On Tuesday (October 4), BJP MP (Chandigarh) Kirron Kher issued a statement of clarification after netizens alleged that she wore a mask in the vicinity of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann due to his alcohol breath.
The controversy began last month after the duo was spotted talking to each other at the renaming ceremony of the Chandigarh airport. In a video that went viral on social media, Kher was seen putting on a mask after Mann tried to talk to her from a close distance.
The Chandigarh MP was seen putting on an unpleasant look, prior to covering her face with a grey-coloured mask. Netizens were left wondering whether it had something to do with Bhagwant Mann’s breath.
Given that the Punjab CM has run into several controversies in the past due to public intoxication, some social media users assumed that Kher must have been taken aback by Mann’s alcohol breath.
“Chandigarh MP Kirron Kher put on her face mask sitting next to Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann as his breath stinks of alcohol! A video from the moment has led many to speculate that the AAP leader’s excessive drinking problem is hurting AAP’s reputation,” wrote one user.
Chandigarh MP Kirron Kher put on her face mask sitting next to Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann as his breath stinks of alcohol! A video from the moment has led many to speculate that the AAP leader’s excessive drinking problem is hurting AAP’s reputation!@AamAadmiParty@ArvindKejriwalpic.twitter.com/OTg28mzdFw
Kirron Kher re-uploads video with controversial lyrics, deletes and issues a statement
On Tuesday, Kirron Kher took to Twitter to clarify about the raging controversy surrounding her and the Punjab Chief Minister. However, she uploaded the viral video that was juxtaposed with the song ‘Peg di Waashna’, sung by Amrit Mann.
“Jattan de na nede lagdi, Kehndi peg di waashna aundi (Girl doesn’t come close to Jatt because she says he smells of alcohol),” reads the lyrics of the song. After realising her mistake, Kirron Kher quickly deleted the tweet.
Screengrab of the deleted tweet by Kirron Kher
The BJP MP then issued a statement, excluding the controversial video. She stated, “It is unfortunate to see a video going viral where I am putting on a mask while talking to the Hon’bleCM of Punjab BhagwantMann ji at a public meeting!”
I do so because of low immunity! Please don’t use it for derogatory remarks toward him. Whichever party someone belongs to, we must give them the dignity the office commands! Thank you,” Kirron Kher emphasised.
With her statement, she put all theories, about Bhagwant Mann’s alcohol breath being the reason for wearing the mask, to rest.
It is notable here that Kirron Kher was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2021 and had to undergo prolonged treatment. The actress turned MP had returned as a judge in the talent show India’s Got Talent in November 2021 and was seen sitting with a full face mask. She had clarified to fans that though she had continued working from home to perform her duties as an MP, she had been advised by doctors to avoid public places as cancer treatment makes patients immunocompromised.
To find answers to the Congress party’s hypocritical standards, one should go to Hariharpur village, which is located in the woods of the Sarguja district, Chhattisgarh. An OpIndia team visited Hariharpur and spoke to tribals in Hasdeo Aranya to evaluate the difference between Congress’ promises and deeds.
This area is also called Hasdeo Aranya. Even in the month of September, some villagers were sitting under a thatched roof in the middle of the fields. Not in the hope that the Bhupesh Baghel government will take care of them, but fearing that the administrative staff might come to cut the trees. To save themselves, they were lodged here since 02 March 2022. Villagers claim that so far, more than 430 trees have been cut, but no administrative action has been taken yet.
Many tribals in villages such as Hariharpur, Salhi, Fatehpur, Ghatbarra, Charpada, and Madanpur have been on a dharna since March against the Chhattisgarh Congress government and the Adani group under the banner ‘Save Hasdeo.’ They are opposed to the new mining permit in this protected region. According to villagers, authorization to mine in Parsa was obtained by arranging fake village panchayats. They allege that the mining resulted in the destruction of 4.5 lakh trees.
Tribals protesting in rain.
The residents sitting on dharna are concerned that mining would destroy their villages. “My maternal home is in Kete,” Sampatiya from Hariharpur told OpIndia. “All of the trees and vegetation were taken down when the mine started there. All the families got scattered. We shall not be leaving this village and settlement now. We ask Adani not to seize our land. We shall not abandon it. We will not leave this spot even if we lose our lives. We will not let the forest be destroyed,” she further added.
