Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered his Independence Day speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort. With the menace of Wuhan virus prevailing, the celebrations had to be toned down adhering to social distancing norms.
During his address PM Modi said that India has three potential vaccines in its kitty. He said that it will be produced in large amounts once scientists give the green signal after trials.
He also said that the roadmap is ready for large scale production and distribution.
How the vaccine will reach every Indian in the least amount of time – we have a roadmap ready for that,” the Prime Minister Modi said.
Mr. Modi also launched the National Digital Health Mission to give a fillip to the health sector in India. Under this initiative, every Indian will receive a health ID card into which the details of a person’s health will be updated everytime he/she makes a visit to the doctor or pharmacy.
Prime Minister Modi also thanked the selfless service of the frontline warriors fighting the Wuhan virus pandemic.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to the nation on Independence Day said that India sought to be become self-reliant and added that COVID19 may be a hindrance but it can’t beat India’s resolve to become ‘Atmanirbhar’.
He applauded the service rendered by frontline workers who have been braving the Wuhan virus day in and out. Prime Minister Modi said that India was going through a unique phase due to the pandemic but would emerge victorious owing to the resolve of the people.
He also launched the National Digital Health Mission that is set to usher in a revolution in the health sector. Under this, every Indian will be getting a unique heath ID.
He said that Atmanirbhar was not just a word but should become the people’s mantra. He called for ‘Make In India’ along with ‘Make for the world’, sending a signal to both domestic and international investors.
In a strong message to China and Pakistan without taking their names, Prime Minister Modi said “Those who challenge India’s sovereignty, be it LoC or LAC, have been given a befitting reply in their own language. What India can do, the world has seen it in Ladakh.”
He also said that Government of India is committed to holding Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir once the delimitation exercise is complete.
About the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Prime Minister Modi said that an issue that persisted for centuries has been resolved peacefully and applauded the people of the country for showing exemplary conduct.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoisted the Indian flag at the Red Fort and addressed the nation from its premises. The Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort saw 4000 people in attendance that included diplomats, government officials and media personnel. Necessary precautions for COVID19 were taken.
India enters its 74th year of independence this August 15th. Due to the chaotic situation the pandemic has created, grand celebrations are unlikely and the government has decided to keep this year low-key. But it is important for us to remember those sons and daughters of Bharat who gave their sweat and blood to end the colonial rule on this important day. It is their efforts whose fruits we are enjoying today. On this day, let us remember a few lesser known women legends who played an integral part in the freedom struggle.
Jhalkari Bai
Lost in the pages of history is the tale of an incredible warrior and woman named Jhalkari Bai. Jhalkaribai was born to Moolchand and Dhaniyabai on 22 November 1830 in Bhojla village near Jhansi in a Kori family. Known for her exceptional strength of will , several folk tales sing odes about her acts of bravery. Though she lacked formal military training , she was excellent in horse riding and in the use of weaponry. She married Puran mhavar koli , a soldier from the artillery unit of Rani Laxmibai’s army, who introduced her to the Rani. Jhalkaribai bore an uncanny resemblance to Laxmibai and because of this she was inducted into the women’s wing of the army.
When discontent against the British policies was brewing, the people of Jhansi rallied around Rani Lakshmi Bai and resolved to take up arms to uphold the independence of their state. In 1858, there were several attacks on the Jhansi fort by the British and their native allies. Though the recorded history does not reveal much about the antecedents or heroic exploits of Jhalkari Bai, the ever loyal Jhalkari Bai must have been a pillar of strength for the queen in those trying times.
It is said that when the fall of the fortress became imminent when General Hugh Rose invaded Jhansi, Jhalkari Bai and some generals convinced Lakshmi Bai to escape quietly with a handful of supporters. In a ploy to deceive the British, Jhalkari dressed up like the Rani and took command of the army. Though Jhalkari Bai was forced to surrender, it is believed that the British military officers, who were impressed by her loyalty, courage and fighting prowess treated her with respect and freed her. While this act of sacrifice and courage is what she is most well-known for another little acknowledged fact remains that she was a close confidante and advisor to the queen playing a key role she played in the analysis and strategizing of the battle itself, alongside Laxmibai. Thus, she too was a gem in the 1857 rebellion against the British whose shine unfortunately hasn’t been noticed by many.
