If reports are to be believed, India’s foremost ‘journalist’ Rajdeep Sardesai has quit India Today hours after the channel took him off air and reprimanded him by cutting a month’s salary for misreporting on a farmer’s death that led to violence and injury to several police officers in Delhi on 26 January.
On January 26, Sardesai during one of his new broadcast said Navneet Singh, a farmer, had been killed in police firing and to compound to this unverified report he also sent out a tweet.
Sardesai also made the same claim during his live coverage on India Today on January 26. Speaking to the channel’s reporter Ankit Tyagi, Sardesai had said: “There is the dead body, which was shown to me of an individual who is allegedly Navneet Singh, 24 years old, was reportedly driving the tractor, comes from Western UP, and because he has been shot in the head…suffered a bullet injury which has resulted in his death.“
While the farm protestors claim that the deceased Navneet Singh was shot at by Delhi police while on a tractor, this video clearly shows that the tractor overturned while trying to break the police barricades. The farm protestors allegations don’t stand. Post mortem awaited.👇 pic.twitter.com/JnuU05psgR
Navneet who had died because he drove his tractor rashly, was hailed by Sardesai and had said ‘he has now become a symbol now and it is because of his death that had “sparked an angry reaction’.
However, the Delhi police which was at the receiving end of the farmer protest fury, released video footage of a tractor, reportedly being driven by Singh, ramming into police barricades and in that video one can clearly see the tractor overturned that led to Navneet Singh getting hurt seriously and later succumbed to his injuries.
Later to cover for his horrible news reporting, Sardesai tweeted the video, adding that the police showed “great restraint” with “no evidence of bullets fired” and explained his error during his show on the night of January 26.
He said: “These were the allegations that were being made at the time when we were reporting this afternoon. The eyewitnesses and the friends of the deceased, when we spoke to them, they were insistent that a shot had been fired and the tractor overturned because a shot was fired…However, the police version, and particularly the video, makes it very clear that the particular act of the tractor overturning could be the cause of death…The police version appears more credible than what the farm protesters are claiming.”
As per Delhi Police, Navneet Singh’s post-mortem report has confirmed he died of injuries sustained from the accident. Also, there are reports that are still to be verified that the protesters may have also tried to stop emergency aid from reaching the accident victim.
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The parties in the DMK alliance are biting their nails over how many seats they will be getting to contest in the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
The DMK district secretaries are of the view that the party should not end up giving a large number of seats to the coalition parties and contest in the maximum number of seats possible. Sources say that Prashant Kishor, the DMK’s election strategist has apparently told DMK chief MK Stalin that the DMK would win the elections comfortably. He is said to have advised the Stalin that the party should contest in 200 constituencies to emerge victorious.
Following this, reports came that the parties in the DMK alliance like the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) and the Kongunadu Makkal Desiya Katchi (KMDK) are being urged to contest under the ‘rising sun’ symbol.
A few days ago VCK leader Thol. Thirumavalavan had stated that the VCK ‘had choice but no compulsion’ to contest under DMK’s symbol. However, he later tweeted saying that he never said that the VCK would ‘definitely contest under the DMK symbol’.
We didn't say that VCK will definitely contest under the DMK symbol. It is customary for parties leading alliance to suggest that unrecognized parties contest in their symbol for the welfare of the Alliance.We used to consider it. But our individuality and dignity comes foremost. pic.twitter.com/WfDz8n9lFn
In the midst of this, an ‘important person’ from the DMK is said to have met Thol. Thirumavalavan on behalf of M.K. Stalin. During the meeting, the ‘important person’ is said to have told the VCK chief that the DMK should have formed the government in 2016 with Kalaignar Karunanidhi as Chief Minister but missed it because of various reasons that includes the People’s Welfare Front of which Thol. Thirumavalavan’s VCK was part of. He is said to have pointed out sternly that the DMK lost its chance of coming to power in 2016 because Thol. Thirumavalavan played spoilsport and that the DMK chief was still unhappy about it. “Despite that, the DMK had given 2 seats for the VCK during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.”, the ‘important person’ is said to have told Thirumavalavan.
Apparently, Thirumavalavan has been told that there are some practical difficulties in allocating seats to alliance parties and that the VCK would be given only 2 seats for which the VCK leader has no choice but to agree. He is said to have told him that the election expenses for the 2 constituencies would be borne by the DMK.