One cause for their dissatisfaction with the Congress administration is Rahul Gandhi’s promise in 2015. Rahul Gandhi addressed a gathering in Madanpur, around 15 kilometres from Hariharpur, in June 2015. During this time, the villagers were guaranteed that mining would be prohibited in this region if the Congress government was formed in the state. He gave the assurance that the government will prevent the destruction of the villages. On the premise of this commitment, they supported Congress in the 2018 local assembly elections. The Congress party won in the state as well, but this commitment was forgotten by Rahul Gandhi.
Rahul Gandhi addressed the gathering.
To remind the promise, some 300 people began a padayatra on October 4, 2021. It arrived in Raipur on October 11th. It was to remind the Bhupesh Baghel government of Rahul Gandhi’s pledge. They received assurance, but nothing happened following that. After this, a delegation of locals travelled to Delhi and met with Rahul Gandhi. He apparently also comforted them but no action was taken. The villagers then staged a dharna under the banner of the ‘Hasdeo Aranya Bachao Sangharsh Samiti.’ Interestingly, the Chhattisgarh Parsa coal block has been assigned to Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited. Adani Group has been awarded a mining contract by the Rajasthan government.
Bhuneshwar Singh Porte of Fatehpur village is also associated with ‘Hasdeo Aranya Bachao Sangharsh Samiti’. He told OpIndia, “It has been around 190 days since we sat on the dharna. But till date, no person from the administration has come to look after us.” “The licence issued by the government for mining on the basis of fake gram panchayat was annulled by the NGT in 2014,” said Ram Lal Singh Kariyam of Salhi village. “However, this government is going forward. We walked all the way to Raipur and the governor also ordered an investigation into the fake panchayat, however, the district administration is deafeningly mute.”
“With the Congress administration coming to Chhattisgarh, we believed that when it talks about Narva, Garua, and Ghurva, it will rescind the mining allotment,” Nandram of Salhi told OpIndia. ” Instead, this regime is decimating Narva and Ghurva. We can lose our lives, but we will not abandon the forest. We will continue to fight. The administration should not believe we are helpless. We are not helpless. Today, people from all over Chhattisgarh are uniting behind our cause,” he further added.
Board outside Hariharpur.
The question isn’t only whether mining should take place there or not. It is if the approach used for this is valid or not. A democratically elected government must interact with its citizens. The Congress government has shown no interest in the Hasdeo Bachao Andolan. On the contrary, several people have had criminal charges against them for protesting against the move.
The most absurd aspect is that the Sarguja unit of Congress itself supports the movement. TS Singhdev, a Baghel government minister from the same district, also had come to the protest site to express his personal support for the agitators. The state government has the option of withdrawing the mining order, but this is unlikely since the protestations of Hasdeo and its tribal children appear inconsequential to Congress, Rahul Gandhi, and the individuals involved in the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’.
We discussed in one of our previous reports in this series how the Congress administration in Chhattisgarh has been lending unwavering support to Christian missionaries aiming to convert the entire hilly homeland of Pahadi Korba, a tribal group committed to Sanatan Dharma.
Madku island, a quaint little island town on the Shivanatha river in Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur district, is one example of where Christianity has proliferated. On the ground, things are far worse. Missionaries have encroached on every piece of land, whether it belongs to the government or the Scheduled Tribes. These areas have seen an explosion of a variety of constructions, such as Christian churches, missionary schools, and cemeteries. Mountains that are difficult to climb have also been encroached upon by these missionaries. These sites have been marked with crosses during encroachment. This pervasive fear of land jihad is also causing problems for tribal Hindus, who have converted to Christianity in this village.
This dreadful condition prevails despite the fact that Chhattisgarh has a specific statute in effect. Section 170 (b) of the state’s Land Revenue Act provides that if any land belonged to a Scheduled Tribe (ST) person on 2 October 1959 and was thereafter occupied by any ST or non-ST, it should be given to him. The details behind his acquisition of the land must be revealed within a year. Otherwise, his possession will be deemed illegal, and he will be required to vacate the property.
According to lawyer Ram Prakash Pandey, as per the statute, if a tribal person does not petition for ownership of the land, the government is responsible for obtaining a report from the Patwari on who was the owner of that land on 2 October 1959 and who is currently in possession of it. The court could potentially rule based on Patwari’s report.
A few years ago, over 250 such cases were documented in the state’s Jashpur district alone, in which churches were built on ST class land in violation of 170 (b). “These cases were lingering in the Revenue Court for a long period due to political influence,” said advocate Ram Prakash Pandey to OpIndia.
