To add to this propaganda now Prime Ministers Economic Advisory Council has come out with a report that concludes that Hindu’s population share declined by nearly 8% between 1950 and 2015 while Muslim’s share grew a record 43% in the same period. As per this study in 1950, Hindu population share was 84%, but it came down to 78% in 2015. However, in the same period, the share of minorities, including Muslims, Christian, Buddhist, and Sikhs, went up. The number of Jains and Parsis in the population mix decreased.

What is this PMEAC? This was constituted in 2017 and is supposed to be doing research to advise the Prime Minister on economic matters. One sample of its ‘research’ came to light a couple of years back when its Chief, Bibek Debroy, quoted “… a study to show that the lifespan of written constitutions is just 17 years. Further terming the present Constitution of India as a colonial legacy, he wrote, “Our current Constitution is largely based on the Government of India Act of 1935. In that sense, it is also a colonial legacy.”

And now comes this strange study at the time of general elections. This boosts the anti-Muslim rhetoric and the “Hindu Khatre mein hai” scare created over many decades. The three researchers, who produced this, have violated most of the norms for analysis, to come to this conclusion. To begin with demographic studies are based on population census. This one is based on the survey of nearly 23 lakh people, from Association of Religion Data Archive (ARDA), a miniscule sample of our vast population. Census figures are more reliable and comprehensive, bringing out different facets of population growth. For reasons best known to the ruling party the 2021 census which was due has not been held and these researchers have used survey data rather than more reliable census data.

Then the study compares the population figures of 1950 with those of 2015, again an arbitrary method. The media and communal organizations are using this data to intensify prevalent divisive propaganda. It reinforces the present social understanding that Muslims produce more children. To begin with it was popularized by our Prime Minister when he was chief Minister of Gujarat. While deciding to close down the refugee camps where Muslims had taken shelter, he called them,’ Children Producing Factories’. In the present scenario he is merrily shouting from the house tops that Congress will snatch away Hindu’s Mangal Sutra and Buffaloes and give it to those who produce more children.

What is the truth of the number of Children produced by Muslims? One of the best parameters for this is the Total Fertility Rate (TFR). According to a National Health Family survey the fertility rate amongst most communities is coming down. In 1992-93 it was 3.3 for Hindus and 4.41 for Muslims. In 2019-21, it was 1.94 for Hindus and 2.36 for Muslims. The percentage change for Hindus is thus -41.21% for Hindus and – 46.49% for Muslims. The decline in percentage is more amongst Muslims than Hindus. This shows that if such a pattern continues the rate of Muslim population growth will further fall down and become close to that of Hindus.

This is an interesting pattern. The permanent question is whether fertility rate is determined by religion or other factors. The sectarian nationalists have harped on the fact that Muslims are deliberately increasing their population vis a vis Hindus so that they will be a majority in this nation and will declare India as Gazava-e-Hind (Conquest of India by Muslims)!

This is one of the major falsehoods of communal politics to state that Hindus will become a minority if this pattern continues. The first point is that the factors influencing the number of children in a family are determined by two major things. One is the level of poverty and second is the rate of the literacy community as a whole and that of women in particular. This is amply clear when we compare the rate of fertility Muslim of Muslim women in Kerala, Kashmir and Karnataka, with the TFR for Hindu women in Bihar, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. It is lower for Muslim women in these states.

An important study by Saswata Ghose points out that “Thus, comparing state-level fertility differentials between Hindus and Muslims as estimated from Census 2011 and Census 2001, it can be ascertained that though the overall convergence of fertility between Hindus and Muslims has been underway, significant regional variations persist in the process of convergence since different states and religious groups are at different stages of transition”

As per S.Y. Quraishi, whose book on the issue ‘The Population myth: Islam. Family planning and Politics in India’ is quite a comprehensive account of the issue, in 24 of the 29 states of India TFR is already coming close to 2.179, the one indicative of a stable population, 2.1 is a mere replacement level. 

It is estimated that the Muslim population which is 14.2 % as per 2011 census will stabilize to 18% by 2050 and will stay put there as the trends amongst Muslim community show. The decadal rate of Muslim population growth also shows a substantial decline.

Irrespective of the immaculate studies, the communalists in various ways mock the Muslim community. I recall one instance where a team of Muslim elite sought an appointment to talk to RSS Sarsanghchalak. Dr Quraishi was a member of the team. He presented Bhagwat with his book which debunks the notions spread by RSS Combine. And lo and behold in a statement a few weeks later Sarsanghchalak stated that there should be a ‘balance in population’ among different communities!

The post Are Hindus in Danger due to rising Muslim Population? appeared first on SabrangIndia.

A video from a Ganga ghat in Haridwar, Uttarakhand is going viral, in which a young man is seen driving some people of the Muslim community away from the ghat. In the video, the young man can be heard saying that “only Hindus are allowed on the Ganga Ghats”. The video is said to be from Agrasen Ganga Ghat in Jwalapur area. The man can be seen and heard fighting with a few Muslims standing near the ghat, rudely and sternly asking them to leave. 