A shocked and disappointed Thirumavalavan is said to have conveyed to the ‘important person’ that the VCK had held various protests across the state and has been strengthening the party. “Many brothers are putting a lot of pressure on me for contesting in the elections. How can two be enough in this situation? We need at least 10 seats,” Thirumavalavan is said to have told the ‘important person’.
It is expected that the VCK chief would be meeting M.K. Stalin in this regard soon.
Rajdeep Sardesai, one of India’s foremost journalists and consulting editor of news channel India Today, has reportedly been taken off the air for two weeks after misreporting on a farmer’s death that led to violence and injury to several police officers in Delhi on 26 January, the day India celebrated its 72nd Republic Day.
As per reports coming in, Sardesai has also been docked of one month’s salary.
On January 26, Sardesai, in his news broadcast said that Navneet Singh, a farmer, had been killed in police firing and, to compound to this unverified report, he also sent out a tweet.
Sardesai also made the same claim during his live coverage on India Today on January 26. Speaking to the channel’s reporter Ankit Tyagi, Sardesai had said: “There is the dead body, which was shown to me of an individual who is allegedly Navneet Singh, 24 years old, was reportedly driving the tractor, comes from Western UP, and because he has been shot in the head…suffered a bullet injury which has resulted in his death.”
While the farm protestors claim that the deceased Navneet Singh was shot at by Delhi police while on a tractor, this video clearly shows that the tractor overturned while trying to break the police barricades. The farm protestors allegations don’t stand. Post mortem awaited.👇 pic.twitter.com/JnuU05psgR
Navneet, who had died because he drove his tractor rashly, was hailed by Sardesai who had said “he has now become a symbol and it is his death that has sparked an angry reaction”.
However, the Delhi police, which was at the receiving end of the farmer protests’ fury, released video footage of a tractor, reportedly being driven by Singh, ramming into police barricades. In that video one can clearly see the tractor overturned that led to Navneet Singh getting seriously injured. Singh later succumbed to his injuries.
Later to cover for his horrible news reporting, Sardesai tweeted the video, adding that the police showed “great restraint” with “no evidence of bullets fired” and explained his error during his show on the night of January 26.
He said: “These were the allegations that were being made at the time when we were reporting this afternoon. The eyewitnesses and the friends of the deceased, when we spoke to them, they were insistent that a shot had been fired and the tractor overturned because a shot was fired…However, the police version, and particularly the video, makes it very clear that the particular act of the tractor overturning could be the cause of death…The police version appears more credible than what the farm protesters are claiming.”
As per Delhi Police, Navneet Singh’s post-mortem report has confirmed that he died of injuries sustained from the accident. Also, there are reports, which are yet to be verified, that the protesters may have also tried to stop emergency aid from reaching Singh after the accident.
As the protesting farmers stormed into the Red Fort a startling information has come to light wherein it has become clear that pro-Khalistan elements have infiltrated the moment and are receiving support from the Inter-Service Intellegene, the premier agency that runs covert terror operations against India.
As per reports, ISI has given ₹5 crore to the German chapter of the Babbar Khalsa International to use the funds to create unrest in New Delhi. The money was handed over to Babbar Khalsa chief Wadhwawa Singh and KCF chief Paramjit Singh Panjwar.
The monitory support is not only coming from the ISI but Santokh Singh Lalli and Swaranjit Singh Gotra who live in Italy, and both pro-Khalistani, have raised 200,000 British pounds.
A Joginder Singh Bassi in Canada has raised and forwarded about ₹3 crore. In Britain, the British Organisation of Sikh Students, Kulwant Singh Dhesi, the President of the British Sikh Council and Tarsem Singh Deol, the general secretary of the British Sikh Council, have also raised funds and all these inidividulas and organisations have clear links with the Khalistan Tiger Force and Sikhs for Justice (SFJ).
The SFJ is a U.S based Sikh rights adviocasy group and have offered $250,000 to people for raising the Khalistan flag at the India Gate and $1,000 for raising the Khalistan flag at the Singhu border.
These West based organisation act as human rights groups and are riasing money using online platforms.
There have been 34 fundraising campaigns on gofundme.com that has collectively raised ₹2.4 crore and there are also 13 Facebook campaigns via ₹52 lakh have been raised and all these monies are in direct violation of FCRA regulations.
