Months after the cylinder bomb blasts in Coimbatore and Mangalore, the terror organisation, the Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP) has claimed responsibility for both the acts.
Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP) is a terrorist organisation designated by the UN. It made the claims in the latest issue of its propaganda magazine ‘Voice of Khurasan’ released on Saturday. In the same issue, the organisation also called out to its “operatives” in the Southern part of India to wage a war against Hindus and the country’s ruling BJP.
“Do you not consider our attacks in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, in Bangalore [the author of the magazine wrote Bangalore instead of Mangaluru], where our brothers took revenge for the honour of our religion and terrorised kufar [non-Muslims and disbelievers] and its followers?” the magazine reads.
During the wee hours of the day before Deebavali in 2022, Jamesha Mubeen, a 29-year old was killed when a car carrying LPG cylinders exploded near the Kottai Easwaran temple in Coimbatore. The blast occurred around 4 am in the Ukkadam area.
This was suspected as an act of terror by Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai. He called it an intelligence failure and was vocal about the laxity in the DMK Government’s approach to the case that was trivialised as a mere ‘gas cylinder blast’.
The NIA investigation revealed that the blast was indeed meant to be a terror attack. In its statement, the NIA said “According to preliminary investigations, the accused Jamesha Mubeen, after taking bayath / oath to ISIS was planning to carry out suicidal attacks and cause extensive damage to symbols and monuments of a particular religious faith and with the intention to strike terror among a particular section of a community.”
It was also found that one of the accused was linked to the 1998 CBE serial blast convicts.
The NIA investigation and the present statement by IS Khorasan has vindicated the fact that the blast was indeed a terror act.
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The CEO of OpIndia, Rahul Roushan, and Editor-in-Chief, Nupur Sharma, have been booked by Thiruninravur Police, which falls under the jurisdiction of Avadi city police commissionerate, for spreading “fake news” about alleged attacks on migrants from Bihar in Tamil Nadu. The police have booked the case under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 153-A and 505.
The case against Rahul Roushan and Nupur Sharma was filed by Surya Prakash, IT Wing head of the ruling DMK, who accused the portal of creating panic among the public, defaming the government, and inciting violence between locals and migrants.
The OpIndia article, which was published on 3rd March 2023, was based on the report of Hindi Daily Dainik Bhaskar which stated that several migrant labourers from Bihar working in Tamil Nadu were attacked and that more than a dozen of them had lost their lives. However, these reports were found to be exaggerated with many incidents cited in the article being altercation in other states.
Nevertheless, there have been several incidents of violence reported against workers from other states. North Indian labourers were attacked in Chennai by a Vizhupuram man who claimed that their jobs were taken by Hindi speakers, and a Bengali construction worker who was stranded near Kelambakkam in Chengalpattu district was blindly attacked by local youths who mistook him for a thief, to name a few such incidents in Tamil Nadu where migrant labourers are attacked in last few days.
In a video that went viral on social media a Tamil-speaking man can be seen verbally abusing and assaulting north Indian passengers on the train.
This hate and animosity against migrant workers have been fuelled by several local leaders, especially from the DMK as well as several YouTube channels. However, no action has been taken against those who peddled xenophobia.
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Over the past few years, a disturbing trend has emerged in Tamil Nadu’s online space. Several YouTube channels have been spewing hate against migrant workers in the state, perpetuating harmful stereotypes and fueling bigotry. The content on these channels is often filled with misinformation, propaganda, and vitriol aimed at dehumanising and denigrating migrant workers. Through this article, we will take a closer look at the disturbing trend of YouTube channels spewing hate against migrant workers in Tamil Nadu.
Migrant workers from north India have been an integral part of Tamil Nadu’s economy and society for decades, contributing to various sectors such as textiles, construction, manufacturing, and services. They have also enriched the cultural diversity and harmony of the state with their languages, cuisines, and traditions. However, some YouTube channels have been spreading false and hateful narratives about migrant workers, calling them ‘invaders’, ‘parasites’, and ‘criminals’ who are ‘taking away jobs and resources from Tamils’.
The DMK, Seeman’s Naam Tamilar Katchu and other Dravidian Stockist fringe outfits have been elemental in fearmongering and peddling hate against migrant workers which has come to haunt them today. Given below are links to the articles in this regard.
Fuelling hate against migrant workers from states like Bihar, Odisha, and UP seems to be something that has become a job that YouTube channels like Jeeva Today, U2 Brutus, RedPix, Nakkheeran, etc have taken on.
The penetration of these channels into a common man’s life is unquestionable and hence to fight the competition and win the war of views, channels are resorting to such lowly tactics of spreading fake news. Let us look at a few of the videos on the platform.
This is a short video where the interviewer asks the labourers and the owners of the companies they are working at some simple questions, they do not stop at just asking, they also make sly remarks about Pan Parag which the naive workers reply to unsuspectingly.
Parisaalan in this video blames the influx of migrants into TN as the reason for the change in the food habits of Tamilians. Eating Pani Puri he says is unhealthy and not good for the body. Pori kadalai, which he says is the traditional food of TN and that it was being replaced by Pani Puri.
Parisaalan, who is known for peddling baseless conspiracy theories, claimed that migrant workers in Tamil Nadu are bringing with them a “deep-seated anger and hatred towards Muslims”. In the video, he suggests that this stems from North Indian history with Islamic invasions and the subsequent oppression of lower caste workers by upper caste North Indians. Parisaalan warns that the migrant worker population is an “angry” crowd that would support “Aryans” and Brahmins and could potentially change the politics of the state. He goes on to compare migrant workers with what he calls an “invasive species”, suggesting that they will take over local resources and establish their own colonies.
