#Bjp Foundation Day

[wherestoriescomefrom]

Seldom before has there been so much joy in the shadow of defeat. But as the results of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections began to trickle in on Tuesday morning, the smiles and good cheer began to heat up an already sultry day. Not since the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act in 2019 has India allowed itself what former US President Barack Obama described as the audacity of hope.

Of course, even though the Bharatiya Janata Party has fallen short of a majority, Narendra Modi has taken it close enough to the halfway mark to form the new government. However, in its enfeebled state, propped up by allies who know the precise cost of their support, the new BJP administration will be forced to temper its bluster and contain its malevolence against those it considers its enemies. Among those the BJP has considered its adversaries are independent journalists, several of whom have been jailed and prosecuted simply for doing their jobs.

This result will undoubtedly trigger a tectonic shift in the BJP. There is no telling how the pieces will fall. As long-supressed aspirations in the Hindutva party shoot to the surface, perhaps even more hardline leaders will assume prominence.

But as reports from the ground have pointed out, this mandate is a rejection of the illiberal agenda, both social and economic, that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has advanced over the past decade. By ignoring Modi’s provocations of mangalsutras, machli and mujras, Indian voters – especially the most marginalised – have decisively rallied to the defence of the Constitution.

The battle to reclaim the idea of an equitable India is far from being won. But as Tuesday demonstrated, there are many who dream of reinforcing the foundations of a Republic based on the values of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. For now, India can breathe again.

— The Audacity of Hope, Scroll Editor's Note.

[bfpnola]

definitely a longer piece so these excerpts are far from showcasing everything this piece has to offer! read the whole thing on your own time, and in general, just check out jewish currents, an educational, leftist, anti-zionist jewish magazine!

Every August, the township of Edison, New Jersey—where one in five residents is of Indian origin—holds a parade to celebrate India’s Independence Day. In 2022, a long line of floats rolled through the streets, decked out in images of Hindu deities and colorful advertisements for local businesses. People cheered from the sidelines or joined the cavalcade, dancing to pulsing Bollywood music. In the middle of the procession came another kind of vehicle: A wheel loader, which looks like a small bulldozer, rumbled along the route bearing an image of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi aloft in its bucket. For South Asian Muslims, the meaning of the addition was hard to miss. A few months earlier, during the month of Ramadan, Indian government officials had sent bulldozers into Delhi’s Muslim neighborhoods, where they damaged a mosque and leveled homes and storefronts. The Washington Post called the bulldozer “a polarizing symbol of state power under Narendra Modi,” whose ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is increasingly enacting a program of Hindu supremacy and Muslim subjugation. In the weeks after the parade, one Muslim resident of Edison, who is of Indian origin, told The New York Times that he understood the bulldozer much as Jews would a swastika or Black Americans would a Klansman’s hood. Its inclusion underscored the parade’s other nods to the ideology known as Hindutva, which seeks to transform India into an ethnonationalist Hindu state. The event’s grand marshal was the BJP’s national spokesperson, Sambit Patra, who flew in from India. Other invitees were affiliated with the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS), the international arm of the Hindu nationalist paramilitary force Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), of which Modi is a longtime member.

...

On December 6th, 1992, a mob of 150,000 Hindus, many of whom were affiliated with the paramilitary group the RSS, gathered at the Babri Masjid, a centuries-old mosque that is one of the most contested sacred sites in the world. Over the preceding century, far-right Hindus had claimed that the mosque, located in the North Indian city of Ayodhya, was built not only upon the site where the Hindu deity Ram was born but atop the foundations of a demolished Hindu temple. The RSS and its affiliates had been campaigning to, in the words of a BJP minister, correct the “historical mistake” of the mosque’s existence, a task the mob completed that December afternoon. “They climbed on top of the domes and tombs,” one witness told NPR. “They were carrying hammers and these three-pronged spears from Hindu scripture. They started hacking at the mosque. By night, it was destroyed.” The demolition sparked riots that lasted months and killed an estimated 2,000 people across the country.

The destruction of the Babri Masjid was arguably Hindu nationalism’s greatest triumph to date. Since its establishment in 1925, the RSS—whose founders sought what one of them called a “military regeneration of the Hindus,” inspired by Mussolini’s Black Shirts and Nazi “race pride”—had been a marginal presence in India: Its members held no elected office, and it was temporarily designated a terrorist organization after one of its affiliates shot and killed Mohandas Gandhi in 1948. But the leveling of the Babri Masjid activated a virulently ethnonationalist base and paved the way for three decades of Hindutva ascendance. In 1998, the BJP formed a government for the first time; in 2014, it returned to power, winning a staggering 282 out of 543 seats in parliament and propelling Modi into India’s highest office. Since then, journalist Samanth Subramanian notes, all of the country’s governmental and civil society institutions “have been pressured to fall in line” with a Hindutva agenda—a phenomenon on full display in 2019, when the Supreme Court of India awarded the land where the Babri Masjid once stood to a government run by the very Hindu nationalists who illegally destroyed it. (Modi has since laid a foundation stone for a new Ram temple in Ayodhya, an event that a prominent RSS activist celebrated with a billboard in Times Square.) The Ayodhya verdict came in the same year that Modi stripped constitutional protections from residents of the Muslim-majority region of Kashmir and passed a law that creates a fast track to citizenship for non-Muslim immigrants, laying the groundwork for a religious test for Indian nationality. Under Modi, “the Hinduization of India is almost complete,” as journalist Yasmeen Serhan has written in The Atlantic.