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In Madhya Pradesh’s Indore, a 24-year-old woman named Shalini Kaushal has filed an FIR against her parents Rakesh Kaushal and Rani Kaushal for forcing her to convert to Christianity. The alleged incident occurred in a ceremony held on late Tuesday in the city.
According to Indore’s Deputy General Inspector of Police HN Mishra, the Kaushal couple have been booked under sections 3 and 5 of Madhya Pradesh’s Freedom of Religion Ordinance.
As of now, nine people have been named in the FIR and all of them have been sent to judicial custody after being produced in the court on Wednesday.
“Shalini said that her parents Rakesh and Rani lied to her and took her to a Christian Church, Satprakashan Sanchar Kendra, Indrapuri, Indore to attend a Christian missionary programme. In the programme, the accused were saying that God will help you,” the FIR stated.
The complainant has alleged that some women even physically asaulted her in the ceremony. She further stated in the FIR, “They were forcing people to convert to Christianity. I am Hindu by religion but my parents and others were forcing me to convert. Like me, there were two more people, who were being forced for conversion.”
When the news of the forced Christian conversions reached the Bajrang Dal, its workers arrived at the site to discover that a mass conversion program was going on.
DIG HN Mishra also added, “We are also investigating to know whether it was a mass conversion programme or not as most of the participants were Hindu.”
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Ever since Karuppar Kootam, a YouTube channel run by ‘Periyarists’ with links to the DMK set off a storm by abusing Kandha Sashti Kavasam, a hymn dedicated to the Hindu God Murugan, the DMK has been feeling the heat for its anti-Hindu politics that it had been doing since its inception.
While the party and its leaders had tried to distance themselves from the rabid YouTube channel, evidences clearly show that senior leaders belonging to the DMK were in bed with the nefarious elements all along. Even if they deny their links now, it must be noted that both the DMK and the Karuppar Koottam subscribe to the same school of thought, the one that idolizes the anti-Hindu bigot E.V. Ramasamy Naicker (known as ‘Periyar’ by his followers).
For the uninitiated, here is some context. Karuppar Koottam was a YouTube channel run by a group of ‘Periyarists’, Communist ideologues and DMK sympathizers. They had indulged in targeted attacks against Hindus posting videos abusing Hindu Gods, Hindus and Brahmins for a long time under the garb of ‘rationalism’.
The Karuppar Koottam Shenanigans
In the series titled “Aabasa Puranam” (Porn Puranam), members of the Karuppar Kootam had used vulgar language against Hindu Gods like Murugan, Saraswathi, Brahma, etc.
In one of the videos, they abused Lord Murugan revered in Tamil Nadu as the Tamil God, by making derogatory references to Kandhasashti Kavasam, a hymn dedicated to Lord Muruga that echoes in every Hindu’s home and temples in Tamil Nadu.
In another video titled “Saraswathi Puranam” , Surendar Natarajan, a member of the Karuppar Kootam had said “You say Saraswathi sits in the tongue of Brahma.. If we ask, where will Saraswathi go when she needs to pee or has a bad stomach.. they don’t have an answer. You told she is in the tongue, shouldn’t you also say you also have built a toilet in Brahma’s mouth?”
In another video, Surendar Natarajan while talking about Ramayana made vile references to Tamil Sage Poet Kambar, Lord Rama, Goddess Sita and Lord Hanuman.
Sirpi Rajan, another member of the Karuppar Kootam gang in a video showing magic tricks, had used Hindu children and mocked at their beliefs. Sirpi Rajan had even cut the religious thread tied in the hand of a boy saying that if the God’s thread is more powerful, the scissors will break.
These videos are now unavailable as the channel itself has been taken down.
On July 15, one Senthilvasan Muthusamy was arrested by the Central Crime Branch after cases were registered from different quarters for their vile and abusive video on Hindu God Murugan.
Surendar Natarajan of Karuppar Koottam had surrendered at the Ariyankuppam police station in Puducherry on July 16 and was charged under the Goondas Act.
The Karuppar Koottam Behind The Karuppar Koottam
It is alleged that the channel enjoyed the patronage of Haseef Mohamed, Senior Correspondent of News18 Tamil Nadu and other journalists associated with Centre of Media Persons for Change (CMPC), an extension of communists and DK groups.