“In 2007, the High Court was made aware of these issues. The High Court ordered that all such cases be resolved within six months. In most cases, the church was then given orders to vacate the land. However, despite the passage of many years, the lands are still not vacated,” Pandey added.
The principal of Loyola School, R Gittes, is accused of purchasing land with the aid of an administrative nexus
Loyola Higher Secondary School in Kunkuri is just another example of the political and administrative nexus of land grabbing that is pervasive throughout Chhattisgarh. RH Geats was a Belgian national who served as the school’s principal for a few years in the 1950s. He took over the property of a man named Ignesh Lakra, claiming to be a resident of Kunkuri, with the help of the then-collector. Even now, the missionary organisation occupies and operates on that piece of land, despite the fact that foreigners are not permitted to possess the land in India. “Ignesh Lakra filed a complaint in this regard,” Pandey told OpIndia. He died while fighting in court. His children have since then been fighting for justice.”
Clement Lakra, whose 10 acres of land is in the possession of the missionaries
A similar case is with another resident of the village named Clement Lakra. Clement Lakda’s situation is similar. Clement’s father, Bhade alias Vasil Oraon, was converted around 1957-58 while living in Duldula, Kunkuri. The missionaries then took over around 10 acres of his land. Vasil is no longer alive. “The court has passed its verdict in our favour,” Clement told OpIndia, adding, “the missionaries, however, are not vacating the land, instead threatening us of destroying the future of our daughters if we persist with the case.”
The fact that the family is being hounded despite the fact that Clement’s wife, Sushma Lakra, is the village sarpanch underlines the missionaries’ clout and influence in the area. “Now I want to go back to my old religion,” a frustrated and depressed Clement told OpIndia. (we will cover Clement’s issue in a separate report in detail). Notably, OpIndia is in possession of all relevant documents pertaining to Clement’s case.
The disputed cemetery in Kunkuri town in Chhattisgarh
The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Kunkuri, Chhattisgarh is India’s largest church in terms of seating capacity and is ranked second in Asia. The gate installed on the road leading to this church from Kunkuri’s main road is also disputed. Locals believe that, notwithstanding the High Court’s injunction, this gate was built on government land.
The area behind the church is called Kraus Tongri. The majority of the people here have been converted. Locals allege that here too graveyards and roads have been built on mostly encroached land. According to these locals, Hindus used to regularly practise yoga in the hilly area behind a missionary school in Kunkuri, but that changed one fine day when evangelists installed a cross there overnight. Similarly, crosses have been found buried atop the Bhandari mountain, which is difficult to reach on foot, according to some locals.
Crosses have been discovered buried atop the Bhandari mountain where it is not easy to reach
According to David Reeves, CEO of ‘Unfolding World,’ an organisation that seeks to translate the Bible into every language, the number of new churches that have sprouted in India during the Covid pandemic equals the number of churches erected in the country in the previous 25 years. One such location for a new church is in the Girang district of Jashpur in Chhattisgarh. This church was being built in an almost impossible-to-reach location. Due to protests, its construction was suspended, and it was forced to close down.
“This is how Christian missionaries wage land jihad,” BJYM’s Abhishek Gupta told OpIndia, “They bury a cross wherever there is an empty space. Then they build a church there. After some time, the approach to the church is also constructed with administrative support, and the prayers begin. Later, no matter how much you object or protest, the administration will pay no heed. The land is permanently encroached by the Christian missionary.”
The Girang church, which was under construction during the pandemic but was forced to halt owing to objections
These cases from one area of Chhattisgarh can provide insight into the state’s overall predicament. Worryingly, these Christian Missionaries have instilled fear in the minds of innocent locals in the state’s small and isolated regions. During our reporting, we observed that the majority of people were reluctant to speak on camera. Locals were referring to multiple people being implicated in various cases, but they were worried that speaking out about it might land them in hot waters as well. This ‘terror’ among Hindus acts as ‘fuel’ for Christian missionaries to thrive and flourish in these areas.
Note: The above report was originally published in Hindi. You can read it here.
On October 4, Enforcement Directorate (ED) said in a statement that the agency carried out search operations and froze the account balance of Rs 5.59 crores of one Aamir Khan and his accomplices under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA).