Matangini Hazra
Not much is known of her early life apart from that she was born in the small village of Hogla, near Tamluk in 1869. In 1905, she became actively interested in the Indian independence movement as a Gandhian. A notable feature of the freedom struggle in Midnapore was the participation of women. In 1932, she took part in the Civil Disobedience movement and was arrested for breaking the Salt Act. She was promptly released, but protested for the abolition of the tax. Arrested again, she was incarcerated for six months at Baharampur.
After being released, she became an active member of the Indian National Congress and took to spinning her own Khadi. In 1933, she attended the subdivisional Congress conference at Serampore and was injured in the ensuing baton charge by the police. As part of the Quit India Movement, members of the Congress planned to take over the various police stations of Medinipore district and other government offices. Hazra, who was 72 years at the time, led a procession of six thousand supporters, mostly women volunteers, with the purpose of taking over the Tamluk police station. When the procession reached the outskirts of the town, they were ordered to disband under Section 144 of the Indian Penal Code by the Crown police. As she stepped forward, Hazra was shot once. As she was repeatedly shot, she kept chanting Vande Mataram, “hail to the Motherland”.
In 2002, as part of a series of postage stamps commemorating sixty years of the Quit India Movement, the Department of Posts of India issued a five rupee postage stamp with Matangini Hazra’s likeness.
Kittur Rani Chennamma
Rani Chennamma was born in Kakati in 1778 that is almost 56 years earlier than Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi. From a very young age she received training in horse riding, sword fighting and archery. She was well known for her brave acts across her town. Rani Chennamma was married to Mallasarja Desai, ruler of Kittur at the age of 15. Her married life seemed to be a sad tale after her husband died in 1816. With this marriage she had only one son, but fate seemed to play a tragic game in her life. Her son breathed his last in 1824, leaving the lonely soul to fight against the British rule. The Doctrine of Lapse was imposed on native states by the British. Under this declaration, native rulers were not allowed to adopt a child if they had no children of their own. Their territory formed part of the British Empire automatically.The state of Kittur came under the administration of Dharwad collectorate in charge of Mr. Thackeray. Mr. Chaplin was the commissioner of the region. Both did not recognize the new ruler and the regent, and informed that Kittur had to accept the British regime.
Rani Chennamma tried her best to avoid war; she negotiated with Chaplin and Governor of Bombay Presidency under whose regime Kittur fell. Chennamma was compelled to declare war. For 12 days, the valiant Queen and her soldiers defended their fort, but as is the common trait, traitors sneaked in and mixed mud and dung in the gunpowder in the canons. The Rani was defeated (1824 CE). She was taken a prisoner and kept in the fort of Bailhongal for life. She spent her days reading holy texts and performing pooja till her death in 1829 CE. Kittur Rani Chennamma could not win the war against British, but she etched her presence for many centuries in the world of history. Along with Onake Obavva, Abbakka Rani and Keladi Chennamma, she is much revered in Karnataka as an icon of bravery.
Tara Rani Srivastava
Srivastava was born in Saran near the city of Patna. She married Phulendu Babu at an early age. Following public proposals which could have led to a surge in gender inequality, Tara Rani galvanized women from and around her village to join protest marches against the British Raj. On 12 August 1942, called upon by Mahatma Gandhi, she and her husband organized a march to raise the Flag of India in front of the Siwan police station, an act that would be seen as “a major defiance.” The police, in preventing them from hoisting the flag, lathi charged the protesters. When they were unable to gain control, the police opened fire. Phulendu Babu was among the shot and wounded. Despite that, after bandaging Babu’s wounds with strips of cloth torn from her sari, Tara Rani continued her march to the police station, where she attempted to hoist the flag; on her return, she discovered that her husband had died of his injuries. On 15 August 1942, a prayer meeting was held in Chhapra in honour of her husband’s sacrifice for the country. She continued to be part of the freedom struggle until the Partition of India on 15 August 1947.