Members belonging to DK, DMK, VCK and the Communist parties were frequent guests hosted by the channel. Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi chief Thol. Thirumavalavan, DK ideologue Suba Veerapandian were just some of the people who had expressed their support for Karuppar Koottam after Maridhas, a YouTuber, took them head on in the video about News 18 Tamil Nadu and their alleged links with Karuppar Koottam.
Sundaravalli, a member and spokesperson of Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Surendar Natarajan in one of the videos had discussed about Hindu Puranas spewing venoms against Hindu Gods. Sundaravalli claiming to have read the Saiva Thirumurais (hymns dedicated to Lord Shiva) had said in the video that the Thirumurais have porn in them. “Asinga asingama irukum, kevalam kevalama irukun!” (They are so gross and disgusting), Sundaravalli had said. She would go on to state that Puranas are the epitome of porn. She had also stated in the video that their primary mission is to break Hindus by attacking the Hindu scriptures.
However, pictures which emerged during the controversy clearly establishes the close relationship shared by Karuppar Koottam and the DMK. In fact, it had led to questions if whether the DMK IT wing was behind the channel itself.
Palanivel Thiagarajan DMK MLA from Madurai Central constituency and the head of DMK’s IT wing can be seen having a luncheon with some of the members of the Karuppar Koottam. This picture was uploaded in social media on 29th April 2019, ten days after the 2019 Lok Sabha General Elections in Tamil Nadu by none other than arrested member of the Karuppar Koottam gang Senthilvasan Muthusamy.
DMK MLA Palanivel Thiaga Rajan with some members of the Karuppar Koottam
Sitting 2nd from left – Senthilvasan Muthusamy. At the back, DMK MLA Palanivel Thiagarajan can be seen.
In another picture, Surendar Natarajan, the host of the show ‘Aabasa Puranam’ can be seen on top a campaign vehicle holding a mic and canvassing votes for the DMK.
In fact, a lawyer named Raj Thilak, affiliated to the DMK is the counsel representing the Karuppar Koottam. The counsel had submitted the bail petition for Senthilvasan Muthusamy before the Metropolitan Magistrate in Egmore, Chennai.
Raj Thilak is the son of Raja Elango who was the Public Prosecutor during the DMK regime. He is also working as a junior to DMK Rajya Sabha MP and advocate NR Elango.
RS.பாரதியின் போலி கண்டனம்,ஒருகோடி இந்துக்கள் திமுகவில் உள்ளனர் என்று மதக்கணக்கீடு,போலி மதச்சார்பின்மை வரிசையில் தற்போது #கருப்பர்கூட்டம் எனும் கடவுள் நிந்தனைக்கூட்டத்திற்கு வக்காலத்து வாங்க வக்கீலாய் வருபவர் திமுகவின் வழக்கறிஞர், இதற்காவது பதிலளிப்பாரா மக்களை ஏய்க்கும் @mkstalinpic.twitter.com/nhSTk0SvKj
— Raj Satyen – SayYesToWomenSafety&AIADMK (@satyenaiadmk) July 25, 2020
The fact still remains that the DMK chief MK Stalin has not spoken a word about Karuppar Koottam or condemned them for their derogatory videos against Hindu Gods and Hindus.
The Aftermath
After the Karuppar Koottam episode, Lord Murugan took centre stage in Tamil Nadu politics. The issue had led to a churn in the state with the BJP Tamil Nadu unit launching a state-wide Vel Yathrai in which BJP leaders headed by state unit President Dr. L. Murugan travelled to the six abodes of Lord Murugan. During that time, Dr. L. Murugan had urged the Tamil Nadu government to declare Thai Poosam as a state holiday which the Tamil Nadu government under CM Edappadi K Palaniswami did on January 5, 2021.
தமிழ்க் கடவுள் முருகப் பெருமானை சிறப்பித்து கொண்டாடப்படும் "தைப்பூசத் திருவிழாவை பொது விடுமுறை நாளாக அறிவிக்கவும், இனிவரும் ஆண்டுகளில் தைப்பூசத் திருவிழா நாளை பொது விடுமுறைப் பட்டியலில் சேர்க்கவும்" உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளேன். pic.twitter.com/WGOaT1IT2T
With the situation arising where the DMK cadres were not even able to convince their own relatives to vote for the DMK, many believers in the party deserted and joined the BJP. 150 members from 70 families of Arachalur village in Erode district who had traditionally voted for the DMK, including the local DMK leader Devaraj joined the BJP disappointed with the DMK leadership and its attitude towards the Hindus.