The raids were carried out as part of an investigation being conducted against the accused in connection to the Mobile Gaming App named E-Nuggets. As per the agency, it has frozen an amount worth Rs 36.96 crores in the case.
ED has carried out search operation & freezed account balance of ₹5.59 Cr of Aamir Khan & his accomplices under PMLA, in respect to an investigation being conducted relating to the Mobile Gaming App, namely E-nuggets. So far, an amount of ₹36.96 Cr has been freezed in this case
Aamir Khan, not to be confused with film Lal Singh Chaddha’s lead actor Aamir Khan, is a businessman from Kolkata’s Garden Reach area. On September 10 this year, ED raided six locations linked to Khan in an investigation against fraud app E-Nuggets, through which thousands of people reportedly lost huge amounts of money.
During the raids, ED recovered a large cache of cash that amounted to more than Rs 18 crores. The bundles of notes were reportedly hidden in various places in Khan’s house, including under the bed. The house where the case was found is registered under the name of Aamir Khan’s father, Nasir Ahmed Khan.
A complaint against Khan and his accomplices was filed by Federal Bank officials under PMLA under suspicion of fraudulent activities. In a press release, ED had said, “During the initial period, the users were rewarded with the commission, and the balance in the wallet could be withdrawn hassle-free. This provided initial confidence among users, and they started investing bigger amounts for a greater percentage of commission and a greater number of purchase orders.”
It added, “Further, after collecting the handsome amount from the public, all of a sudden, the withdrawal from the said App was stopped, at one or the other pretext viz. system upgradation, an investigation by LEAs, etc. Thereafter, all data including profile information was wiped off from the said App servers, and only then the users understood the ploy.”
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday refuted media reports that cited the central agency to claim that at least 873 Kerala Police officers had links with the radical organisation. The media reports had said that NIA had submitted a report to the state police chief exposing the list of officers of Kerala Police who were linked with the PFI.
Earlier today, several media reports said that the Central Agency is probing Kerala Police officers, including officials in the Sub-Inspector (SI) and Station Head Officer (SHO) ranks, for their alleged collusion with PFI cadres. The NIA is also examining the financial details of the officers, the reports said. They further stated that NIA revealed that the officers leaked crucial information to the PFI cadres aiding them to further their agenda.
Shocking: 873 police officers of Kerala police have got connection with PFi the banned terrorist organization. NIA passed over the report to DGP. In the meantime Kerala CM, who is HM too,is busy abroad with his family. pic.twitter.com/WXuYdlQOhF
Quoting NIA, the media reports said that the officers helped the PFI jihadis during the raids. They pre-informed the PFI cadres about the NIA and ED raids which helped them to hide the incriminating documents and materials. The NIA conducted two rounds of searches against the organisation for allegedly sponsoring terror operations in the nation.
The initial series of raids occurred on September 22, with a follow-up on September 27 in multiple states, resulting in the arrest of at least 250 persons associated with PFI. Later, on September 28, the Central Government banned the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its associate organizations for 5 years. The government maintained that the organizations operated as unlawful associations under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
The affiliations banned along with the PFI include All India Imams Council, Campus Front of India (CFI), Rehab India Foundation, National Conf of Human Rights Org, National Women’s Front, Junior Front, Empower India Foundation, and Rehab Foundation, Kerala. The NIA officials during the raids recovered several incriminating materials from the PFI hubs located in around 17 states of the country. Prominent among them include a brochure and CD related to ‘Mission 2047’.
A huge amount of undocumented cash was also recovered from the PFI jihadi hideouts of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu and also document in a ‘short course on how to make IEDs using easily available materials’. Meanwhile, pen drives containing videos related to ISIS, and Gajwa-e-Hind were found from the Uttar Pradesh PFI leadership and Marine radio sets from Tamil Nadu PFI leadership. Many other materials including wireless communication devices were also taken into custody by the official.
On Monday, one of the eye-witnesses of the Kanhaiya Lal murder case named Rajkumar Sharma was diagnosed with a brain haemorrhage and was immediately shifted to the RNT Medical College and Hospital in Udaipur. The state administrative and health officials ensured that Sharma who is facing financial problems is treated with proper medical facilities, as per reports.
According to the reports, the state administrative officials established a green corridor and drove neuro specialists from SMS hospital in Jaipur to Udaipur. The doctors from Jaipur operated on Sharma for around 5 hours on Monday. The patient is critical and is under observation. He will regain consciousness after 2 days, as per reports.