The Indian civilization believes in the concept of Shiva Shakti aikya , a profound understanding that this cosmos exists because of the interdependence of both feminine and masculine energy. It was this fundamental idea of women being equal to men which was prevalent in Indian thought which one can witness through these less heard women voices whose contributions to the independence movement are unmatched. In fact, while we remember these martyrs on this very significant day in modern Indian history, one must introspect on how this societal position of women today has unfortunately changed. Thus, true independence is achieved only through restoring the former status women had enjoyed in our civilization. Jai Hind!
A day after Indian Air Force had written a letter to the Censor Board Of Film Certification about the Netflix movie Gunjan Saxena: the Kargil girl, the real-life Gunjan Saxena has come to the aide of IAF. She opened up about her experience in the air force and said that she had always had the support of her colleagues, supervisors, and commanding officers.
IAF had written a letter to Dharma productions as well as Netflix and CBFC, complaining of the negative portrayal of the Indian Air Force in the biopic of Gunjan Saxena, who was the first woman fighter pilot in the IAF during the Kargil war. Following this, Gunjan had reacted to questions by media personnel about her portrayal in the movie. She said, “Indian Air Force is at the core and the heart of this film. It is the very training of the Indian Air Force and the strong ethos of the Indian Air Force, which gave me the courage to do all those extraordinary things that I could. And not only me, I think it is the strong values and rich culture of the air force that is really the driving force behind all the women officers from all the different branches of the Indian Air Force who have served or are still serving in this organisation.”
“Yes, as a commercial movie or as a work of fiction, this film has creatively tried to capture my story or my journey. But what cannot be denied is that even in this film the doors did open and opportunities were given,” added Saxena, who graduated from Hansraj College in Delhi, and cleared the entrance exam and joined the Indian Air Force in 1994.
The real-life hero continued: “Equal opportunities were there for me to perform, and I think they are still there for all the women officers who are in this organisation. We don’t need any other or bigger proof than the fact that over the last 20 years the number of women officers in the Indian Air Force has gone up at such a high rate. So, this shows that the Indian Air Force, which is such a deeply respected institution, has been so progressive and positive about bringing about this change in itself. So I think that’s how I would like to address this question.”
Air India One, the plane that carries Prime Minister Modi and several other VVIPs is in line for an upgrade, as the new Boeing 777-300ERs is to be equipped with sophisticated technology. It will include military-level defence systems as well as a reconfigured cabin. It is also said to contain Large Aircraft InfraRed Countermeasures (LAIRCM) and Self Protection Suites (SPS). It will also have the Advanced Electronic Warfare Suits, protecting their aircraft from any kind of surface to air attacks as well as providing reinforcements in the case of an attack.
These fully-equipped planes with state-of-the-art technology are to be flown by 40 Air India pilots who are being trained alongside IAF pilots.
The 747 Boeing jets where the ones are initially carried VVIPs. This had some basic ammunition, and a modified version of this was used for civilians by Air India.
This decision has been taken after there was a long halt on a journey carrying the Prime Minister while on the 747 Boeing, due to refilling of fuel, since it cannot fly more than 10 hours continuously. Notably, this new aircraft also has an advanced communication system, which will help the Prime Minister or President to talk to the officials on the ground without hassle for the worry of being tapped.