Since then, the DMK has been sweating over the rising Hindu consolidation in Tamil Nadu with many of its leaders trying to placate the Hindu voters.
Kanimozhi, the Thoothukudi MP and daughter of late DMK patriarch Karunanidhi, who had earlier said why there was a need for security in Thirupathi if Lord Balaji was all powerful, is now sporting vibudhi (sacred ash) and kumkum (vermilion) on her forehead.
She had recently said that DMK was the only party and M.K. Stalin was the only leader to give voice to the majority Hindus.
The DMK chief himself had upped the ante in order to shed his anti-Hindu image. At a DMK Gram Sabha meeting held in Ammaiyar Kuppam near Tiruttani, the DMK chief was presented with a silver Vel (spear weapon of Lord Murugan) by the party cadres. Reportedly, poojas were done to this silver Vel at the Tiruttani Murugan temple before presenting it to M.K. Stalin.
The party’s mouthpiece Murasoli on January 27, had even carried a front page headlined “Vetrivel! Veeravel!” with the above picture of Stalin elaborating how the DMK has never been an enemy for believers.
The DMK for long is a party known for hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus. With their links to Karuppar Koottam getting exposed, the DMK is now trying to cater to the Hindu vote bank by treading soft and appeasing them just before elections in the hope of attracting some Hindu votes. Amidst an already existing anti-DMK wave, the party is leaving no stone unturned to calm the waters so that they don’t get destroyed by an anti-DMK tsunami towards the elections.
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India has taken a positive step towards energy security by entering into a strategic partnership framework with the International Energy Agency (IEA), reports LiveMint.
The formation of the International Energy Agency was the direct outcome of 1974 in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis.
IEA is a Paris-based autonomous intergovernmental organization established in 1974 is dedicated to responding to physical disruptions in oil supply.
While IEA’s 30 member countries hold 1.55 billion barrels in public emergency oil stocks, the industry under government obligation holds 650 million barrels in addition which can be released as needed.
“Within four years of the International Energy Agency welcoming India as an Association country, IEA members and the Government of India (GoI) have agreed to enter into a Strategic Partnership to deepen their collaboration across a wide range of critical topics including energy security and clean energy transitions,” IEA said in a statement.
“This marks a major milestone in global energy governance that could lead to eventual IEA membership for India,” the statement added.
During the height of Covid-19 lockdown across the world, the demand for oil dropped significantly and that led to Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil producer, decrease its oil output, leading to price volatility.
Saudi Arabia is considered by many as the de facto leader of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) plus grouping which makes up for about 40 per cent of global output and 83 per cent of India’s oil imports.
India’s energy needs are primarily fulfilled by imports and this makes India highly vulnerable with regards to supply side risks which can arise from war, geo politics or natural exigencies.
Ensuring energy security by decreasing India’s vulnerability is significant as the country’s energy consumption is projected to grow at 4.2 per cent annually up to 2035 and its share of global energy demand is set to nearly double to 11 per cent by 2040.
Currently, India has 5.33 million tonnes of crude oil stored and in the second phase of strategic petroleum reserve (SPR) policy the Modi government plans to add a storage space of 6.5 million tonnes.
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The Supreme Court of India has issued a stay order against the verdict issued by the Bombay High Court last week, which stated that groping was not considered sexual assault under the POCSO Act if there was no skin-to-skin contact.
A bench of Chief Justice SA Bobde and Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian stayed the high court order after Attorney General KK Venugopal mentioned the matter.
The top court also issued notice to Maharashtra government and permitted the AG to file an appeal against the January 19 verdict of the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court. In the impugned judgment, the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court held that such an act would amount to ‘molestation’ under Section 354 of IPC and not Sexual assault under section 8 of the POCSO Act.
Activists and child rights bodies had severely criticised the Bombay HC’s verdict, terming it “absolutely unacceptable, outrageous and obnoxious”. In a letter to the Maharashtra chief secretary, the chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights had urged the state to review and challenge the high court verdict. Following this, there was an appeal to the Supreme Court, which had issued the stay reserving punishment/verdict on this matter.
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On January 26, the agitations against the Centre’s Farm Laws devolved into an orgy of mindless violence, as protesting mobs went on a rampage in the nation’s capital. The Centre has been completely unable to quell the agitations, which have been going on for nearly two months, as protestors camped at Delhi’s borders with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh all these days.