This YouTuber accuses “North Indian” migrant workers of increasing in number by the day and tries to inflict the fear that eventually they will take over the Tamil Nadu government. This seems to be an echo of the views of politician Seeman. He justifies the lack of interest in labour jobs by Tamilian youth because they are now highly educated and would not be interested in doing menial jobs. The YouTuber questions the sudden influx of migrant workers in recent years as opposed to previous decades and believes these migrant workers should ideally learn the local language and know their place in Tamil society. He repeatedly refers to the migrants as “vadakkans” and claims they only come to Tamil Nadu because they receive boarding and lodging as part of their job.
In this article by Nakkheeran which is a page full of misinformation, the yellow journal spreads lies and spews venom on the unsuspecting migrant.
This article and video by Nakkheeran supposedly investigate the influx of migrant workers and feature an interview with a migrant who apparently came to Tamil Nadu as a labourer 8 years ago and now runs a shop in Madurai. However, the video also misinforms viewers about the e-SHRAM card, claiming that all cardholders can get a ration card and voter ID when in reality it is a centralised database that provides social security benefits to workers in the unorganised sector. The e-SHRAM scheme was launched in 2021 by the Modi government after the pandemic saw many migrants walk back home. Since then, there have been 28.6 crore sign-ups.
The video also falsely claims that TNPSC allows candidates from other states to get jobs in Tamil Nadu public service.
The intention of this video is clear and that is to spread misinformation and hatred against migrant workers. The article also mentions Uttar Bharat Bhavan as a haven for migrant workers. It seems the journal is ill-informed that it is supposed to serve as a hub for people from North India and it is much similar to Tamil Nadu House or Puducherry House in New Delhi for the people from the respective places.
Jeeva Today bases this video on the Nakkheeran article and furthers the agenda of the journal. He calls Uttar Bharat Bhavan an “embassy” for north Indians in Tamil Nadu. The Youtuber claims that the e-SHRAM card is only for North Indians and that it is a form of protection for them. The video urges Tamilians to wake up from hibernation and stop the supposed takeover. The creator also claims that North Indians are taking over Tamil Nadu’s businesses, land, and livelihoods and that they will eventually start ruling the state. The video spreads hatred towards North Indians and promotes Tamil nationalism, identity, and language. It warns of the danger posed to lower communities and asks why North Indians are taking away Tamilian jobs. The claims made in the video are untrue and contribute to xenophobia toward migrant workers.
There are several such instances of this channel peddling hate against north Indian migrant workers.
In the above video of YouTube channel Liberty Tamil, Jeeva Sagapthan peddles that economic and cultural exploitation along with erasure of identity is happening in Tamil Nadu. “In Tamil Nadu, population of north Indians are going to go up. If there are more north Indians, national parties will have more influence and influence of Dravidian parties will go down.” He says that if north Indians begin to vote, parties like DMK, AIADMK, PMK, VCK will disappear.
“Today’s Biharis and Uttar Pradesh people know only BJP. So, electorally this will benefit only national parties.”, he says adding that anti-Tamil schemes will be imposed on Tamil Nadu.
“What will happen to Tamils? This is really scary and dangerous. Please think about it. Don’t stop at just seeing the video. Please share it with your mother, father, elder sister, younger sister, and everyone. Do you know that our job opportunities have been lost? In Central Government, only non-Tamil are more in number. They’ve already signed such laws. In Central government institutions like ICF, Trichy Goldenrock Workshop, everywhere there are north Indians. Even in Post Office there are north Indians, from postman to higher officials. North Indian who don’t have quarter of the brains as Tamils will be sitting there. Tamils will be standing beside them with folded hands. So, we’re losing everything!”, Jeeva Sagapthan fear mongers.
In all his videos against north Indians, he carries clickbaity and provocative thumbnails.
U2 Brutus, a Tamil YouTube channel run by followers of EV Ramasamy Naicker is well-known for its video content disparaging the Hindu faith. The channel run by one ‘Minor’ Vijay is a vociferous supporter of the DMK.
He had released a video titled “Shall we chase away Vadakkans?”. Vadakkan is a slur for north Indians.
This video seems to be hell-bent on mocking the IQ level of North Indians and belittling their livelihoods in their home states. The video suggests that migrant workers come to Tamil Nadu to work in menial jobs like cleaning tables and washing vessels for lower wages than locals. The creators of the video use the term “vadakkan” frequently and compare the migration of North Indians to foreign countries for work with their arrival in Tamil Nadu. The video also accuses them of engaging in criminal activities like theft.
Aramental, a YouTube channel, is seen to be creating videos mocking “sanghis” and “vadakkans”. The channel uses the song “Ooru vittu ooru vandhu” from the movie Karakattakaran to poke fun at the financial status and lifestyle of North Indians in their hometowns. The creator of the channel justifies the idea that Tamilians study and hence look for better jobs and claims that menial jobs are best suited for North Indians. Furthermore, the channel suggests that the North Indians are leaving in droves from Tamil Nadu (as seen in news reports) not due to violence but to celebrate Holi.
Saattai Duraimurgan claims that people from the north are entering the state in the guise of workers and indulging in criminal activities such as ATM theft, chain snatching, and peddling ganja as indicated by politician Seeman. He goes on to talk about north Indians preferring to travel without tickets – as if no one in Tamil Nadu travels without a ticket on trains. One man who boarded a train without a ticket went on to rule a state. In another video of Saatai Duraimurugan, he claims that the north Indians work for 100-200 rupees and then will sell ganja at night to live a luxurious life.
In a video, a panipuri seller is shown bringing in his family and friends to sell different food items outside a Tamilian’s house. Months later, the entire street becomes “Vadakkan Theru” and the Tamilian retaliates. The panipuri seller then asks his associate to take out the “naatu thuppaki” implying that people from the north are violent and believe in using guns. The video then compares Tamilian and north Indian labourers, showing the migrant workers as hardworking but lacking in basic hygiene and nutrition. The north Indian worker is portrayed as Hindu with a tilak on his forehead but is shown to have multiple wives. Another segment shows that north Indians only communicate in Hindi and expect Tamilians to speak the language. Most (if not all) migrant workers learn the local language pretty swiftly and speak to near perfection over time. The final segment claims that north Indians are here for a political takeover of local bodies after establishing their businesses.