US President Donald Trump today called Kamala Harris an ‘Anchor baby’ during one of his election rallies. Reacting to the decision of Joe Biden picking Kamala Harris as his running mate for the upcoming US Presidential elections, he claimed that she wasn’t eligible to qualify as a candidate because she was the child of two immigrants. Anchor baby is considered as a derogatory way of addressing a child born to immigrants, denoting the fact that her parents were both immigrants, her mother an Indian and her father a Jamaican. Notably, he had played the same card during the 2011 Presidential elections that saw the landslide win of former US President Barack Obama.
Donald Trump, speaking to reporters on Thursday, pushed forward with his attack, saying that she does not meet the requirements as she was born to immigrants.
“I heard it today that she doesn’t meet the requirements,” Trump said of Harris.
However, constitutional law experts say that the immigration status of Kamala Harris’s parents at the time of her birth is irrelevant because, under the Constitution, anyone born in the United States automatically acquires citizenship. The 14th Amendment makes it clear: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.”
This not only nullifies Trump’s assertions, it further deepens the already existing racism accusations that have been levied on President Trump over the years.
A Panchaloha Murugan Idol from Erode, of one-foot height, was stolen by unidentified persons on Friday. The priest, who came to open the Vetri Vinayagar temple for early morning prayers in the morning, was shocked to find that the lock of the temple broken and the Urchavar idol of the Murugan Temple, which was a panchaloha idol, missing. He lodged a complaint with the temple administration at the police station. Police are investigating the case.
This is the second instance of a temple robbery this year. On February 18, 3 idols – Subramaniyar, Valli and Theivanai – were stolen from the Kumara Subramaniya Swami Temple in Kondal village in Sirkazhi, of the Nagapattinam district.
A case was registered and according to police, the theft of the three idols – were stolen. Sirkazhi DSP Vandhana and inspector Manimaran conducted an enquiry, and the forensic department used sniffer dogs to analyse the scene of the crime.
It is now suspected that this could be the same group that stole the Murugan Idol from Erode.
Chinese telecom companies like Huawei and ZTE have been banned from taking part in India’s 5G trials and networks. This has been enforced by the Ministry of Communications, which said, in a government-issued notification, that it has banned service providers from those countries that India shares a border with from bidding. It has stated the reason for this prohibition to have been made on the “grounds of defence of India or matters directly or indirectly related including national security.”
The reinitiation of 5G trials in India has come in the wake of the relaxations of the lockdown that was put in place due to the global coronavirus pandemic. Major Indian Telecom giants like Airtel, Jio and Vodafone are set to participate in these trials.
Meanwhile, Jio is all set to roll out a 5G network that was completely made in India. This comes in the light of a recent announcement by Chinese companies that said that the costs for switching to 5G would be as much as 25% more than the current margin.
The Indian Government, that had earlier allowed Huawei to participate, has now withdrawn its permission. Experts view this as a result of the conflict that occurred in terms of the de-escalation talks that happened following the Galwan valley attacks, where several of the Indian soldiers were martyred. A bunch of measures were rolled out by the government to retaliate to the Chinese, including the banning of several Chinese apps.
Malarmati from Thevar Jeevanahalli was quoted saying to The Hindu Tamil that four people had tried to set fire to a two-wheeler parked outside her house. She had summoned up the courage to go out and tell them that they were very poor and that their sustenance depends on these vehicles. She had pleaded to not set them on fire. However, the four Muslims had reportedly told her that they would set her on fire too if she didn’t leave. Malarmati’s vehicle that was bought out of their modest ended up burnt.
Manivannan, a social activist from the area, was quoted saying “Tamils and Muslims live in large numbers in Thevar Jeevanahalli, Kadu Kondanahalli and Kaval Byrasandra where the riots took place.
Most of these are poor simple middle class people. They broke into the house and damaged the TV, bureau, refrigerator and wooden furniture.”
More than 50 Tamils were injured when they were hit by an iron bar and a rolling pin. Of these, 20 are said to be women and the elderly. The Muslim youths involved in the attack were supposedly intoxicated.
“Cars, vans, autos and two-wheelers parked outside the house were set on fire by petrol by the Muslim mob. Owners who tried to prevent this were threatened at knife point.