It all began with a tractor rally that agitating farmers took on Republic Day. Despite there having been assigned a route for the rally by the Delhi police, protestors broke through several police barriers and ran amok, unleashing violence and damaging public property.
It all began with a rally… Image Credits: Twitter
Image Credits: Twitter
The rally, as seen from above.
Image Credits: Twitter
Protestors during a tractor rally near the Singhu border crossing in Delhi, India, on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021 | Image Credits: BloombergQuint
Image Credits: BloombergQuint
Image Credits: BloombergQuint
Agitators are stopped at a barricade during a tractor rally near the Singhu border | Image Credits; BloombergQuint
Agitators on motorcycles and cars entering Delhi | Image Credits: Twitter
Agitators, upon entering Delhi, gave up the planned route and destroyed several police barricades when Delhi Police refused to allow the protestors into certain areas of the city. The protests soon took an extremely violent turn.
The violent agitators overpowered the police and captured a crane from the police | Image Credits: NDTV
Farmers ride the crane after breaking a police barricade on the occasion of India’s Republic Day in New Delhi, India, January 26, 2021 | Image Credits: Reuters
Agitators running over barricades and destroying at one of Delhi’s border areas | Image Credits: PTI
A barefooted Nihang Sikh wielding a sword atop the police barricades | Image Credits: Twitter
Agitators armed with swords and sticks attack a policeman in Delhi Image Credits: PTI
A policeman in riot gear lies on the ground, with his helmet thrown aside, as agitators overpower him | Image Credits: Twitter
A rioter armed with an axe | Image Credits: Twitter
A protestor on horseback attacking police and crossing the police barricades | Image Credits: Reuters
Agitators on tractors clash with police. Along with the Indian tractor, the Communist hammer and sickle can also be seen | Image Credits: Greater Kashmir
Farmers break the police barricades on the Ghazipur border on Republic Day in New Delhi | Image Credits: PTI
Agitators protesting against the Centre’s farm laws, armed with bats and sticks | Image credits: Twitter
More armed rioters pouring into the national capital | Image Credits: Twitter
Protesting farmers remove the barricades after breaching the routes during their tractor rally at Ghazipur border, in New Delhi | Image Credits: ANI Photo
Rioters damage a public bus with swords and sticks in Delhi | Image Credits: Twitter
Rioters ram their tractors into a bus | Image Credits: Twitter
Rioters inleash choas on the streets of the nation’s capital | Image Credits: Twitter
Rioters found their way to the Red Fort and, removing the Indian tricolour, they hoisted Sikh and Khalistani flags instead. More than a 100 children and artists were trapped at the Red Fort as the rioters did their worst to the fort complex.
The tractor rally at the Red Fort | Image Credit: PTI
Rioting protestors gather in front of the Red Fort, in Delhi | Image Credits: Reuters
Nihangs (Sikh warriors) beat up a policeman at the Red Fort | Image Credits: Reuters
More agitators streaming in to the Red Fort | Image Credits: News Now Nation
The riotous mob at the Red Fort, Delhi | Image Credits: Twitter
Agitators install Sikh flags on top of a dome of the Red Fort | Image Credits: BloombergQuint
Rioters wave flags and brandish swords at Delhi’s Red Fort complex | Image Credits: Twitter
A rioter on top of a flag pole hoisting a Sikh flag after removing the Indian tricolour | Image Credits; BloombergQuint
Rioters at the Red Fort removed the tricolour and hoisted a Khalistani flag | Image Credits: ANI
Rioters installing Sikh and Khalistani flags on top of a dome of a dome at the Red Fort | Image Credits: ANI
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3 more Rafale jets landed from France to India on Wednesday (January 27), making it the third batch of jets that the Indian Air Force has received from the company. They were refuelled in mid-air by Airbus MRTT tankers and landed at an IAF base after flying over 7000 km.
“The third batch of three Rafale aircraft landed at an IAF base a short while ago. They flew over 7000Km with in-flight refuelling. The aircraft got airborne earlier in the day from #IstresAirBase in France. IAF deeply appreciates the tanker support provided by UAE Air Force,” Indian Air Force tweeted.
Of the first two sets of delivered jets, while the first squadron has been stationed at the Ambala airbase, the second set has been stationed at Hasimara base in West Bengal.