The video can be viewed here:

In India, even Rivers have now religion – In Haridwar, a Muslim family is being driven away from going to the Ganges River, saying “Only Hindus are allowed here” pic.twitter.com/jEJBeYKxYt

— Ashok Swain (@ashoswai) June 19, 2023

After the video went viral, CO (City) Juhi Manral has been investigating the case, as provided by the Quint. Police officials have also stated that all information about the video and the incident is being collected, and action will be taken as per rules. The officers also provided that there have been many such cases in Haridwar in the past, in which some Hindu organizations have removed non-Hindus from the Ganga Ghats, as provided by the Quint. 

Superintendent of Police (City) Swatantra Kumar Singh, said that “The matter is being investigated, appropriate action will be taken as soon as it is confirmed. Earlier also, such incidents had taken place, the police acted promptly and in this case the police will take action in the same way,” as reported by the Quint. He further said that those who are coming to Mother Ganga should act keeping in mind the dignity. Strict action will be taken against anyone who acts against the dignity of Mother Ganga.

Rishabh Gaur, one of the people who were present at the scene of the incident, has alleged that the Muslim family was rinsing in the Ganges and washing their undergarments. “Our mindset was not to drive them away, only to tell them not to rinse them in water. Someone keeps coming there, our mothers and sisters are bathing, so they make videos from above. While doing all this, there is no one to stop them. That’s where things like blackmail start,” Gaur said, as reported by the Quint. 

He further claimed, “We went there with the family to take a bath. There I saw that they were taking a bath, I had no objection to it. After bathing, the woman rinsed, so I stopped her that it is a symbol of our faith. After this, the young man with him washed his undergarments, so I said please do not do all this. After that, they started arguing,” as reported by the Quint. 

While the above-mentioned is being alleged by Gaur, it is essential to note that in the video, no clothes could be seen in the hands of the Muslim people being asked to leave. The woman and the man made to leave were dressed properly and were fully clothed. it is also essential to note that bathing, washing clothes, and immersion of the ashes of the dead by the Hindu community are one of the most common activities that are performed in river Ganga, something that has also led to increasing water pollution. 

Holy river Ganga- a unifying tie

In the past, the holy river Ganga had played the part of a unifying tie between the Hindu and Muslim communities. When it came to conservation of river Ganga and the campaign to clean it, Muslim religious leaders have now come forward to extend a helping hand to sadhus and seers who had been protesting for it. 

Maulana Saeedur Rehman, principal of Centre of Islamic studies, had said that it is well known that Ganga is associated with the faith of Hindus but it is not any less important for Muslims. Terming the drive to clean the river as a “holy campaign”, Rehman had said that he would not only extend support to it but would do whatever was required in achieving it. Member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangimahli, had said that Ganga is a national river and it is not just the Hindus but also the Muslims who live on its banks and earn livelihood through it so it is the duty of all to protect and save it, as reported by the Zee News.

People cutting across political and religious affiliations had taken part in these campaigns to save and clean River Ganga. “If a Hindu takes a dip in the ‘holy Ganga waters’ for salvation, the ordinary Muslims also use the water for Wuzu (the act of performing ablution or washing oneself up before standing in prayer,” Shahid Saleem, a trader, had said, as reported by the Deccan Herald.

When this river used to stand for unity and harmony, then why is a religion being associated to it?  India exhibits and has always exhibited religious syncretism. The constitution gives that right to every individual in India to access all public places, and yet, these tales of discrimination, religious fanaticism and islamophobia come up now and again to remind us of the rising anti-Muslim sentiments in India. 

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The post “Only Hindus allowed”: Hindu man drives Muslims away from Ganga Ghat appeared first on SabrangIndia.

A Catholic priest in western India sought police protection for his non-governmental organisation (NGO) after his staff members were attacked on a running train by Hindu nationalists who claimed they were missionaries involved in conversion activities.

A crowd of roughly 15 Hindu youth assaulted seven teachers of a Catholic NGO working in Dhule district in the western state of Maharashtra while traveling by express train. On January 16, the night of the attack, the team was on an education tour when the mob surrounded and attacked them at the Sangli railway station.

GunilalPawara, supervisor of a team of 42 teachers including 14 females who work for the NGO named Shirpur Vishwa Mandal Sevashram, stated that he was yanked from his bunk and hit on the head with a steel object until blood began to pour from a cut. As reported by the UCA News, Pawara further provided that the Hindu mob accused the team of attempting to convert indigenous tribal people, and had repeatedly asked for Father Constancio Rodrigues, the NGO’s director.

On January 20, Father Rodrigues told UCA News that he was supposed to accompany his team but was unable to do so at the last minute. He further asserted that the attackers knew the exact berth numbers of the team members, so it was a well-planned attack, but the mob clearly intended to target him.On January 21, a complaint was sent by the victim group to the Superintendent of Police, Belagavi and the Office of Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

Brief account of the attack

The group were going to Belagavi for an exchange of educational and social work experience there with the village level animators of Jana Jagaran Sanstha, Belagavi. Accordingly, on the morning of 16th January 2023, they started their journey from Shirpur District Dhule, Maharashtra to Belagavi by Goa Express (Nizamuddin Vasco Express) at 11.40 am.

As has been provided in the complaint, the group was sitting in coach number S6. Around 9.30 pm to 10 pm, near the Sangli railway station, some young men suddenly entered their coach, and started beating upthe group members while they were sleeping. They were asking questions such as, “Are you going for conversion?”. They were also repeatedly asking after Father Rodrigues.

