgotten chapter in Indian history’. That chapter in history refers to India House in London, a student hostel for Indians, and the period when Veer Savarkar stayed in the house while studying law.
The India House at 65, Cromwell Avenue, Highgate, London was a hostel for Indian students studying in Britain, founded by prominent freedom fighter Shyamji Krishna Varma in 1905. Varma is remembered as a staunch nationalist who launched the Indian Home Rule Society (IHRS), and The Sociologist—an outlet that played a major role in disseminating nationalist ideas. Varma founded the India House in July 1905 at a time when revolutionary nationalism gained prominence among the Indian masses following the portion of Bengal in 1905.
The India House is a large Victorian mansion in North London, which was inaugurated on 1 July 1905 by Henry Hyndman. Several prominent persons, including Dadabhai Naoroji, Charlotte Despard and Bhikaji Cama attended the event. Apart from being a hostel, the house also became the headquarters of several organisations, including the Indian Home Rule Society (IHRS). The hostel had a lecture hall, library and reading room.
The hostel became a hub of meetings of the nationalists and hosted students like Veer Savarkar, Madan Lal Dhingra, and Lala Har Dayal among others. Every Sunday, the meeting of IHRS was held at India House. Veer Savarkar arrived at India House in London in 1906 on a scholarship from Varma. After Shyamji Krishna Varma left for Paris in 1907, Savarkar emerged as the leader of IHRS. Having founded the Abhinav Bharat Society in India in 1905, Savarkar continued with the society’s activities while in London. Copies of the bomb manual were also printed at the India House in London. From 17 August 1906 to 26 November 1909, Savarkar sent 43 newsletters from India House. These were regarding politics and current events, and they were published in the Marathi journal Vihari.
Savarkar founded the Free India Society (FIS) in London and also opened a branch of Abhinav Bharat. He had organised regular public meetings and demonstrations from the India House. Apart from the Indian Sociologist, the Savarkar also distributed other pamphlets like Bande Mataram and Oh Martyrs. Such revolutionary literature was camouflaged, and shipped to India from different addresses to prevent detection.
India House quickly became the headquarters of the Indian revolutionary movement in Britain. Its newest recruits were young Indian men and women who arrived in London for higher studies. These members regularly attended the Sunday evening gatherings at India House where Savarkar delivered lectures on subjects like the revolution’s guiding philosophy and assassination tactics.
Several Indian leaders had visited the hostel when they visited London during that time. MK Gandhi also stayed at the India House during his London visit in 1906, where he met Savarkar for the first time. During the stay, Savarkar had offered him prawns he had cooked, and staunch vegetarian Gandhi was horrified by it. To it, Savarkar had responded, “If you cannot eat with us, how on earth are you going to work with us? Moreover, this is just boiled fish, whereas we want people who are ready to eat the British alive!” This marked the stark difference in approach to the freedom struggle by the two freedom fighters.
Savarkar believed in an armed revolution against the British and had started working towards the same from India House. Apart from revolutionary meetings, explosive workshops were also held in the hostel. Reportedly, the residents of India House and members of Abhinav Bharat also practised shooting at a range in Tottenham Court Road in Central London, and rehearsed assassinations.
However, its activities attracted the attention of politicians and it was discussed in the parliament, and newspapers like Time demanded action against its leadership. By 1909, the India House came under the surveillance of Scotland Yard. The police were able to plant a mole in the hostel, an Indian student named Kritikar. He was reporting the activities of the hostel to Scotland Yard, but later he was caught by Savarkar and forced to confess.
The India House closed down in 1909, following the assassination of Curzon Wyllie, the political aide-de-camp to the Secretary of State for India, Lord George Hamilton. Curzon Wyllie was shot dead using a revolver by Madan Lal Dhingra, a member of the India House, at the Imperial Institute, South Kensington. After the event, Savarkar refused to condemn the assassination in an article in The Sociologist. It is also alleged Savarkar had supplied the gun to Dhingra.
This followed a crackdown on India House by the police, forcing several of the leaders to move to France, Germany and other countries. Moreover, the students also stopped supporting the activities due to threats to their education and career. After that, India House was shut down, and it was sold in 1910. However, London’s India House inspired Indians in other countries to open such Indian Houses in many other countries, including USA and Japan.
Savarkar had also moved to Paris in 1909 following the crackdown on India House. But he returned to London in 1910, ignoring the advice of his friends asking him not to do so. He was arrested and charged with multiple offences, including procurement and distribution of arms, waging war against the state, and delivering seditious speeches, and was extradited to India. He was tried and convicted in India, and was sent to the Cellular Jail in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The India House still exists today in London. A plaque at India House unveiled by Lord Fenner Brockway on 8 June 1985 reads, “Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, 1883 – 1966, Indian patriot and philosopher, lived here.”
A replica of the India House has been built at Kranti Teerth, the memorial dedicated to Shyamji Krishna Varma, located near Mandvi in Gujarat.