A total of 36 warplanes had been ordered by the Indian Air Force at a cost of ₹59,000 crores from France in September 2016. This delivery will take the number of Rafales in the IAF’s inventory to 11. Notably, the IAF is also planning to add a new series of fighter jets called the Hammer. Hammer (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) is a precision-guided missile developed by French defence major Safran. The missile was originally designed and manufactured for the French Air Force and Navy.
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Never Forget, Never Forgive: This Thai Poosam, remember what the Karuppar Koottam did to Lord Murugan
Ever since Karuppar Kootam, a YouTube channel run by ‘Periyarists’ with links to the DMK set off a storm by abusing Kandha Sashti Kavasam, a hymn dedicated to the Hindu God Murugan, the DMK has been feeling the heat for its anti-Hindu politics that it had been doing since its inception.
While the party and its leaders had tried to distance themselves from the rabid YouTube channel, evidences clearly show that senior leaders belonging to the DMK were in bed with the nefarious elements all along. Even if they deny their links now, it must be noted that both the DMK and the Karuppar Koottam subscribe to the same school of thought, the one that idolizes the anti-Hindu bigot E.V. Ramasamy Naicker (known as ‘Periyar’ by his followers).
For the uninitiated, here is some context. Karuppar Koottam was a YouTube channel run by a group of ‘Periyarists’, Communist ideologues and DMK sympathizers. They had indulged in targeted attacks against Hindus posting videos abusing Hindu Gods, Hindus and Brahmins for a long time under the garb of ‘rationalism’.
The Karuppar Koottam Shenanigans
In the series titled “Aabasa Puranam” (Porn Puranam), members of the Karuppar Kootam had used vulgar language against Hindu Gods like Murugan, Saraswathi, Brahma, etc.
In one of the videos, they abused Lord Murugan revered in Tamil Nadu as the Tamil God, by making derogatory references to Kandhasashti Kavasam, a hymn dedicated to Lord Muruga that echoes in every Hindu’s home and temples in Tamil Nadu.
In another video titled “Saraswathi Puranam” , Surendar Natarajan, a member of the Karuppar Kootam had said “You say Saraswathi sits in the tongue of Brahma.. If we ask, where will Saraswathi go when she needs to pee or has a bad stomach.. they don’t have an answer. You told she is in the tongue, shouldn’t you also say you also have built a toilet in Brahma’s mouth?”
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In another video, Surendar Natarajan while talking about Ramayana made vile references to Tamil Sage Poet Kambar, Lord Rama, Goddess Sita and Lord Hanuman.
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Sirpi Rajan, another member of the Karuppar Kootam gang in a video showing magic tricks, had used Hindu children and mocked at their beliefs. Sirpi Rajan had even cut the religious thread tied in the hand of a boy saying that if the God’s thread is more powerful, the scissors will break.
These videos are now unavailable as the channel itself has been taken down.
On July 15, one Senthilvasan Muthusamy was arrested by the Central Crime Branch after cases were registered from different quarters for their vile and abusive video on Hindu God Murugan.
Surendar Natarajan of Karuppar Koottam had surrendered at the Ariyankuppam police station in Puducherry on July 16 and was charged under the Goondas Act.
The Karuppar Koottam Behind The Karuppar Koottam
It is alleged that the channel enjoyed the patronage of Haseef Mohamed, Senior Correspondent of News18 Tamil Nadu and other journalists associated with Centre of Media Persons for Change (CMPC), an extension of communists and DK groups.
Members belonging to DK, DMK, VCK and the Communist parties were frequent guests hosted by the channel. Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi chief Thol. Thirumavalavan, DK ideologue Suba Veerapandian were just some of the people who had expressed their support for Karuppar Koottam after Maridhas, a YouTuber, took them head on in the video about News 18 Tamil Nadu and their alleged links with Karuppar Koottam.
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Sundaravalli, a member and spokesperson of Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Surendar Natarajan in one of the videos had discussed about Hindu Puranas spewing venoms against Hindu Gods. Sundaravalli claiming to have read the Saiva Thirumurais (hymns dedicated to Lord Shiva) had said in the video that the Thirumurais have porn in them. “Asinga asingama irukum, kevalam kevalama irukun!” (They are so gross and disgusting), Sundaravalli had said. She would go on to state that Puranas are the epitome of porn. She had also stated in the video that their primary mission is to break Hindus by attacking the Hindu scriptures.