Recently a popular YouTube channel named Parithabangal, led by Gopi and Sudhakar, released a video attempting to portray North Indians in a negative light through their jokes and videos.
There are also influential individuals who are often platformed by some of the prominent Tamil YouTube channels like IndiaGlitz, Red Pix, Behindwoods, Nakkheeran, etc. These individuals stereotype migrant labourers as vadakkans and fearmonger.
Idumbavanam Karthik, a Naam Tamilar cadre, has been spreading hatred against North Indians by uploading random videos from crowded places, such as markets or railway stations, and claiming that North Indians are flooding into Tamil Nadu in large numbers, which has no veracity.
In a video, Idumbavanam Karthik has referred to the arrival of migrant workers as an “invasion” and accused them of taking over TNPSC jobs, businesses, and the entire region. He further claimed that businesses are importing northern labourers rather than utilising existing workers. Karthik accused the migrants of causing a demographic shift that will alter voting patterns, citing the example of how the Marwadis control Sowcarpet. He also accused the migrant workers of theft and chain snatching and compared their arrival to the Sinhalese takeover of Sri Lanka, which led to the Tamil genocide. Karthik wants the government to monitor the migrants’, get their identity papers and control their entry to prevent further issues. He warned that the influx of migrants could lead to violence against Tamilians.
In this video with Aadhan Tamil, Paarisalan repeatedly refers to them as an invasive species (see video above), and said they were the most indecent and uncivilised lot citing their tendency to travel in unreserved compartments and sit all over the train. He also compares the potential consequences of uncontrolled immigration to the Sri Lankan Tamil genocide. Paarisalan accuses migrant workers of having low IQs and lacking self-esteem, accepting violence and abuse without retaliating. He also alleges that they are ganja addicts and take a lion’s share of resources meant for the residents of the state. He claims that the influx of workers is hindering Tamil Nadu’s economic growth and suggests that they should work in other states in their region instead. Paarisalan further accuses Marwaris of taking control of all kinds of businesses in the state and claims the supremacy of the Tamil race over the Greeks and other invaders. His views have sparked controversy and raised concerns over the portrayal of migrant workers and the potential consequences of xenophobic rhetoric.
This man is the leader of Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi, an ally of the ruling DMK and is an elected MLA from Panruti. This leader of a rabid Tamil chauvinist party is known for peddling hate against north Indians in every stage he speaks. He had even stuck xenophobic poster asking north Indian migrant workers to leave the state.
வெறுப்பு பிரச்சாரங்களை செய்து விட்டு, உடனே எதையாவது சொல்லி சமாளிப்பதற்கு, வெறுப்பு பிரச்சாரம் செய்யாமலே இருக்கலாமே. pic.twitter.com/WQwN8mgrAE
In an interview with RedPix 24×7, self-proclaimed activist Thirumurugan Gandhi and a rabid xenophobic Tamil chauvinist, alleged that the BJP was facilitating the influx of migrant workers from north India to Tamil Nadu with an eye on creating a future vote bank. He claimed that various sectors of the state’s economy and society, such as cinema, real estate, construction, electronics, automobile, gold, and textile industries, were dominated by north Indians, especially Marwaris. Gandhi accuses the Marwaris of not permitting anyone from outside their community to purchase property in the localities of their residence, blaming it on a 2-tier “problem” where there are business owners on one level and workers on the other. He questions their priorities and says that when the state (himself) was protesting for Cauvery water, these communities were enjoying the IPL match and questioned whether they would voice out for the Eelam issue ever. He also accuses the north Indians of investing a lot in the state to bring in their own labour force from the states.
Gandhi has argued that the labour workforce in Tamil Nadu is talented and should be given priority over non-local labourers. He has called for a minimum number of local workers to be hired and accused North Indian business owners of being exploitative. He has also accused Marwaris of wanting to control Tamil Nadu politics and of sponsoring festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi but turning a blind eye to Jallikattu. Finally, he argued that migrant workers are forcing Hindi on Tamilians and blankets all “north Indians” as those who will vote for BJP.
All the above instances amount to just tip of the iceberg. There are many more such channels which continue to spew venom every single day in the name of entertainment and to garner likes and views.
These videos are just examples of how these channels spread hate. These YouTubers have been at it for quite some time. Should we allow these channels to operate and spread such misinformation and cause possible unrest in society? Is it not time that as viewers we boycott these channels, report them, and take up the cause with the administration to take action against them?
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After news of migrant workers leaving Tamil Nadu fearing attacks from locals became a political slugfest, DMK’s political strategist Prashant Kishor said these incidents are real and should not be ignored.
Prashant Kishor has accused Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister Tejasvi Yadav of lying and promised to release original videos of migrant workers attacked in Tamil Nadu in two days to expose his lies. He also claimed that Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister misled members in the assembly in this issue.
“Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister has said that these are fake videos, but I will release the real video in a few days,” Prashant Kishor added. He acknowledged that a few journalists shared the incorrect video, but he stated that one should not ignore the “facts of the incidents.”
According to Prashant Kishor, the DGP of Tamil Nadu also denied only two videos in his statement and that there were several videos prior to those videos. He also stated that the incidents have been occurring for the past four months.
He went on to say that the ruling leaders of Bihar are attempting to disprove the incident by claiming that no such incident occurred. In two days, I will post the correct video, he claimed.
The ruling DMK government in Tamil Nadu has denied any attacks on migrant workers. However, the statement of Prashant Kishor, the DMK’s election strategist during the Tamil Nadu assembly election, acknowledging attacks on migrant labourers is seen as a political setback for the DMK.