The vehicles of these people whose livelihoods have already been affected by the coronavirus and lockdown have also been set on fire.” Manivannan had said.
A large and angry Muslim mob went on a rampage in Bengaluru late in the evening on 11 August after taking offence to a Facebook comment by the nephew of a local Dalit Congress MLA.
The rioters attacked and attempted to set on fire the residence of Congress MLA Akhand Srinivasa Murthy, a Dalit leader in the nearby DJ Halli police station. The mob also damaged many houses and there was stone pelting that left many policemen including a senior IPS officer injured. Also, many police vehicles were torched by the uncontrolled mob.
This article is an attempt to place the context in which the event has happened.
The Geography and Demography
Pulakeshinagar (SC reserved) is a State Assembly/Vidhana Sabha constituency in the Bengaluru Urban district and Bengaluru region of Karnataka and is a part of the Bangalore North Parliamentary/Lok Sabha constituency. There are around 2.5 lakh voters and the average literacy rate is 86%
Akhanda Srinivas Murthy is the MLA from this constituency who got elected in 2018 elections on a Congress ticket. He stays at Kaval Bhyrasanda house, which is one of the wards.
Pulakeshinagar Map
No. of wards in the Vidhana Sabha constituency : 7 BBMP Corporator list
1. Kushal Nagar– Umme Salma
2. Kaval Byrasandra : Corporator – Nethra Narayan
3. Devara Jeevanahalli (DJ Halli) – R Sampath Raj
4. Muneshwara Nagar Syed Sazida
5. Sagayapuram Elumalai
6. S K Garden : Mohd Zameer Shah
7. Pulakeshinagar : Abdul Rakeeb Zakir
Observe the mosques in the constituency and in red lines shown are temples.
The Story
On 11th August 2020 at 8 PM, Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy received a call from his home. Around 500 Muslims with petrol bombs, tyres had barged into the house of the MLA, burnt and vandalised the home. The Hindu prayer room in the house was sledged with the photos of the Hindu Gods broken. The MLA had also said to media that there was a plan to set the gas cylinder on fire just when the police had arrived and averted it. Money which was at home was also supposedly stolen or set afire.
The Muslim mob had unleashed this violence over a Facebook meme on Prophet Muhammad posted by Naveen who is Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy’s nephew (sister’s son). This mob did not just stop at the MLA’s home. The mob went about vandalising police vehicle, police station and public property. At the Devara Jeevanahalli police station, DCP’s vehicle was set on fire and many two wheelers and autos have also been burnt. Many other cars were toppled and set ablaze. Few media reporters who were at the scene were also manhandled and were admitted to hospitals.
Police Action
Police say that the narrow lanes accommodated more than 3000-4000 thousand rioters which made it difficult initially to curb the situation. Authorities immediately imposed Section 144 to take control of the situation. Eventually police opened fire as the last resort to scramble the violent mob. The resulting chaos led to the killing of three and injuring several others.
More than 60 police personnel have been injured while performing duty. Panic and fear prevailed among people belonging to minority (Hindu) community in the area under attack. The fire engine was called to the house by the neighbourhood but the Muslim mob had stopped the fire engines and vandalized them too.
Initial Reports
According to initial information gathered from different sources, a group of Muslim youth, agitated over the FB Post first approached the SDPI leaders and not the cybercrime branch.
It is reported that the SDPI leaders and the local youth were successful in mobilizing a huge mob of around 3000-4000 rioters in quick time and unleashed the violence. The sources have said that SDPI leaders were on the ground and in the name of pacifying their brethren were inciting the mob. There have been a plethora of Muslims who have shared the posts on social media to gather at Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy’s house.
What do the locals say?