As the mob got to know that the group members were a part of the Adivasi community, they started abusing them and uttering slurs. In addition to verbal abuse, the group members were also subjected to physical abuse. The mob used a walking stick, belonging to a disabled teacher Tara Singh ChaitramPawara, and steel kadas (bangles) to hit the group members.

Immediately after reaching Sangali railway station, the mob dragged some of the group members out of the train and took GunilalPawara to the railway police stationed standing at platform of Sangali Railway station. The police asked whether any quarrel had taken place. After getting to know the reason of the quarrel, the police questioned the mobregarding who they were, to which they replied they were locals. Post this, the culprits ran away from the spot.

The group then boarded the train again. On reaching the Belagavi railway station at around 1 am, the catholic group was surrounded by forty young men and was detained by the Belagavi railway police after getting down from the train. The railway police brought the group out of the station to the compound and handed them over to the Belagavi police. The police made all the member sit on the ground and questioned them. The questions ranged from asking where the group was travelling from, the purpose of their travel and the kind of education they were engaged in.

The police then gave protection to the group while they travelled to the premises of the Jan Jagran Training Centre within the St. Paul’s campus at Camp, Belagavi. As the group was travelling, they noticed that one of the teachers, BansilalShikarsingPawara, was missing in the group, and the group members claimed that he had been abducted by the mob that had attacked them. As the member informed the police that were accompany them, a police car went in search of the missing teacher. About half an hour later,Bansilal was dropped by two unknown men on a motor cycle, who then fled from the spot.

The district police inspector, who was accompanying the group, questioned Bansilal about his disappearance. Bansilal then informed that some men had closed his mouth and dragged him to a dark place after taking away his bag and shawl. The mob had then placed a sword on his throat and pointed a knife tohis stomach with the aim of forcing a false narrative out of him that the group members were being brought by force for conversion while the mob recorded the same. Bansilal had refused to give a false statement. He was then driven to a dark place near a bridge, close to the railway station, and threatened to be kill off if he did not comply, but Bansilal did not change his statement. After that, two members from the mob took him on a motor cycle and dropped him near the catholic group and fled away.

Action taken against the attack

As has been provided by Father Rodrigues, complaint against the above-mentioned incident have been sent to the Superintendent of Police, Belagavi and the Office of Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

The complaint can be read here.

To the said complaint, the Chief Minister’s office has sent their acknowledgement to the complaint sent by the group. The reply is provided below.

Father Rodrigues further provided that no arrests have been made yet. On being asked why no member of the attacking mob was arrested when they had approached the railway police at the Sangali Railway station, Father Rodrigues said that the police seemed as if they were siding with the culprits. Referring to the abduction of the member of the group, Father further said that the police took no action there too and it seemed as if they were either involved and knew everything or were protecting the ones who were responsible for the attack. Father had also added that even after returning, the group had to seek police protection at the NGO as they noticed some unidentified people keeping a watch on their activities.

The bogey of conversion and rising attacks on Christians

Christians account for 2.3 percent of India’s population of over 1.3 billion people, the majority of which are Hindus. Pro-Hindu organisations in India have intensified their enmity toward Christians by erroneously characterizing their institutions, such as schools and hospitals, as a front for religious conversions.Every time the issue of someone embracing the Christian faith comes up in India, the prevalent opinion is that the individual in question converted under duress or with some incentive. At one level, the illusion spun by the anti-Christian brigade that mass conversions will result in a sizable proportion of Hindus joining Christianity is the basis for such a notion gaining traction. On the other side, such a viewpoint implies a casteist perspective, wherein the upper caste Hindus are assuming the responsibility of “protecting and stopping” the tribals, Adivasis and Dalits from converting to Christianity, while having subjected them to systematic oppression, violence and exclusion since time immemorial. The rising attacks against Christians, can thus be safely described as attacks on Dalits and the marginalised of this country. 

Extremist Hindutva outfits have lately been involved in disrupting churches, prayer halls, and Christmas and Easter celebrations. The specter of mass conversion has been utilized repeatedly to harass Christian communities, indicating collective distress and uneasiness among Hindutva movements over the perceived insult to and abandonment of the Hindu faith by certain converts.

In the majority of these situations, the police and other authorities side with the perpetrators. The simple fact, however, is that Christianity in India offers no challenge to Hinduism’s demographic or philosophical might.

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The post Hindu mob attacks Catholic NGO staff, accuses them of indulging in religious conversion appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Residents of Brahmapuri in the North-East district of Delhi were left shocked and outraged after a poster was posted and widely shared on social media, calling on Hindu landlords in the area not to sell their houses to Muslim buyers. The poster, which was pasted in Gali No. 13, warned that any registry of such sales would not be allowed and that landlords would be held responsible for any issues that may arise. It also stated that any future deals should be made with Hindus only. The poster was signed by Pradeep Sharma, an advocate from Gali No. 13, Brahmapuri.

When our correspondent spoke to local residents, they reported that the situation was now calm but that people were hesitant to discuss the matter. According to local residents, Sharma is a resident of Gali No. 13 and self-identifies as a lawyer. However, they were unable to confirm whether he had been arrested or if he had any affiliations with any political party.