The world is witnessing the crippling challenges faced by Pakistan due to its ongoing economic crisis. Pakistan’s political tensions and Army’s direct interference in the political upheaval have resulted in a serious economic fall. Pakistan establishment is battling severe public discontent due to flour crisis and fuel shortage among others. The Islamic ‘Republic’ is also facing rising instances of terror attacks by the proscribed outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). In a recent interview with Dubai-based Al Arabiya TV, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that Pakistan has learned its lesson after three wars with India and stressed that now it wants peaceful relationships with India.
He also wants to solve all the outstanding issues between India and Pakistan as both countries claim the disputed Kashmir in full but administer separate portions of it. But he has repeatedly stated on record that talks can only take place after India undoes the Article 370 abrogation.
A Mess Of Its Own Doing
Pakistan needs funds, as its inflation is on the uptrend and its forex reserves have fallen. Foreign reserves in Pakistan’s central bank had fallen below $5 billion. The clock is ticking for the new Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to fund the financing gap as their foreign reserves will cover only two more months of imports. Pakistan’s agricultural growth has slowed down, diesel is very costly, power bills are high, and more chaos is waiting to unfold.
So, all those mentioned above showcase a clear picture that the Pakistan government has no other option except to implement the IMF programme as the government could not offer reasonable subsidies to any critical sector including the flood-affected people of Pakistan. Pakistan entered the $6 billion dollar IMF programme in 2019 which was raised to $7 billion this year. Pakistan will get $1.18 billion after the programme’s 9th review which is currently pending because of its unpaid dues.
Food inflation has already gone up. Even the demand for rice, which is a major export from Pakistan, has gone up domestically because of the flood that affected the breadbasket areas (Punjab and Haryana) of Pakistan. Pakistan suspended trade with India after Article 370 was abrogated.
There have been no technological advancements in agriculture over the years, and no high-yielding breeds developed. No land reforms either. Meanwhile, the canals are drying up and the water table is dipping. The farmer gets no incentives. Fertiliser is expensive, as apart from urea, others are imported.
Almost 95% of the medicines produced in Pakistan are manufactured with raw materials imported from China, India, and some other countries of the world. Medicine manufacturing can come to a halt due to the non-availability of dollars.
Due to the supply chain disruptions brought about by the ongoing war in Ukraine, gasoline and diesel prices were up by 43% and 56% – Pakistan Rupees 214/l and Rupees 227/l, respectively. The prices were raised as the government had cut the subsidy amount to meet IMF conditions and get the required loan to bail out the country.
The Petroleum Division has warned the central bank that the stocks of petroleum products may dry up as banks are refusing to open and confirm Letters of Credit (LCs) for imports as a shortage of crucial dollars.
Banks refused to open Letter of Credit. Orders from China, India, the US, and Western Europe were stuck. The shortage of medicine could lead to human tragedy.
According to a media report, the ship agents have forewarned the cash-strapped Pakistani government that all export cargoes could come to a halt as foreign shipping lines are considering stopping their services for the country after banks stopped remitting freight charges to them due to a lack of dollar availability.
Apart from bordering countries, almost all the international logistics from Pakistan are catered by sea and any disruption could create serious issues for the country’s international trade. The annual freight bill of Pakistan is around USD 5 billion, and foreign companies receive the charges in international currencies. Delays in remitting their legitimate dues will constrain Pakistan’s external trade.
The forex crisis has deepened the woes of textile manufacturers also, who are responsible for around 60 percent of Pakistan’s exports.
Internal Tensions And External Factors
The Sindhis believe the state onslaught and the widespread Chinese intrusion in Pakistan have threatened their culture, language, and pluralistic values. Their fight for a separate homeland has been going on for decades.
Balochistan is one of the four provinces in Pakistan with 7% of Pakistan’s total population. Both strategically and historically, it plays an integral role. As there is a lack of political autonomy in the country which leads to conflict. Balochistan is fighting for liberation from Pakistan and this is spearheaded by a group BLA – Balochistan Liberation Army. BLA is banned in Pakistan and this conflict has lasted for several years and continues. These Baloch separatists have been fighting for control of their land by attacking Pakistani authorities, security forces, and even Chinese nationals as a mark of protest.
Pakistani Taliban (TTP) ramp up their murderous attacks on Pakistani soldiers, ISI officers, police, and ordinary citizens. Over 100 attacks have occurred for over 50 days just a few months ago.
China has expanded its footprint more than any other country in Pakistan. China and Pakistan support each other with their capacities to counter India. Chinese arms and money continue to flow into Pakistan. China indirectly supports terrorism by blocking action against terrorists. China’s double standards were showcased when it twice blocked a proposal to blacklist Jaish-e Mohammed (JeM) chief. China’s close ties with Pakistan ensure they remain mute to its human rights violation of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang.
Is Pakistan Serious About Its Positive And Peaceful Intentions With India?
We still remember the Parliament attack of 2001 by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed, the 26/11 Mumbai attack in 2008 by LeT, January 2016 terror strikes on the Indian Air Force base at Pathankot in Punjab, followed by Uri attack on Indian Army’s brigade headquarters in September 2016 and the attack on India’s paramilitary soldiers at Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir by a JeM terrorist in February 2019.
So, it is clear that only for its own gain in the name of sympathy, Pakistan pretends to have positive intentions with India. The road towards real peace with India remains long unless Pakistan stops sponsoring and promoting terrorism. Terror and dialogue cannot go together. The present Indian government is very sure that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral and inalienable part of India, and talks can be only on the P-O-K issue. Wishing for all peace talks with India is just a political narrative set by Pakistan. There is also a growing realisation amongst the international community about Pakistan being the epicentre of terrorism in the world today.