India House in London, image via London Remembers
Trailer of Randeep Hooda’s ‘Swatantrya Veer Savarkar’ launched
The teaser of the much-awaited film ‘Swatantrya Veer Savarkar’ starring actor Randeep Hooda in the titular role has also been released. Anand Pandit and Sandeep Singh have produced the film, which also stars Ankita Lokhande and Amit Sial. The teaser was released on Sunday to commemorate Savarkar’s 140th birthday.
The teaser begins with Randeep stepping into the jail premises and saying, “The struggle for freedom lasted 90 years, but only a few fought this war.” The rest were desperate for power.”
Randeep is seen walking towards the gallows as a voice-over says, “Gandhiji was not a bad person, but India would have gotten freedom 35 years earlier if he had not insisted on his non-violent policies.” Randeep, who plays the title character in the film, is shown being tortured in jail.
“Moolyavaan toh sone ki lanka bhi thi lein baat agar kisi ki swatantrata ki ho toh dahan toh hoke rahega (Even Ravan’s Golden Lanka was precious, but when freedom is at stake, then be it Ravan Raj or British Raj, it shall be burnt down,” Randeep as Savarkar is heard saying in the trailer.
The most wanted Indian by the British. The inspiration behind revolutionaries like – Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh & Khudiram Bose. Who was #VeerSavarkar? Watch his true story unfold!
Taking to Twitter, Randeep Hooda shared a poster of the film and wrote “The most wanted Indian by the British. The inspiration behind revolutionaries like – Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh & Khudiram Bose. Who was #VeerSavarkar? Watch his true story unfold! Presenting @RandeepHooda in & as #SwantantryaVeerSavarkar In Cinemas 2023.”
On Saturday, actor Kamal Haasan shared his thoughts on The Kerala Story and declared that he opposes ‘propagandist films’. Now, the multilingual project’s director Sudipto Sen has responded to the Tamil movie star’s criticism by asserting that those labelling it ‘propaganda’ haven’t seen it themselves and are thus engaging in their own kind of propaganda and disinformation.
“Propaganda films I am against. It’s not enough if you just write ‘true story’ at the bottom as a logo. It has to really be true, and that (the film) is not true,” Kamal Haasan said while addressing the media in Abu Dhabi on the sidelines of the IIFA Awards ceremony.
#WATCH | Abu Dhabi | "I told you, it's propagandist films that I am against. It's not enough if you write 'true story' just at the bottom as a logo. It has to really be true and that is not true," says actor and politician Kamal Haasan on #TheKeralaStorypic.twitter.com/VSydksg1Z3
However, Sudipto Sen has come in defence of his venture and stated, “I don’t react to (such statements). Earlier I used to try and explain, but today, I don’t do that because people who called it a propaganda film, after watching it said it was nice. Those who didn’t see it are criticising it. In the same way, it was not released in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. These guys didn’t see the film so they think it is propaganda. There are very stupid stereotypes in our country. Life has to be black or white, they don’t know life exists in the grey.” while talking to Hindustan Times.
“If BJP is liking the film, that doesn’t mean it’s their film. Not only BJP, but Congress and any other political party, internationally in 37 countries, people are liking it. Even if they have a criticism, they are calling and discussing it with me. I don’t have any regrets about that. A person is indulging in propaganda by calling it a propaganda film without watching it and making his opinion. What else would the words be than hypocrisy or petty? I have stopped explaining to them,” he added.
Due to the constant promotion and advertising of the movie after its release, he is presently being treated in a hospital for dehydration and an illness.
The Kerala Story which has become the second highest-grossing film of the year after Pathaan, was released in the theaters on May 5. The film has driven flak from Muslims, liberals and the opposition parties particularly Congress and the left alike since its trailer was released.
It was officially banned in West Bengal by Trinamool Congress but the government had to take back its decision after Supreme Court’s intervention. The people associated with the movie have also faced threats from radical elements of society.
It is produced by Vipul Amrutlala Shah and has Adah Sharma in the lead role and Yogita Bihani, Siddhi Idnani and Sonia Balani in the supporting cast. The movie narrates the gut-wrenching story of Shalini Unnikrishnan, a Hindu girl who is converted to Islam with the help of her Muslim friends. She then married a Muslim and is manipulated into joining ISIS and ended up imprisoned in Afghanistan.
The 293rd head priest of the Madurai Adheenam, Sri Harihara Desika Swamigal, lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday for inviting Tamil Adheenams to the inauguration ceremony of the new Parliament building.
He stated, “I feel very proud to participate in the inauguration ceremony of the new Parliament building. PM Modi has always stood proudly with the Tamil culture, Tamil people and Tamil Nadu. Modi ji is the first PM who invited Tamil Adheenams and proudly encourages the Tamil culture in the Parliament.”
“I like Modi ji very much because he was the first prime minister to create houses for Sri Lankan Tamils when he visited Sri Lanka. He also participated in Pongal festival. Till now 14 prime ministers have ruled our country, but Modi ji is the first one to invite Tamil Adheenams,” he remarked.
At a ceremony in 2015, the prime minister Modi had handed over 27,000 homes to Tamilians at Ilavalai North-West Housing Project site in Jaffna, Sri Lanka.