Silence in Gully no 13 where the offensive poster appeared three days ago

One local resident from Gali No. 13 said that “two days ago, posters were found in the street. The imam of Mateen Masjid in the street filed a complaint with the police and an investigation was conducted. The station head and ACP from Osmanpur police station arrived at the scene, apprehended the accused Pradeep Sharma and took him into custody.” Other residents had different perspectives on the matter, claiming that he was absconding.

According to another resident, the street has a mixed population of Hindus and Muslims, and members of both communities jointly filed a complaint against Sharma and handed him over to the police. According to some residents, Sharma has claimed that there is a conspiracy against him and that his name was used in the poster without his knowledge or consent. Despite our best efforts, we were unable to contact Mr Sharma. However, when our correspondent contacted the police, the Osmanpur police station ASI Ramer stated that they received a complaint about such posters being put up, however, upon investigation, their police station head and ACP, along with their team, did not find any such posters when they reached Brahmapuri street number 13.

The area of Brahmapuri was not affected by the riots that occurred in the North East district of Delhi in 2020, but neighboring areas like Chauhan Bangar, Jaffrabad, and Brahmapuri adjacent to Ghonda on the left and Bhajanpura area experienced significant violence. These areas have remained sensitive since then, and the emergence of such posters has the potential to vitiate the atmosphere in the area. Already the streets seemed deserted and residents appeared reluctant to speak freely.

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The post Provocative poster in Delhi’s Brahmpuri calls on Hindu landlords to not sell to Muslim buyers appeared first on SabrangIndia.

RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat has rationalised and almost justified the sharp rise in communal sentiment and strife, and the impunity of Hindutva mobs, in an interview to the house journal, Organiser. 

“Hindu society has been at war for over 1,000 years ― this fight has been going on against foreign aggressions, foreign influence and foreign conspiracies. The Sangh has offered its support to this cause, so have others. There are many who have spoken about it. And it is because of all these that Hindu society has awakened. It is but natural for people at war to be aggressive.” 

Significantly, he also referred to Italy and its 19th century general, Guisseppe Garibaldi, also long-revered by the Sangh for his role in the Italian unification: “Garibaldi led the war, but once fighting stopped, he wanted others to lead. At the end, when they had to choose a monarch, Garibaldi refused the mantle and said it should go to someone else. Of the three leaders who rose to prominence during Italy’s rise, it was Garibaldi who led on the battlefield. However, at the end, he distanced himself, saying, this is not my job.”  The Sangh’s open admiration for Benito Mussolini if Italy and Adolf Hitler of Germany has been minutely documented by scholar ….. in …… In fact BS Moonje, founder of the RSS’ inspired and funded Bhosle Military Academies ater his ten day visit to Italy during the reign of Benito Mussolini. Mussolini an Hitler’s aggressive and exclusionary brand(s) of nationalism is what has inspired Sangh ideologues and cadres, alike.

Over the past week, Bhagwat has spoken often and audibly. The speculation that prime minister, Narendra Modi is now the voice that dominates dominant the sangh parivar, and not the Sarsanghchalak, may have been a factor that pushed Mohan Bhagwat to address this to his supporters, who may be “in awe of” Modi’s personality.  The Caravan from November: ‘Bhagwat eclipsed’. 

On Muslims and India

Seemingly out of the blue, Bhagwat, in the same interview given to both Organiser and Panchjanya controversially also said that while Muslims have nothing to fear in India, but they must abandon their “boisterous rhetoric of supremacy”.

In an interview to Organiser and Panchjanya, Mr. Bhagwat said, “The simple truth is this, Hindusthan should remain Hindusthan. There is no harm to the Muslims living today in Bharat… Islam has nothing to fear. But at the same time, Muslims must abandon their boisterous rhetoric of supremacy.” 

“We are of an exalted race; we once ruled over this land, and shall rule it again; only our path is right, rest everyone is wrong; we are different, therefore we will continue to be so; we cannot live together; they (Muslims) must abandon this narrative. In fact, all those who live here whether a Hindu or a communist must give up this logic,” the RSS chief said.

Reacting sharply to the remarks, senior advocate, Kapil Sibal said on Twitter, “Bhagwat: ‘Hindusthan should remain Hindusthan’, Agree. But: Insaan should remain Insaan.” Mr. Bhagwat also stated (sic) the new-found aggression among Hindus the world over was due to an awakening in the society that has been at war for over 1,000 years.

On the LGBTQIA communities 

On “LGBT people” Bhagwat said “they had the right to live, without much hullabaloo”, and had “always been accommodated in society”. There was no need for a fuss about them.

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A Twitter account called ‘Hindutva Watch’ which reports on incidents of hate crimes and hate speeches by right wing groups reported that a new strategy is being adopted by the RW-groups. They have started muting live streams of their events whenever any objectionable comment is being made which could land them into trouble and invite legal action. Many such events are being held by far-right organizations and groups from time to time in various cities of the country. The speakers often make inflammatory and hateful remarks which get record on their own live stream or gets recorded from someone in the audience and gets circulated over social media. It is meant to perpetrate and further disseminate their vile comments amongst Hindus but these videos also catch the attention of rights groups and individuals fighting for rights of minorities and they raise their voice in protest, with many filing complaints against them as well.