Pakistan Has No Other Option But To Go With A Begging Bowl
The Pakistani government has agreed to implement all key conditions of the IMF to revive the loan programme as the country faces a massive economic crisis that includes a market-based exchange rate, an increase in electricity and gas prices, and additional taxes to contain the fiscal deficit. Both the United Arab Emirates and Qatar turned down their money deposit support instead of their interest in investment which would take time to materialize. Foreign countries are tired of helping Pakistan. Pakistani rupee continued to weaken even after IMF announced it was resuming support. Inflation reached 27.3% in Aug-2022, the highest seen in 47 years.
India Must Implement CAA 2019 At The Earliest
Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019 seeks to provide citizenship only to Hindu, Christian, Jain, Parsi, Sikh, and Buddhist migrants persecuted in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. The poverty rate in Pakistan has risen by 35.7%. The people of Pakistan are the hardest hit by the recent floods which forced them to flee their shattered shelters. Soon, there are more chances of Pakistani refugees coming to India as they would want to take advantage of better economic opportunities and keep migrating illegally to India, which may lead to violation of economic rights and that would clearly pose a major burden on developing nations like India. Though the constitution of India respects the life, liberty, and dignity of human beings, it will also affect India’s internal safety. India faces both illegal immigrants and refugees – laws for these two categories need to be framed in the legislative framework. India’s motto for a relationship with other countries is ‘Vasudhaiva kutumbakkam’, meaning that the whole world is one family. The growing political and economic instability in Pakistan is a serious concern for India as it may result in refugee problems and terrorism. Hence it is imperative for the Indian government to safeguard its interests by implementing CAA 2019 at the earliest.
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Madurai police arrested an independent councilor from the Madurai district who had joined the DMK on charges of real estate fraud.
Jayachandran, 34, an independent councilor of Madurai Corporation’s 62nd Ward, Arasaradi Othakadai area, who recently joined the DMK, was lodged in Madurai Jail on February 28 in a real estate fraud case.
During his interrogation, it was discovered that he attempted to fraudulently sell the lands of the Madurai Azhagar temple. Currently, a complaint has been filed in this regard.
Real Estate Fraud
Subramaniam, 64, hails from Surya Nagar, Madurai. He has paid Jayachandran ₹10.14 lakhs in installments to purchase flats in Madurai’s Poigaikaraipatti and Kidaaripatti areas. However, the accused Jayachandran did not buy Subramaniam any flat or returned the money. Subramaniam, realising he had been deceived, filed a complaint with Madurai Police Commissioner Narendra Nair. Subsequently, Jayachandran was arrested by SS Colony police and lodged in Madurai Jail.
Further investigation by the police revealed that Jayachandran attempted to sell Azhagar temple land fraudulently.
Winning Councilor Election Independently And Joining DMK
During the councilor elections after DMK assumed power, Jayachandran had expressed his desire to contest the municipal elections of Madurai on behalf of DMK. He was not given a seat because there were criminal charges against him. However, Jayachandran ran as an independent candidate against DMK candidate Velmurugan and won the 62nd ward councilor election in Madurai.
A complaint was filed against him for allegedly paying up to ₹1,000 for the vote during the elections.
After winning the election, he attempted to join the DMK in order to protect his real estate business and avoid lawsuits. But the local DMK leaders were unwilling to accept him into the DMK.
However, on the initiative of another DMK councilor, he met Chief Minister Stalin in Chennai and joined the DMK.
While there are already numerous fraud complaints against him in various police stations, a new complaint has been filed alleging that he attempted to fraudulently sell the lands of the Kal Azhagar temple.
The recent ruling by the apex court, concerning the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner, resulted in a backlash from the electorate on social media. Many cited the idea of separation of powers, envisioned in the Constitution, and how the Supreme Court, in the garb of pursuing neutrality within the Election Commission, was interfering in the jurisdiction of the elected representatives.
However, this was not the first, or even the last time, that the apex court indulged in judicial activism. The blatant judicial overreach to take over selection of Election Commission despite repeated assertions of President, Vice President, Law Minister not to transcend the division of powers enshrined in the Constitution shows another instance of systematic overreach by the judiciary. Even though Supreme Court zealously fights for its own independence and upholds the questionable collegium system, the same Court often conveniently ignores the need to respect the doctrine of separation of power in case of other organs of the state. Even with large judicial backlogs the focus of the top court seems to be on unnecessary interference with governance issues instead of putting the wheels of justice in motion. In context of this, we will look in to past instances of judicial overreach and understand why Supreme Court should mind its own business.
Before identifying crux of the issue, we must get familiarised 3 key terms; judicial activism, overreach, and restraint. Judicial Activism signifies the proactive role of the judiciary in protecting the rights of citizens. Judicial Activism signifies the proactive role of the judiciary in protecting the rights of citizens. Judicial Activism has led to a controversy regarding the supremacy between Parliament and Supreme Courts. When Judicial Activism goes overboard, and becomes Judicial Adventurism, it is referred to as Judicial Overreach. In simpler terms, it is when the judiciary starts interfering with the proper functioning of the legislative or executive organs of the government. Judicial Overreach is undesirable in a democracy as it breaches the principle of separation of powers. The next key term is judicial restraint. Judicial Restraint is the antithesis of judicial activism. Judicial Restraint is a theory of judicial interpretation that encourages judges to limit the exercise of their own power.
In short, the courts should interpret the law and not intervene in policy-making. Judges should always try to decide cases based on: the original intent of those who wrote the constitution, precedent – past decisions in earlier cases. Also, the court should leave policy making to others. Here, courts “restrain” themselves from setting new policies with their decisions. In India what is happening is the opposite of this. Judiciary is overreaching its limits clogging smooth governance system of the nation.