DMK, The Real Karuppar Koottam
When the controversy took the state by storm, the DMK sensing the public ire stated that they had nothing to do with Karuppar Koottam. Tiruchirapalli West DMK MLA K.N. Nehru had in a statement denied any connection between the party and Karuppar Koottam and blamed certain ‘politically ignorant’ people for carrying out a false propaganda. On July 18, during a press meet, DMK Rajya Sabha MP RS Bharathi said that the DMK was no way linked to the rabid Youtube channel. He added that a false campaign was being done and also condemned denigration of Lord Murugan. He went on to recall Anna’s slogan of “Ondre Kulam Oruvane Devan” (One Community, One God).
However, pictures which emerged during the controversy clearly establishes the close relationship shared by Karuppar Koottam and the DMK. In fact, it had led to questions if whether the DMK IT wing was behind the channel itself.
Palanivel Thiagarajan DMK MLA from Madurai Central constituency and the head of DMK’s IT wing can be seen having a luncheon with some of the members of the Karuppar Koottam. This picture was uploaded in social media on 29th April 2019, ten days after the 2019 Lok Sabha General Elections in Tamil Nadu by none other than arrested member of the Karuppar Koottam gang Senthilvasan Muthusamy.
In another picture, Surendar Natarajan, the host of the show ‘Aabasa Puranam’ can be seen on top a campaign vehicle holding a mic and canvassing votes for the DMK.
In fact, a lawyer named Raj Thilak, affiliated to the DMK is the counsel representing the Karuppar Koottam. The counsel had submitted the bail petition for Senthilvasan Muthusamy before the Metropolitan Magistrate in Egmore, Chennai.
Raj Thilak is the son of Raja Elango who was the Public Prosecutor during the DMK regime. He is also working as a junior to DMK Rajya Sabha MP and advocate NR Elango.
The fact still remains that the DMK chief MK Stalin has not spoken a word about Karuppar Koottam or condemned them for their derogatory videos against Hindu Gods and Hindus.
The Aftermath
After the Karuppar Koottam episode, Lord Murugan took centre stage in Tamil Nadu politics. The issue had led to a churn in the state with the BJP Tamil Nadu unit launching a state-wide Vel Yathrai in which BJP leaders headed by state unit President Dr. L. Murugan travelled to the six abodes of Lord Murugan. During that time, Dr. L. Murugan had urged the Tamil Nadu government to declare Thai Poosam as a state holiday which the Tamil Nadu government under CM Edappadi K Palaniswami did on January 5, 2021.
With the situation arising where the DMK cadres were not even able to convince their own relatives to vote for the DMK, many believers in the party deserted and joined the BJP. 150 members from 70 families of Arachalur village in Erode district who had traditionally voted for the DMK, including the local DMK leader Devaraj joined the BJP disappointed with the DMK leadership and its attitude towards the Hindus.
Since then, the DMK has been sweating over the rising Hindu consolidation in Tamil Nadu with many of its leaders trying to placate the Hindu voters.
Kanimozhi, the Thoothukudi MP and daughter of late DMK patriarch Karunanidhi, who had earlier said why there was a need for security in Thirupathi if Lord Balaji was all powerful, is now sporting vibudhi (sacred ash) and kumkum (vermilion) on her forehead.
She had recently said that DMK was the only party and M.K. Stalin was the only leader to give voice to the majority Hindus.
The DMK chief himself had upped the ante in order to shed his anti-Hindu image. At a DMK Gram Sabha meeting held in Ammaiyar Kuppam near Tiruttani, the DMK chief was presented with a silver Vel (spear weapon of Lord Murugan) by the party cadres. Reportedly, poojas were done to this silver Vel at the Tiruttani Murugan temple before presenting it to M.K. Stalin.
The party’s mouthpiece Murasoli on January 27, had even carried a front page headlined “Vetrivel! Veeravel!” with the above picture of Stalin elaborating how the DMK has never been an enemy for believers.
The DMK for long is a party known for hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus. With their links to Karuppar Koottam getting exposed, the DMK is now trying to cater to the Hindu vote bank by treading soft and appeasing them just before elections in the hope of attracting some Hindu votes. Amidst an already existing anti-DMK wave, the party is leaving no stone unturned to calm the waters so that they don’t get destroyed by an anti-DMK tsunami towards the elections.
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