Presumably, it is to avoid any such action, that these groups have started this new approach of muting their videos in places were controversial and communalist comments are made to avoid penal action.

An example of one such incident was posted by Hindutva Watch where Sudarshan News Editor-in-Chief was speaking at Hindu Janajagruti Samiti event held in Jalgaon, Maharashtra on December 25. However, despite the muting, the rest of the speech is as abhorrent and inflammatory and every sentence spoken by Chavhanke is an offence under the Indian Penal Code. He has not only made comments against the festival of Christmas being secularly celebrated in the country but has also made objectionable remarks about Muslim women. He makes baseless allegations against madrassas and made false and baseless claims about forced religious conversions in Jalgaon.

The entire transcript of the 9-minute-long video posted on twitter, wherein Chavhanke makes a speech in Hindi, can be read here:

“Today’s program is not just being seen by Hindu lions and lionesses in the audience but is also being viewed by some pigs”.

“I can see some of them standing atop buildings, some welding caps (then goes on mute).. From Jalgaon to Khandwa if you take a train, you can see land has been captured, ‘Land jihad’ has occurred. It feels like the train is passing through Pakistan. If this continues then in the near future, this railway line that connect south India to north India will get captured and it will be similar to how PFI tried to separate the ‘chicken neck’ region from India”

“In Solapur, some Hindu boys marched to the Collector’s office in wedding attire protesting that they are not finding girls to marry. I want to say to those young boys that if you want to hold protest, March to that Mosque (video mutes).. go to the Madrassas where it is taught how to cheat our women”

“It is taught in these mosques how to tie kalava, how to keep fake identity, they are given motorcycles. This is an organized crime. They are big dacoits and terrorists and so that there is a law against it, I am coming to Maharashtra”

“Today is a Christian festival. There are 2% Christians in India, at least the ones who tell their real names, leave aside the fake ones. The festival of these 2% is being imposed on the 98% people. The Hindus are so gullible that they are putting up Christmas trees in hotels, malls, airports. Is there any relation of Christmas trees and India? (Crowd echoes a ‘No’) But we were made into fools. From December 25 to January 5, we will not see anything else. Our children will grow up looking at Christmas tree and they will think is ours and that is why Sudarshan (his news channel) since the past 10-12 years has started worshipping the tulsi plant instead of worshipping Christmas tree”

“Christianity has ruined our intellect. In your area as well, Christians are carrying out religious conversions. You must be thinking that only Dalits must be getting converted but even Adivasis are getting converted in large numbers. Especially members of the Banjara community are being made to convert in large numbers and in opposition to this, Jalgaon district held a International Banjara Kumbh and we should all support it. The Christians and Muslims conspired against us. In the name of Islam, they took Pakistan, yet even after independence, many of our Education Ministers were Muslims. Our first Education was not even Indian, he was a Saudi national. He was educated in a Madrassa and was making our education policy.  Along with Christians, they did not let the stories our Hindu Bravehearts come to the forefront. In CBSE syllabus there are only four lines dedicated to Shivaji Maharaj. Aurangzeb, Babur, Khilji find mention. Today, this is getting transformed. If you fall into her mentality then your next generation will be Muslims.”

“Back then who got scared, today they are Muslims. Today who lives in fear will tomorrow become Muslim.

“I want to say to the Buddhists of Indian to learn something from Buddhists of Myanmar. They kicked our and chased away the Rohingyas from their country. They said your Jihad will not work in our country. I am the world’s first journalist or first individual against whom a case against hate speech is on-going at the Supreme court. People who know the law, know that after a crime is committed, it first goes to trial court, then sessions court, then high court and then Supreme court. Last year on December 19, in Delhi I took the oath of Hindu Rashtra, against that many jihadis raise their voice. I only took the same oath which was taken by Shivaji Maharaj on 26 April 1645 at Raireshwar. You tell me, Mavlas of Maharashtra, is it a crime to take Shivaji Maharaj’s Hindu rashtra oath? And if it is a crime, then will you still take that oath? (The audience yells ‘yes’)”

“My lawyer said to me that If you speak on the dais, this will upset the judge. I am not making this speech to please any judge I am challenging the traitors in this country.”

“Earlier the slogan was “We will fight and take Pakistan” now the slogan is “we will smile and take Hindustan”. Someone asked me what does “take with a smile” mean? I said having 4 wives and 44 children is matter of laughing. By this, India is being captured, will we let that happen? (Audience yells ‘no’).

“Raise your hands in fists and say, “will you let Hindustan get captured?” (Audience yells ‘no’)

“Because of these dogs like Owaisi (mutes)…I take back my words. I can’t call him a dog because dogs are faithful. (muted)

“Those who said we will not come to Hindustan; Sardar Patel made them rub their noses to the ground.”

“This situation could out of control hence I am warning those converted to Christianity, those who have become secular I am urging them also to become real Hindus.”

“I am telling Muslim girls that if they marry Hindu boys, they will get 10 (muted). Even if any Hindu forget to watch Sudarshan (news) someday, Muslims never fail to watch Sudarshan. Sudarshan channel is watched by either lions or pigs”.

The video may be viewed here:

Far-right Hindu groups have adopted a new strategy to avoid their hate speeches from coming under the scanner.