The government of the day, elected by the people of India through elections that were fought fair and square, are courting a supreme problem. In what can be termed as a direct violation of Article 324, the apex court restricted the government’s ability to appoint the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and other election commissioners. Article 324 deals with the composition of the Election Commission, and in the most unambiguous fashion, reserves the power with the President when it comes to the appointments. Therefore, multiple questions arise, if there is no accountability when it comes to the appointment of the CJI, why must they be allowed to force themselves to be part of the said committee? (One must note how Supreme Court vehemently opposed NJAC – an accountable system for appointment of judges)
The next question is how can we determine the neutrality of the Chief Justice of India?
What was defined as the prerogative of the President of India alone in the Constitution has today been virtually hijacked by the judiciary in the name of safeguarding democracy. The apex court declared that the appointment of the CEC and other commissioners would be done by the President, but based on the advice tendered by the committee that is made up of the Prime Minister of India, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha (or the leader of the largest party in the opposition), and the Chief Justice of India.
While the presence of the opposition leader in such a committee is needed as a check and balance, where lies the justification for the judiciary to interfere in the appointment process? If our memory serves us right, last time when the legislature tried to ensure accountability for judiciary in form of NJAC – an inclusive body consisting of members of legislature, executive, judiciary and civil society, Supreme Court struck it down in the name of “independence of judiciary”, but it is ironical that the same court is violating that principle again and again.
The absurdity of judicial overreach hangs on the fact that judiciary presumes that except themselves everyone is corrupt. There are no holy saints in any institution, and that includes the Supreme Court. The observation by Justice Joseph is note worth noting in this case. Lordship reportedly said that India needs a system that can act against the elected Prime Minister of India.
While the court in all its magnanimity sobs over independence of Election Commission, it is to be noted that no rules of accountability applies to ‘your lordships.’ For example, the judges of India as Government servants are supposed to inform the Government of their trips outside India but the judiciary in India has removed that rule. So, whom are the judges meeting? What do they do abroad? Why can’t they disclose the expenses incurred? Do the lordships consider themselves to be reincarnation of the lord himself/herself? These are questions which are unanswered and judiciary is happy to maintain that in that manner itself.
It is also worth noting a few recent instances in which the court demonstrated zealous judicial interference to have a clear understanding about seriousness of the issue. One of the recent absurdities was the apex court lambasting the government for the farmers’ protests, even when many senior ministers, visiting Punjab, had tried to reason with them.
The apex court stayed the implementation of the laws, factoring the protests from the farmers of only one state and ignoring the successes of the private sector in more than 90 per cent of the agricultural output of this country. While conveniently staying the implementation of the laws, the then CJI had remarked that the courts cannot decide who can and cannot enter Delhi. While the latter observation was correct, it was the selective inaction before 26 January 2021 that was partially responsible for the arson that happened around the Red Fort. Less than a week before Republic Day, the court ignored the security concerns pertaining to 5,000 tractors entering Delhi, raised through an application filed by the Delhi Police. The apex court, ironically, was worried about not having the authority. Eventually, what followed was a result of the selective inaction of the courts. Perhaps the most severe online backlash, in recent years, against an observation of the apex court came during the hearing where a former BJP spokesperson requested that the FIRs against her, for her comments on one of the news debates on the issue of Gyanvapi, be clubbed. The entire blame was put on Nupur Sharma and conveniently ignored offensive comments from the other side. In this case Supreme Court took an active role in Hindu victimization. Supreme Court’s decision to question independence of financial institutions in Adani issue even though Lordships does not possess any merits to adjudge the matter and decision to interfere in governance of cricket in India are also few examples of zealous judicial overreach.
Judiciary is no position to interfere in routine governance issues of the government of the day. By dedicating their precious hours to situations of unnecessary importance judiciary has given life to the term, ‘justice delayed is justice denied.’ As of March 2022, there are 4.70 crore cases pending across courts in India. More than 70,000 of those are pending in the Supreme Court. 40 per cent of these have been pending for more than five years. Then there is questionable conduct of the judges. For example, rape allegation against former Chief Justice, political affiliations of unnamed Justices and corruption from Andhra Pradesh against former Chief Justice. But these are topics Supreme Court prefer not to be discussed as it will reveal rot with in the Indian Judicial system. So, instead of being the almighty judging everyone, the Supreme Court shall hold a mirror on to itself to see its true form and reform. The court should reflect and take steps to keep its own house in order and ‘Your Lordships’ shall mind their own business considering interest of the nation.
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It has been reported that 12 members of the Trichy Police, who were on the lookout for criminals in Rajasthan, have been arrested on a bribery complaint by the Rajasthan anti-corruption police.
The Trichy police were looking for a woman named Sonia from Rajasthan and her husband Pannalal in connection with a theft case in Trichy.
A team of 12 police officers led by Trichy police inspector Mohan travelled to Rajasthan and conducted a thorough search in the Ajmer area.
However, the couple had filed a complaint with the Rajasthan Anti-Corruption Department against the Tamil Nadu Special Force Police. The couple claimed in their complaint that the Tamil Nadu police are demanding a bribe of ₹25 lakhs in order to not implicate them in a theft case.
According to reports, Rajasthan police arrested 12 special force policemen from Tamil Nadu who were in the border area of the Pinay police station in Rajasthan on a bribery complaint filed by the couple.
It was reported in Rajasthan media that the Tamil Nadu police were caught red handed while accepting bribes from the couple and that Tamil Nadu Police are negotiating with Rajasthan police.
However, reports in Tamil Nadu have mentioned it to be a false complaint.
According to News 18 Tamil Nadu, the detained Tamil Nadu police were released following the intervention of Tamil Nadu Director General of Police Sylendra Babu.
Tamil Nadu Finance Minister PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan yet again resorted to cyber-bullying a woman journalist after she called out the DMK for its hate speeches made against north Indian workers working in the state.