Additionally, he charged the Congress and Rajapaksa governments with the murder of Tamils including children in Sri Lanka.
#WATCH | I feel very proud to participate in the inauguration ceremony of the new Parliament building. PM Modi has always stood proudly with the Tamil culture and Tamil people. Modi ji is the first PM who invited Tamil Adheenams and proudly encourages the Tamil culture in the… pic.twitter.com/JYPV3nF5vf
The head priest has previously hoped for the return of Narendra Modi as the country’s prime minister for the third time in 2024.
“PM Modi is a leader who got global appreciation. He is doing good things for people. Again in 2024 he has to become PM and should guide people. We are all so proud as world leaders are appreciating our PM Modi. I will be meeting PM Modi and presenting the Sengol to him on the inauguration of the new Parliament building,” he had commented before presenting the iconic gold studded sceptre to the PM.
Notably, Narendra Modi today inaugurated the new parliament building today and placed the auspicious Sengol which was presented to him by the Madurai Adheenam head priest behind the chair of the Lok Sabha Speaker amid religious chants. Many Union Ministers, Members of Parliament, politicians and foreign dignitaries graced the historic occasion which was concluded with an address by the prime minister.
After fresh violence erupted in several places in Manipur in the ongoing conflict between Kuki and Meitei communities, chief minister N Biren Singh strongly condemned the attack on civilians by Kuki militants on 27 May. The CM addressed a press conference today to talk about the current situation in the state.
Referring to the Kuki militants as terrorists, the CM said that civilians are constantly being attacked despite repeated appeals to maintain peace. He also informed that as many as 33 Kuki militants were killed during the attack, where heavy gunfire took place with security forces. Apart from that, several militants were also arrested by security forces.
The N Biren Singh stressed that the clashes took place between security forces and Kuki militants, not between people of the two communities. The CM said that the terrorist groups are using sophisticated arms against the civilian population. “The gunfight is between the armed terrorists and the security forces and not between the communities. So I urge common people to maintain peace and stay united,” he said.
The clashes took place at around half a dozen places in Manipur, as army and central armed forces began operations to de-arm the communities involved in the conflict over ST state demand by Meiteis and eviction of encroachment on forest land by Kuki immigrants from Myanmar.
The CM said that clashes broke out in the early hours of the morning at several places in different districts surrounding the Imphal Valley. Giving more information, an official said, “According to our information, firing has been reported from Sugnu in Kakching, Kangvi in Churachandpur, Kangchup in Imphal West, Sagolmang in Imphal East, Nungoipokpi in Bishenpur, Khurkhul in Imphal West and YKPI in Kangpokpi.”
The gunfire took place after Kuki militants torched many houses in several areas in the state. When security forces launched an operation to nab the arsonists, they opened fire, resulting in a heavy gunfight. Several civilians were injured in the attacks, with at least two deaths.
Following the violence, an operation has been launched to locate the Kuki militants involved in the gun attack last night. Helicopters are also used for surveillance of the area to spot the militants, now dubbed terrorists by CM Singh.
The CM said that the recent spurt in violent attacks on civilian houses in and around Imphal Valley seemed “well-planned and simultaneous” to show their capacity. He said that the government will not allow the disintegration of Manipur, will protect the state’s integrity and uproot the armed terrorists from the state. He also reassured that the government will face every challenge against the territorial integrity of the state and attacks on the life and property of the people.
Earlier in the day, Army Chief General Manoj Pande met Singh and discussed the current security situation in Manipur and the steps taken by the Army to restore peace.
Earlier on 26th May, the house of BJP MP and union minister Rajkumar Ranjan Singh was attacked by a mob in Imphal. A large crowd had surrounded the house, but the security forces successfully thwarted their efforts to enter the premises. The came after the Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Education expressed concern over demand of demand for a separate political administration by the Kuki tribals in Manipur, which he said was same as a demand for a separate state.
In a letter written to the prime minister, Rajkumar Ranjan Singh said that Kuki leaders, including their 10 MLAs, have demanded a separate political administration for the tribals under tremendous pressure from various quarters, including the militants. He had said that the demanding a separate political administration, equivalent to a separate state, is a very dangerous proposition for a small state with 35 ethnic groups.
The house of BJP MLA Khwairakpam Raghumani Singh at Uripok in Imphal West was allegedly vandalised and his two vehicles were set on fire. On Wednesday, the residence of Konthoujam Govindas, the Minister of Manipur PWD, Youth Affairs, and Sports, located in Bishnupur district, was vandalised by a mob.
Manipur saw massive ethnic violence earlier this month following a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ organised by tribal groups on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. They were also protesting against eviction of Kuki villages from reserve forest land. According to the CM and Meitei groups, most of those Kuki people are from Myanmar.
The state govt’s action against poppy cultivation by the tribal communities have also contributed to the tension.
Around 140 columns of the Indian Army and Assam Rifles, totalling over 10,000 personnel, besides personnel from other paramilitary forces had to be deployed to bring back normalcy in Manipur.