Also, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot talked with the Udaipur district collector and health professionals to discuss Sharma’s health condition. His health is being monitored by a dedicated team of specialists, confirmed DP Singh, Principal and Controller of RNT Medical College, Udaipur.
Before the team of doctors from Jaipur reached Udiapur for Sharma’s treatment, the principal of RNT Medical College in Udaipur and his entire team had provided proper treatment to Sharma. However, after the administrative intervention, the patient was handed over to the neurosurgeons, Dr Manish Aggarwal and Dr Rashim Kataria who reached Udaipur on October 3. The patient was then shifted to the neuro ward of Maharana Bhupal Govt Hospital (MB Hospital) where he was operated for around 5 hours.
Reportedly, Revenue Minister Ramlal Jat and District Collector Tarachand Meena also reached MB Hospital and met Rajkumar’s family members. He assured them of all the possible help and talked to the doctors inquiring about Sharma’s health. The doctors informed that the patient had been treated well and that he would regain consciousness by Wednesday.
Sharma’s family members meanwhile stated that he (Rajkumar) had been suffering from mental issues for two months owing to financial difficulties. “He had been suffering from a headache for the past five days but refused to go to the hospital despite repeated pleas”, they noted. Rajkumar Sharma was one of the assistants who worked for Kanhaiya Lal. He was attacked by the murderers Mohammad Riyaz and Ghouse Mohammad when he and his assistant colleague Ishwar Gaur tried to save Kanhaiya Lal.
According to the complaint filed by Kanhaiya’s son, both the assistants Sharma and Ishwar Gaur tried to save Kanhaiya Lal but the murderers launched an attack on the duo. Gaur also sustained injuries during the incident. The incident happened on June 28, when two Islamists named Mohammad Riyaz and Ghouse Mohammad murdered tailor Kanhaiya Lal for supporting ex-BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma in a social media post. Sharma had allegedly made ‘blasphemous comments’ against the Prophet during a live television debate.
Rajkumar Sharma worked at Kanhaiya’s store during the daytime and handled online meal deliveries at night. After the brutal incident, he did not step out of his home fearing that he would also be killed by the murderers like Kanhaiya Lal. Later he faced financial difficulties leading to several mental issues as claimed by his family members. Rajkumar has been operated by specialist doctors on Monday and is under observation at Maharana Bhupal Govt Hospital, Udaipur.
On October 3, The Ministry of External Affairs denied permission to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Manoj K Jha to attend a conference later this month in Pakistan.
As per reports, the Asma Jahangir Foundation has invited Jha to speak on the ‘Crisis of Constitutionalism in South Asia’. As per regulations, a sitting MP has to seek permission from the centre if he or she wants to attend an event in a foreign nation. Jha, in a statement, claimed that the ‘political clearance’ for the event was denied by MEA ‘without citing any reason’.
#BREAKING Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj K Jha was denied ‘political clearance’ by the Centre to visit Pakistan to address an event@siddhantvm with details
As per reports, Jha was supposed to speak as the guest speaker for the closing sessions themed ‘The Role of Political Parties in Upholding Democratic Rights’ on October 23. The Pakistan Bar Council, the Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan, and AGHS Legal Aid Cell are expected to attend the fourth Asma Jahangir Conference.
In a statement to the Indian Express, Jha had submitted an online application for prior permission under Section 6 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010. However, the application was denied by the Ministry. He said, “I received this invitation to attend the prestigious Asma Jahangir conference. She fought for the rights of minorities in Pakistan throughout her life. She fought… for human rights. I was very keen to attend. I was scheduled to speak on the role of political parties in upholding democratic rights. It would have been a great opportunity for me personally and as an MP to showcase… how we view this issue, how we fight inside Parliament and how it is heard and listened to.”
He further added, “I don’t know who decides, but the fact is that probably the people who make decisions do not know who Asma Jehangir was, what was the mandate of this conference, and I find it very unfortunate and saddening. I, as an MP, cannot speak about our achievements in protecting democratic rights.”
Jha told Hindustan Times that he was planning to enter Pakistan via the Wagah border on October 20 and return by October 24. Asma Jahangir was a Human Rights advocate from Pakistan. She died in 2018. Asma Jahangir Conference has been organised in her memory since her demise. Jha was invited to attend the fourth chapter of the conference.