They mute live stream of segments where speakers deliver anti-Muslim remarks.

Suresh Chavhanke delivered one such speech at Hindu Janajagruti Samiti event on Dec 25. pic.twitter.com/AhYb5DhMcz

— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) December 29, 2022

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The post Christmas of the 2% is being imposed on the 98%, says Suresh Chavhanke appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Urging Hindu religious leaders in India to speak out, Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR), alomg with religious leaders across the globe have the growing climate of target and hate and denounced it. As many as 17 organisations and 40 individuals have signed this public appeal that breaks the collective silence and speaks out against targeted hate.

Taking note of the growing hate, violating “the deepest teachings” of Hindu tradition, members pledged to: speak out against anti-Muslim words and actions whenever they show up in our communities, strengthen relationships with Muslim neighbours, leaders and institutions, keep temples and homes open to all, irrespective of religious background, commit to teachings of religious freedom and social justice that challenge notions of religious nationalism, casteism, and hatred for our brothers and sisters of other traditions.

“As Hindus, we are called to recognize that the Divine resides equally in all living beings. This recognition requires that we affirm the dignity of all beings and practice the virtues of non-injury and compassion. Sadly, as we write this letter, we are seeing increasing violence against our Muslim siblings in India, carried out in the name of our faith,” said the HfHR in the letter available in Hindu, Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil and Kannada.

Signatories expressed dismay to see Hindu leaders in India and abroad openly embracing Hindutva—a century-old political ideology that sees citizens of other faiths as inherently foreign. It disqualifies them from enjoying the full benefits of Indian citizenship.

As an example, the letter cited the Dharam Sansad in Haridwar, Uttarakhand wherein saffron-clad sadhus, sadhvis, and swamis called for genocidal violence against Indian Muslims in December 2021.

“The images… are a chilling sight that we cannot ignore. And since the so-called “Dharma Sansad” we have seen Muslim women put up for “auction” on an app created by college students, and hijab-wearing Muslim girls being denied their right to equal education in Karnataka,” said the letter.

Addressing such attacks and whatabouttery of attacks on Hindus, the HfHR said that the only way to break the cycles of religious violence across South Asia is to stand up for each other’s right to thrive and live with dignity.

“Violence against Hindus and other minorities in countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh does not, in any way, justify violence against Muslims and other minorities in India,” it said.

People and organisations from Delhi, Mathura, Haridwar as well as New York, Colorado, California, Florida, and even South Africa and Australia signed this letter.

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The post Hindus worldwide denounce hate appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Image: Salim Shaikh
 
Jamalpur ke patang
Bareilly ya Surat ki dori
Aur ban gayee patang ki jodi*
 
Umarbhai (Mohammad Umar Mohammad Hanif Shaikh) has been in the business of kite making for 40 years.  For 16 years as a mazdoor  (labourer) and since 1990 as a manufacturer. His father worked in Ahmedabad’s textile mills. From the April of every year until the early hours of January 14, Uttarayan, Gujarat’s premier festival he makes and sells as many as 15 lakh kites. He is the manufacturer getting the painstaking work of crafting kites from households of women in Jamalpur, Kalupur and adjoining localities of Ahmedabad. Craftswomen are all Muslim as are 98 per cent of the manufacturers. The raw material, fine kagaz (paper) and kamaan (stick frames) come from wholesale dealers from Kolkatta. The mota kagaz (thicker paper) comes from the markets of Delhi. Only five per cent of the manufacturing of kites in Gujarat from Nadiad and Khabhat is with Hindus.
 
It is a small manufacturing hub with two of his ‘worker karigars’ and the genius of Mustufabhai, the design wiz who spins out the latest fantasies that fly in the sky. This year the motifs are from Bolllywood’s Bajranji Bhaijaan and South Indian cinema’s Bahubali which commandeer the popular imagination…’I love Taj (Mahal), Sallu Bhaijaan (Salman Khan) are also other popular slogans on kites. Narendra Modi’s popularity though not as high as before, has not dropped from the skies, entirely. “Allah ke karam se hamaare Mustufabhai ke design bahut chalti hai,” Umarbhai told us. (By the grace of the Almighty Allah, Mustifabhai’s designs really work).
 
Enter the kite markets of Ahmedabad’s Jamalpur on the nights of January 12 and 13 and the area is abuzz with late night dealings. Bright lights greet us. ‘Aftabbhai Patangwaala’  is just one of the brightly lit signs. Over 500 small and large manufacturers make up the hub here.  Here are some of the names of the famous kite designers and manufacturers:  Kudratullah Amanullah Pathan of Shahin Kites, Abdul Vahidkhan Pathan of Kanij Patang Centre, Aiyubkhan Hafizkhan Pathan of Shadab Kites, Yusuf Mohammedhanif Rangrej of BS Patang Makers and Rajubhai Hafizbhai Patangwala of Gujarat Kites.