Local residents say they have never before seen a violence of this magnitude. The locals also informed the media that innocent people were physically assaulted on roads creating a war like situation. Naveen and his family who stay next to Srinivasa Murthy’s house had to flee away to escape being ‘chopped off’ one eye witness reportedly said. The damage was made at Naveen’s house and the Muslim fanatic mob had apparently robbed money from his home too. Naveen according to locals was a budding politician who was aspiring to become a councillor. He was always around Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy and other Congress leaders it is said.
The enmity could have broken when Naveen had celebrated bursting crackers on Aug 5th after Bhoomi Poojan at Ayodhya one person has said to the media.
The “Human Chain”
A video has gone viral where some Muslims have gathered around a temple and forming a human chain. The image it creates is that there are some “good Muslims” to take care of Hindus and their properties. However the video seems to be made for the benefit to attract the eyes where there is a person who says “jaldi upload kar” implying to state it was done as a mere eyewash.
Government Action
Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai instructed the police to take control of situation. A probe has been ordered by the Government.
The latest report says that close to 110 culprits who rioted have been arrested. Muzammil Pasha, Dist Secy of SDPI, the alleged kingpin behind the violence has been arrested. Also Ayaz a volunteer with SDPI is said to have been arrested, Khalim Pasha (husband of Corporator), Syed Ansar are all arrested.
There are reports that Muslims from various localities of Bengaluru including the infamous Padarayanapura (anothera Muslim dominated area in Bengaluru that had had harassed Asha workers during the initial days of the pandemic) have been mobilised to reach Kaval Bairasandra. There are reports in the media that Muslims from various places of the state have been aggregated to meet up for this riot. CCTV reports show the distribution of money for the riot to take place.
The fight for the upcoming BBMP elections and to prove the might of SDPI is also said to be one of their motives for them carrying out the violence. In the past SDPI has always tried to field their candidates but have been in vain.
Speaking to the media, former minister and Muslim leader U T Khader put the blame on Government for failure of law and order avoiding to comment on hooligans who wreaked havoc.
Ministers R. Ashok and Basavaraj Bommai assured the people that those involved in violence will not be spared and those behind the screen will also be exposed and brought to books.
In his presser, Akhanda SrinivasaMurthy has requested to provide him and his family security as he sees a threat, however talking diplomatically he has termed Muslims as “miscreants” and he is unaware of why the mob attacked him. He is said to have disowned Naveen and his facebook post and asked for strict action on him.
None of the Congress leaders have called out the perpetrators and are playing their usual card – minority appeasement.
Here are some examples:
KPCC chief DK Shivakumar in his presser said that Naveen was a BJP person, while the truth is that Naveen is with Congress and has shared his posts many times about Congress and its leaders.
One next to Rahul Gandhi is Akhanda Srinivas Murthy. His nephew Naveen is also seen.
It was Naveen who had commented a ‘hate’ post about Prophet Mohammad on FB. It is said that Naveen had commented in response to another post that denigrated Hindu Gods.
SDPI and PFI
Organisations like KFD and PFI have been associated with SDPI for quite some time now. During 2013 to 2018, when Karnataka was ruled under Siddaramaiah, these organisations have grown to a mighty stature. Siddaramaiah’s Tipu Jayanti plan was also to appease these fringe elements. Kodagu, Mysuru, Shivamogga, Bengaluru saw the wrath of this organisation growing. Tipu Jayanti in the first year took the life of Kuttappa a VHP volunteer. It was said that the Muslims from Kerala had arrived then to execute the riots here.
Siddaramaiah despite opposition, had freed up 1500 SDPI/KFD/PFI workers who were chargesheeted terming them as petty cases. During the same rule 26 Hindu Karyakatas belonging to the Sangh were killed and most of them have SDPI’s names behind the crime.
It is interesting to know that in 2013, Srinivasa Murthy won Pulakeshinagar on a JD(S) ticket. SDPI had fielded Hemalatha as their candidate. Congress had lost the elections. This time around (2018) Srinivasa Murthy contested on Congress ticket and SDPI had not fielded any candidate. Either power or money seems to be the idea behind SDPI contesting elections.