On Monday, former US President Donald Trump filed a defamation lawsuit against CNN, asking for 475 million dollars in compensatory damages. Trump said in his lawsuit that CNN was waging a “libel and slander” campaign against him out of “fear” that he would run for the office of President again in 2024.
The complaint cites multiple instances in which CNN seemed to equate Trump to Hitler, including a special program by Fareed Zakaria in January 2022 that featured a video of the German tyrant.
“As a part of its concerted effort to tilt the political balance to the left, CNN has tried to taint the Plaintiff with a series of ever-more scandalous, false, and defamatory labels of ‘racist,’ ‘Russian lackey,’ ‘insurrectionist,’ and ultimately ‘Hitler,'” the lawsuit mentions. “CNN has sought to use its massive influence, purportedly as a ‘trusted’ news source — to defame the plaintiff in the minds of its viewers and readers for the purpose of defeating him politically,” it further adds.
Former president Donald Trump is currently the subject of a criminal investigation by the US Justice Department for keeping government documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida after leaving office in January 2021.
Trump communicated in a statement on Monday that similar cases might be launched against other media organizations. “In the coming weeks and months we will also be filing lawsuits against a large number of other Fake News Media Companies for their lies, defamation, and wrongdoing, including as it pertains to ‘The Big Lie,’ that they used so often in reference to their disinformation attack on Presidential Election of 2020,” Trump said. He also stated that he may take ‘appropriate action’ against the House committee investigating the January 6 attack on Capitol Hill.
According to sources, at a meeting more than three months ago, new CNN CEO Chris Licht discreetly encouraged his news staff to desist from using such remarks against Trump because it is too similar to Democratic efforts to brand the former president.
The first ever independent and standalone Hindu temple in Dubai is all set to be inaugurated on October 4, a day before Dussehra. The temple is located at ‘Worship Village’ in Jebel Ali. The area also houses several churches and a gurdwara.
As per Khaleej Times, it is an extension of Sindhi Guru Darbar Temple, which is one of the oldest Hindu temples in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The temple will be open to the public from October 5.
The foundation of the temple was laid in 2020, fulfilling the decade-long demand of Hindus in the region. Idols of 16 deities have been installed in the temple. It consists of ornate pillars, Hindu and Arabic geometric designs on the facade and bells on the ceiling. Shri Guru Granth Sahib has also been installed in the temple.
On September 1, the soft opening of the temple took place that was attended by thousands of devotees. A 3D-printed pink lotus has been installed at the central dome in the main hall where the idols of deities are installed. The temple can accommodate as many as 1200 devotees on any given day.
Gulf News quoted Temple trustee Raju Shroff as saying, “With the benevolence of the Rulers of the UAE and the gracious support of the Community Development Authority (CDA), we are holding the official inaugural ceremony of the Hindu Temple Dubai tomorrow evening.” He added that public entry will be restricted on the inauguration day and requested the devotees not to visit the temple before October 5.
Shroff added that Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan would be the chief guest for the event. Furthermore, the Indian Ambassador to the UAE, Sunjay Sudhir, has been invited as the guest of honour. CDA officials and other guests will be present for the event.
To make the ‘darshan’ easier for the devotees, the temple management has installed a QR-based appointment system on its online platforms. As per the temple’s official website, it will remain open from 6:30 AM to 8 PM. Initially, only limited devotees were allowed to visit the temple. However, from October 5, there will be restrictions on the number of devotees, and they can enter the premises after booking an appointment.
Days after Russia formally annexed four regions in Ukraine, Tesla CEO Elon Musk courted controversy on Monday (October 3) for proposing a fresh, UN-supervised referendum in the annexed territories and claiming that Crimea ‘rightfully’ belonged to Russia.
In a tweet, Musk put forward a plan to restore peace in Eastern Europe and end the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He wrote, “Redo elections of annexed regions under UN supervision. Russia leaves if that is the will of the people. Crimea is formally part of Russia, as it has been since 1783 (until Khrushchev’s mistake). Water supply to Crimea assured. Ukraine remains neutral.”
The Tesla CEO also sought the opinion of Twitterati through a poll, with the Westerners voting en masse against his proposal. “This is highly likely to be the outcome in the end – just a question of how many die before then…Also worth noting that a possible, albeit unlikely outcome from this conflict is nuclear war,” he tweeted.