Image: Salim Shaikh

Often some of the family businesses actually involved in the crafting are mobile,  also traveling to other parts. The annual schedule goes like this: In Gujarat, kites and manja (strong) are made  from August to January. Immediately after Uttarayan, some families move to UP, where they start with the same work for Ganga Dusshera festival which falls in June-end.” Once done with the ten-day Ganga Dusshera festival, the same group can moves to Delhi for two months (July-August), as kite flying is observed in Delhi on August 15 every year. While these families work hard, the returns are minimal. “During the eight months of work in Gujarat, the gross earnings reach Rs1 lakh, against a gross expenditure around Rs 40,000,” disclosed another manufacturer, who makes and sells kites in Kalupur. This implies an approximate income of about Rs 7,500 per month, on which the entire family depends. Each member of the family specialises in different activities. “Kite-making is laborious and cannot be done by machine. While my brother is quick in cutting paper/plastic, I do the work of sticking the thin sticks on it and my brother ties the tail to it. This way, we make around 1,000-1,500 kites in a day,” says another resident of the Jamalpur area.
 
The economics works something like this. Charges of the paper for one thousand kites is Rs 1,000 and labour charges approximate Rs 600 (per 1,000 kites).The break-up is elaborate but includes cutting of paper, threading on the kite, attaching the round/curved frame and final stick links, finishing etc. The rate at which the manufacturer sells to the wholesaler is between Rs 2,000-2,500 per 1,000 kites after incurring a cost of Rs 1600 per thousand kites. The profit therefore is between forty paise to ninety paise per kite. A pittance for the actual skilled worksmith and manufacturer; higher for the stockist and retailer. A kite can sell at Rs four to five in retail markets depending on the size.

Gujarat unfortunately known for its intra-community divide drops this side of its identity when it comes to doing business. “In 1992 and again in 2002 when communal sentiments were at their height, for a few months relations are strained,” says Umarbhai. Then things return to the proverbial, businesslike normal.
 
While the kites of Rampur, Jaipur and Jodhpur are famously made from other materials, the kagaz ki kalaakaari (art of paper made kites that fly high and far) rests solely with the women and men, Muslims, of Ahmedabad. Manufacturers sell to the stockists (wholesalers) from all over Gujarat; Umarbhai’s stock goes as far as stockists in Nadiad, Kalol and nearby Kalupur: Kalaa hamare haath mein hai, Vyapaar unke haat mein. (The manufacturing is with us, the trade is in Hindu hands)
 
The months after Diwali (around October-November each year) and Uttarayan ( kite flying festival on the occasion of Makar Sakranti) are the busiest. Each home, depending on the capacity of the women members, makes as many as 4-10,000 kites and is paid per piece). Designs are carefully chosen and dished out. While the paper-cutting. Designing and pasting is a Gujarati skill, the dori rangna (colouring of the maanjha, the string that flies the kites) is a skill handled by kaarigars (skilled worksmiths) from Kolkatta. Though many of these are Muslims, some are not; they come and station themselves in Ahmedabad for the tricky and skilled task of mixing ground glass paste and colours that are then coated on the strong that flies the kites. The proportion of the mix is crucial: too much can sear fingers that fly the kites, and too little glass can make you fail the Uttarayan  test: flying the kite and cutting down the one of your opponent. The most famous doris are from Bareilly and Surat. The Bareilly dori is available in markets there. the dori worksmiths from Kolkatta come in to Gujarat. But the final product is pasted together in and around Ahmedabd’s Jamalpur. Before they are flown high up in the sky.

*The kites of Jamalpur
The string of Surat or Barreily
That makes up the right kite combination

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The questions asked for data on number of Sikh and Hindus refugees who entered India in the past 3 years from these two countries, the number of these refugees granted citizenship and asked for a timeline as to when the rest of the refugees will be granted Indian citizenship.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) stated that 391 Afghani and 1595 Pakistani migrants, have been granted Indian Citizenship in the last 3 years i.e. from 2016 to 2018. Further, the Ministry also provided data of the current year stating that 40 Afghani and 712 Pakistani migrants have been granted citizenship in 2019 until December 6.

The government further said that in 2018 they have started capturing citizenship data pertaining to migrants belonging to minority communities such as Sikh, Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian. Since this system was introduced in 2018, (total of) 927 Sikhs and Hindus from Afghanistan and Pakistan have been granted citizenship. If this data is being maintained for each community, it is unclear why the MHA has not provided separate data on Sikhs and Hindus.

The government, however said that it does not centrally maintain data regarding Sikh and Hindu refugees who have entered India from Afghanistan and Pakistan and consequently it cannot provide data on how many such refugees have not been granted citizenship yet.

Evidently, much before the Citizenship Amendment Bill could be passed by the Parliament, the government has started collating data on migrants categorizing them into their religions to use such data for their own benefit in the future. It may be used to prove its point that so many people belonging to these communities have faced religious persecution and the government has done the noble deed of giving them asylum and citizenship rights.

The Bill, however, provides for granting citizenship to migrants who entered India on or before 31^st December 2014, yet the government is maintaining this data for migrants being granted citizenship after this period, the reason for the same, one cannot ascertain at this moment.

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The post 927 Sikhs and Hindus granted citizenship since 2018 appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Two kids, who happened to be born in the Valmiki community, became victims of a deep rooted caste hatred which the caste Hindus have been nurturing since centuries. What was the fault of these kids?That they were Dalits, and that, too, of the community which is ‘supposed’ to keep the street, houses, ‘clean’. A community which has kept India clean, and carried the dirt of the caste Hindus for centuries, is not allowed to live a life with dignity. Most of the Valmiki bastis are out of sight for India’s politicians and officials. Not even the activists go to their place.