The has been a furore over the safety of north Indian migrant labourers in Tamil Nadu. Rumours through social media along with misreporting by a few Hindi media outlets led to subsequent amplification of these reports by BJP Bihar which had unleashed a political slugfest with migrant workers in Tamil Nadu facing the brunt.
On 3 March 2024, independent journalist and chief editor of The Lede had posted a Twitter thread on the north Indian migrant workers controversy in which she mentioned that the ruling party in Tamil Nadu which indulged in toxic violent rhetoric against North Indian labourers earlier was assuaging the situation putting out communiques in Hindi.
She also shared a link which had the list of instances when hate was peddled by DMK, NTK and Tamil YouTube channels against north Indian workers.
Problem will be created by ruling party & administration has to step in to control the damage. Migrant workers in Coimbatore & Tirupur are in fear & leaving for home. Unnecessary toxic violent rhetoric against North Indian labourers & now this appeal in Hindi! Wah! (1/n) pic.twitter.com/BJznelZGuV
— Sandhya Ravishankar (@sandhyaravishan) March 3, 2023
After the tweet gained significant traction, the hashtag #ArrestSandhyaRavishankar was seen trending on Twitter with many DMK cadres and sympathizers calling for the journalist’s arrest.
Following this threat, the Committee to Protect Journalists Asia (CPJ Asia) put a tweet in which the body condemned the coordinated attack on the journalist.
Responsding to this tweet, DMK Finance Minister PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan who has a history of making personal remarks against anyone who doesn’t share his views, took to abusing the woman journalist calling her ‘immoral’, ‘compunction-less’, ‘defender-of-rapists’, and ‘propagator-of-fake-news’.
When your ill-informed (at best) local staff start using your official handle @CPJAsia to defend an immoral, compunction-less, defender-of-rapists, propagator-of-fake-news, you damage your credibility immeasurably
— Dr P Thiaga Rajan (PTR) (@ptrmadurai) March 5, 2023
This is not the first time PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan had hounded woman journalists.
Recently, he had made personal remarks against The Hindu Publishing Group’s Chairperson Malini Parthasarathy who had tweeted about Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi’s clarification on the Tamil Nadu versus Thamizhagam debate. Prior to that, he had attacked Malini Parthasarathy for sharing Isha Foundation’s response to the DMK minister’s diatribe which The Hindu had carried in the form of an article.
Palanivel Thiagarajan when he was the DMK IT Wing had indulged in denigrating Sandhya Ravishankar who had exposed some of the false rhetoric of the Pollachi Sexual Abuse case. The ‘defender-of-rapists’ comment in his recent tweet was in response to this.
The has been a furore over the safety of north Indian migrant labourers in Tamil Nadu. Misreporting by a few Hindi media outlets and subsequent amplification of these reports by BJP Bihar had unleashed a political slugfest with migrant workers in Tamil Nadu facing the brunt.
Earlier, reports had emerged about migrant workers flee Tamil Nadu for fear of being attacked after a few now-debunked videos became viral. In a phone call with Nitish Kumar on Saturday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin reassured his Bihar counterpart about the safety of migrant workers. Tamil Nadu police have provided helpline numbers for migrant workers to call if there is an untoward incident.
On the other hand, many on social media accused DMK of peddling hate against north Indians hitherto. Tamil Nadu BJP President K. Annamalai had condemned the vile comments of DMK ministers who referred to them as Panipuri walas and Vadakkans, claiming that these irresponsible statements by DMK leaders triggered this exodus.
DMK’s MPs' vile comments on North Indians, DMK minister calling them Panipuri wala, and their alliance partners demanding their exodus have triggered what we see today.
The people, the Government & the Police, do not endorse the views of DMK & their alliance partners. (4/5)
In response to this tweet, the Tamil Nadu cyber crime police have registered an FIR under sections 153 153(a) 505 of the Indian Penal Code.
Following this Annamalai released compilation of all the instances when DMK leaders including MK Stalin had spoken against north Indian migrant workers.
வட மாநிலத்தவர் குறித்து திமுக செய்த வெறுப்பு பிரச்சாரங்களை அறிக்கையாக வெளியிட்டிருந்தேன்.
அதற்காக என் மீது வழக்கு பதிவு செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளதாக அறிகிறேன்.
அறிக்கையில் குறிப்பிட்டுள்ளவையை காணொளியாகவும் வெளியிடுகிறேன்.
Pakistan’s Economic And Political Crisis Should Trigger India To Implement CAA 2019
The world is witnessing the crippling challenges faced by Pakistan due to its ongoing economic crisis. Pakistan’s political tensions and Army’s direct interference in the political upheaval have resulted in a serious economic fall. Pakistan establishment is battling severe public discontent due to flour crisis and fuel shortage among others. The Islamic ‘Republic’ is also facing rising instances of terror attacks by the proscribed outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). In a recent interview with Dubai-based Al Arabiya TV, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that Pakistan has learned its lesson after three wars with India and stressed that now it wants peaceful relationships with India.
He also wants to solve all the outstanding issues between India and Pakistan as both countries claim the disputed Kashmir in full but administer separate portions of it. But he has repeatedly stated on record that talks can only take place after India undoes the Article 370 abrogation.
A Mess Of Its Own Doing
Pakistan needs funds, as its inflation is on the uptrend and its forex reserves have fallen. Foreign reserves in Pakistan’s central bank had fallen below $5 billion. The clock is ticking for the new Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to fund the financing gap as their foreign reserves will cover only two more months of imports. Pakistan’s agricultural growth has slowed down, diesel is very costly, power bills are high, and more chaos is waiting to unfold.
So, all those mentioned above showcase a clear picture that the Pakistan government has no other option except to implement the IMF programme as the government could not offer reasonable subsidies to any critical sector including the flood-affected people of Pakistan. Pakistan entered the $6 billion dollar IMF programme in 2019 which was raised to $7 billion this year. Pakistan will get $1.18 billion after the programme’s 9th review which is currently pending because of its unpaid dues.