Screengrab of the tweets by Elon Musk
On being quizzed about providing satellite Internet access coverage in Ukraine through Starlink, Elon Musk responded, “The will of the people should decide whether they are part of Russia or Ukraine, but Russia invaded areas that would unequivocally choose to be part of Ukraine.”
The Tesla CEO had played an important role in maintaining communications in Ukraine, amidst the invasion by Russia. Reportedly, Starlink terminals are used by Ukrainian military outposts to coordinate operations and carry out artillery strikes by its commanders.
Screengrab of the tweets by Elon Musk
Musk followed up on the discussion with another tweet, seeking the opinion of Twitter users about giving power to residents of Donbas and Crimea (regions that Russia already annexes) to decide whether they want to join Ukraine or Russia.
“Let’s try this then: the will of the people who live in the Donbas & Crimea should decide whether they’re part of Russia or Ukraine,” he tweeted.
Screengrab of the tweet by Elon Musk
On being told that his tweets have riled up Ukrainians, the Tesla CEO remarked, “You are assuming that I wish to be popular. I don’t care. I do care that millions of people may die needlessly for an essentially identical outcome.”
He followed it up with another tweet, “Russia is doing partial mobilization. They go to full war mobilization if Crimea is at risk. Death on both sides will be devastating. Russia has >3 times the population of Ukraine, so victory for Ukraine is unlikely in total war. If you care about the people of Ukraine, seek peace.”
Screengrab of the tweets by Elon Musk
Elon Musk faces flak over his peace policy
Westerners lambasted the Tesla CEO on Twitter for supposedly “siding with Russia” and ‘legitimising’ the annexation of Ukrainian territories by Vladimir Putin. US-based foreign policy analyst, Paul Massaro, wrote, “Russia escalates at the weakness and retreats at strength. You are making Russian escalation more likely with these tweets.”
Russia escalates at weakness and retreats at strength. You are making Russian escalation MORE likely with these tweets
Ukrainian newspaper, Kyiv Post, advised Musk against interfering in the affairs of Ukraine. “Elon, you’re a cool guy and thanks for the Starlink but it’d be so very wonderful if you were to carry out votes on things that you know about. We don’t carry out votes on apartheid and Nelson Mandela,” it said.
Elon, you’re a cool guy and thanks for the Starlink but it’d be so very wonderful if you were to carry out votes on things that you know about. We don’t carry out votes on apartheid and Nelson Mandela.
Ambassador of Ukraine to the USA, Oksana Markarova, wrote, “Even the best of us can fall victim to misinformation. Elonmusk, how about I give you an exclusive briefing on the true history of Crimea and Ukraine? We can discuss how Ukraine and Crimean Tatars fought together against the Russians long before 1783 and why we like Starlinks today.”
Even the best of us can fall victims to misinformation. @elonmusk, how about I give you an exclusive briefing on true history of Crimea and 🇺🇦? We can discuss how Ukraine and Crimean Tatars fought together against the Russians long before 1783 and why we like Starlinks today.
The Chairman of Renew Democracy Initiative, Garry Kasparov, accused Elon Musk of peddling Russian propaganda and demoralising Ukrainians, amidst the invasion by Putin.
“This is moral idiocy, repetition of Kremlin propaganda, a betrayal of Ukrainian courage & sacrifice, and puts a few minutes browsing Crimea on Wikipedia over the current horrific reality of Putin’s bloody war,” he said.
Elon Musk, who had patiently responded to his critics until then, lost his composure. “We gave Starlinks to Ukraine & lost $80M+ in doing so while putting SpaceX & myself at serious risk of a Russian cyberattack. What have you done besides tweet?” he asked.
We gave Starlinks to Ukraine & lost $80M+ in doing so, while putting SpaceX & myself at serious risk of Russian cyberattack.
Musk also drew the ire of none other than the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who posted a poll to ask his supporters about their opinion on the Tesla CEO.
“Which Elon Musk do you like? One who supports Ukraine or One who supports Russia?” he tweeted.
I still very much support Ukraine, but am convinced that massive escalation of the war will cause great harm to Ukraine and possibly the world.
The Tesla CEO reaffirmed his support for Ukraine and its people but pointed out how the escalation of the ongoing conflict can cause irreparable harm to the country and the world.
“I still very much support Ukraine but am convinced that massive escalation of the war will cause great harm to Ukraine and possibly the world,” Musk clarified his position on the Russian-Ukraine conflict.