About two decades ago, an English journalist wanted to do a story on the condition of manual scavengers in India and she told me that she wanted to visit a family. I took her to a friend’s house in Trilokpuri in Delhi. It was summer. She arrived in her car. When she saw the condition of that locality, she was not willing to come out of the car. Yet, I insisted. She came to the house but could not sit there for more than a minute.
While I remained there, she decided to sit in her car. This was the story of Delhi but elsewhere, too, India has criminally kept the community outside the ambit of developmental work.

That’s why the motives of Swachch Bharat Abhiyanmust be questioned, and are questionable, if it does not have any meaning for millions of those, who have been kept untouchable and isolated just for keeping India and our families clean. Why did NarendraModi or his party not speak of the rampant discrimination that Valmikis and other manual scavenging communities face? Where are homes, schools and rehabilitation for the community whichis at the receiving end of untouchability and discrimination not only from the Savarnasbut, at many places, from OBCs as well as some other Dalit communities, who feel that they are placed higher in the caste ladder?

Look at the situation of this village in Shivpuri district in Madhya Pradesh, where Avinash, 10, and Roshini, 12, belonging to Manoj Valmiki’s family, were killed brutally by HakamYadav and RameshwarYadav. Why were they killed? The two were defecating in the open. Nobody asked why? According to a report in the Indian Express newspaper today, there are 300 families of Yadavs in the village, followed by Jatavs, but the Valmikis, who live on the absolute outskirts, are merely two families. Both of them live in semi constructed houses and do not have any toilet. As the village is dominated by the Yadavs, it is certain that these Valmikis must have been employed incleaning their dirt. However, since the upper castes might now have toilets at home, they would surely get upset with the communityas they are no longer needed there. The children clearly tell us that there is deep rooted caste prejudice and untouchability against them at school.

The villages in India are a copy of Manu’s model and every basti is based on caste. The caste system is followed fully and with great adherence. The other communities have no sympathy on this issue. Look at this village. Two children are murdered brutally and there is no pain, no shame or remorse among these 300 Yadav families. In fact, some of them are defending the act, some are suggesting that Hakam Singh was ‘mentally unstable’ and he would have killed anyone. These are pretexts to save themselves. Where were the others when this happened?In a village, nothing happen in isolation, people gather in large numbers when things happen but when they realise that it may be problematic, they keep quiet.

Can you imagine that two kids were murdered by two caste Hindus, who consider themselves caste superior, and none of the villagers ever bother to visit the families of these two victims. The community is defending the criminals, and has no time to assure the families of these children that they are with them and they will get justice. This is caste hatred. That, even after the crime, you shameless morons don’t even think it necessary to go and meet the families, apologise to them, assure them. No, the cowards and criminals will get polluted if they visit the families of these untouchables. Where will you get such a barbaric society,in which, after murdering the kids of the outcastes, no one even bothers to attend their funeral just because of their fear of getting ‘touched’? This is the power of caste that blinds you. Right and wrongs become caste based. Criminals get strength from it because caste members stand with them. This is pure caste privilege and I can say even the police will fail the case. After some days, the case would be forgotten and things will come back to normal. If this Valmiki family makes some noise, they will try to shut its mouth with money or threaten to throw it out of the village.

The big question is why don’t we speak against it? When did our schools teach our children that untouchability and caste discrimination is a crime? Did Swachcha Bharat and its proponents ever speak about it? Why is the entire campaign to clean India not reaching the ValmikiBastis or dombastis? Do the officers or civil servants, who have janeu and red tikkaon their foreheads, or wear rings given by different Babas in their fingers or big rudraksh thread, ever visit these bastis? Can they do justice to the poor and marginalised, if they continue to live in their caste glory? Why is no severe action taken against students, teachers, staff, parents,grampanchayatswhen cases of caste discrimination come to light?

India’s constitutional provisions have not worked a hundred percent on removing untouchability. The Constitution, actually, did not eliminate caste. Baba SahebAmbedkar always talked about social democracy and felt that, in its absence, our political democracy will fail. Our politicians have ensured that we remain Manu-ised socially, to ensure that this constitution fails because if it succeeds, then we will have an egalitarian society based on equality, liberty and fraternity but such a society would annihilate the caste privileges being enjoyed by various communities and their leaders. It is because of these privileges that the Manuwadis donot want the caste system to go.

Coming back to this case, what is Madhya Pradesh CM,Kamalnath’s solution to this issue? What is the compensation on the issue? If Congress is sincere, it must take the task of honourably rehabilitating the Valmikis and other communities engaged in manual scavenging. Give them land for farming, provide them with school and college hostel facilities and take full care of their education, give them employment in non-sanitation work and declare untouchability as crime against humanity and punish all those who practice it, irrespective of caste. Are our leaders ready to take this? Will our progressivesfind time to discuss the damage that Manu-streamed polity has done to this country?

Murder of Avinash and Roshini is a hate crime, a crime against humanity and India needs to give this issue top priority, and not side track it under some pretext. All claims of progress, great power, greatcivilisation are bogus and hypocritical, as long as we have untouchability and caste discrimination in our society.
 
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