Food inflation has already gone up. Even the demand for rice, which is a major export from Pakistan, has gone up domestically because of the flood that affected the breadbasket areas (Punjab and Haryana) of Pakistan. Pakistan suspended trade with India after Article 370 was abrogated.
There have been no technological advancements in agriculture over the years, and no high-yielding breeds developed. No land reforms either. Meanwhile, the canals are drying up and the water table is dipping. The farmer gets no incentives. Fertiliser is expensive, as apart from urea, others are imported.
Almost 95% of the medicines produced in Pakistan are manufactured with raw materials imported from China, India, and some other countries of the world. Medicine manufacturing can come to a halt due to the non-availability of dollars.
Due to the supply chain disruptions brought about by the ongoing war in Ukraine, gasoline and diesel prices were up by 43% and 56% – Pakistan Rupees 214/l and Rupees 227/l, respectively. The prices were raised as the government had cut the subsidy amount to meet IMF conditions and get the required loan to bail out the country.
The Petroleum Division has warned the central bank that the stocks of petroleum products may dry up as banks are refusing to open and confirm Letters of Credit (LCs) for imports as a shortage of crucial dollars.
Banks refused to open Letter of Credit. Orders from China, India, the US, and Western Europe were stuck. The shortage of medicine could lead to human tragedy.
According to a media report, the ship agents have forewarned the cash-strapped Pakistani government that all export cargoes could come to a halt as foreign shipping lines are considering stopping their services for the country after banks stopped remitting freight charges to them due to a lack of dollar availability.
Apart from bordering countries, almost all the international logistics from Pakistan are catered by sea and any disruption could create serious issues for the country’s international trade. The annual freight bill of Pakistan is around USD 5 billion, and foreign companies receive the charges in international currencies. Delays in remitting their legitimate dues will constrain Pakistan’s external trade.
The forex crisis has deepened the woes of textile manufacturers also, who are responsible for around 60 percent of Pakistan’s exports.
Internal Tensions And External Factors
The Sindhis believe the state onslaught and the widespread Chinese intrusion in Pakistan have threatened their culture, language, and pluralistic values. Their fight for a separate homeland has been going on for decades.
Balochistan is one of the four provinces in Pakistan with 7% of Pakistan’s total population. Both strategically and historically, it plays an integral role. As there is a lack of political autonomy in the country which leads to conflict. Balochistan is fighting for liberation from Pakistan and this is spearheaded by a group BLA – Balochistan Liberation Army. BLA is banned in Pakistan and this conflict has lasted for several years and continues. These Baloch separatists have been fighting for control of their land by attacking Pakistani authorities, security forces, and even Chinese nationals as a mark of protest.
Pakistani Taliban (TTP) ramp up their murderous attacks on Pakistani soldiers, ISI officers, police, and ordinary citizens. Over 100 attacks have occurred for over 50 days just a few months ago.
China has expanded its footprint more than any other country in Pakistan. China and Pakistan support each other with their capacities to counter India. Chinese arms and money continue to flow into Pakistan. China indirectly supports terrorism by blocking action against terrorists. China’s double standards were showcased when it twice blocked a proposal to blacklist Jaish-e Mohammed (JeM) chief. China’s close ties with Pakistan ensure they remain mute to its human rights violation of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang.
Is Pakistan Serious About Its Positive And Peaceful Intentions With India?
We still remember the Parliament attack of 2001 by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed, the 26/11 Mumbai attack in 2008 by LeT, January 2016 terror strikes on the Indian Air Force base at Pathankot in Punjab, followed by Uri attack on Indian Army’s brigade headquarters in September 2016 and the attack on India’s paramilitary soldiers at Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir by a JeM terrorist in February 2019.
So, it is clear that only for its own gain in the name of sympathy, Pakistan pretends to have positive intentions with India. The road towards real peace with India remains long unless Pakistan stops sponsoring and promoting terrorism. Terror and dialogue cannot go together. The present Indian government is very sure that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral and inalienable part of India, and talks can be only on the P-O-K issue. Wishing for all peace talks with India is just a political narrative set by Pakistan. There is also a growing realisation amongst the international community about Pakistan being the epicentre of terrorism in the world today.
Pakistan Has No Other Option But To Go With A Begging Bowl
The Pakistani government has agreed to implement all key conditions of the IMF to revive the loan programme as the country faces a massive economic crisis that includes a market-based exchange rate, an increase in electricity and gas prices, and additional taxes to contain the fiscal deficit. Both the United Arab Emirates and Qatar turned down their money deposit support instead of their interest in investment which would take time to materialize. Foreign countries are tired of helping Pakistan. Pakistani rupee continued to weaken even after IMF announced it was resuming support. Inflation reached 27.3% in Aug-2022, the highest seen in 47 years.
India Must Implement CAA 2019 At The Earliest
Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019 seeks to provide citizenship only to Hindu, Christian, Jain, Parsi, Sikh, and Buddhist migrants persecuted in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. The poverty rate in Pakistan has risen by 35.7%. The people of Pakistan are the hardest hit by the recent floods which forced them to flee their shattered shelters. Soon, there are more chances of Pakistani refugees coming to India as they would want to take advantage of better economic opportunities and keep migrating illegally to India, which may lead to violation of economic rights and that would clearly pose a major burden on developing nations like India. Though the constitution of India respects the life, liberty, and dignity of human beings, it will also affect India’s internal safety. India faces both illegal immigrants and refugees – laws for these two categories need to be framed in the legislative framework. India’s motto for a relationship with other countries is ‘Vasudhaiva kutumbakkam’, meaning that the whole world is one family. The growing political and economic instability in Pakistan is a serious concern for India as it may result in refugee problems and terrorism. Hence it is imperative for the Indian government to safeguard its interests by implementing CAA 2019 at the earliest.
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