To achieve its goals, the RSS has worked via a dense network of organizations that call themselves the “Sangh Parivar” (“joint family”) of Hindu nationalism. The BJP, which holds more seats in the Indian parliament than every other party combined, is the Sangh’s electoral face. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) is the movement’s cultural wing, responsible for “Hinduizing” Indian society at the grassroots level. The Bajrang Dal is the project’s militant arm, which enforces Hindu supremacy through violence. Dozens of other organizations contribute money and platforms to the Sangh. The sheer number of groups affords the Sangh what human rights activist Pranay Somayajula has referred to as a “tactical politics of plausible deniability,” in which the many degrees of separation between the governing elements and their vigilante partners shields the former from backlash. This explains how, until 2018, the CIA could describe the VHP and Bajrang Dal as “militant religious organizations”—a designation that applies to non-electoral groups exerting political pressure—even as successive US governments have maintained a warm relationship with their parliamentary counterpart, the BJP.

...

The most extreme figures in the Hindu nationalist and Zionist movements were especially frank about the nature of their partnership: “Whether you call them Palestinians, Afghans, or Pakistanis, the root of the problem for Hindus and Jews is Islam,” Bajrang Dal affiliate Rohit Vyasmaan told The New York Times of his friendly relationship with Mike Guzofsky, a member of a violent militant group connected to the infamous Jewish supremacist Meir Kahane’s Kach Party.

...

In 2003, Gary Ackerman—a Jewish former congressman who was awarded India’s third-highest civilian honor for helping to found the Congressional Caucus on India—told a gathering of AJC and AIPAC representatives and their Indian counterparts that “Israel [is] surrounded by 120 million Muslims,” while “India has 120 million [within].” Tom Lantos, another Jewish member of the caucus, likewise enjoined the two communities to collaborate: “We are drawn together by mindless, vicious, fanatic, Islamic terrorism.”

[mariacallous]

Shafiq Bagwan was hanging out with a few friends in his village of Hasnabad, which is in the Maharashtra state in western India, when he opened Instagram on his phone and saw that his younger brother Taufiq had posted an update. When he clicked on it, his heart fell.

Taufiq, who is 18, had posted a picture of a 17th-century Mughal emperor, Aurangzeb, with a description of him as “the father of Hindu nationalists.”

“I immediately called him up and ordered him to delete the story,” Bagwan says. “I got scared for him, and I hoped that nobody had seen it.” It was too late. The next day, June 20, Taufiq was arrested and charged with“deliberate and malicious intention of outraging the religious feelings.”

Taufiq had been caught up in an online crusade, initiated by Hindu nationalists in Maharashtra, who have taken it upon themselves to police social media for anything, no matter how tenuous, they can spin as offensive to Hindus. These groups, which appear to have links to local government and law enforcement, are turning Instagram and WhatsApp into hostile spaces for Muslims, who face harassment and arrest for seemingly innocuous posts. It’s another demonstration of how the Indian internet is coming to mirror the Hindu nationalist slant of politics under the government of Narendra Modi.

“What has happened offline has happened online,” says Osama Manzar, founder of the Digital Empowerment Foundation, an NGO. “The attitude remains the same. Social media is just another tool to subjugate.”

Aurangzeb died more than 300 years ago, but he’s recently become something of a protest symbol for Muslim youth in Maharashtra. During his rule, which lasted from 1658 to 1707, he expanded the Mughal empire across much of the Indian subcontinent. To some Hindus, he’s a tyrannical figure who imposed discriminatory taxes and destroyed temples and who was resisted by Shivaji, another warrior king who is revered in Maharashtra.

With tensions between communities running high, Aurangzeb has become an emblem for both the Hindu majority and its 13 million Muslims, who make up around 12 percent of the population of the state.

“Aurangzeb, a Muslim ruler, is just a political tool to target today’s ordinary Muslims,” says Surendra Jondhale, a professor in the department of politics at the University of Mumbai. “The right-wing groups have used Shivaji versus Aurangzeb—a battle between two kingdoms—to propagate a Hindu versus Muslim binary.”

In February 2023, led by Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, the union government renamed the city of Aurangabad in Maharashtra—named after Aurangzeb—to Sambhaji Nagar. In rallies that followed the renaming—and which were attended by members of the BJP—T Raja Singh, a party member and (currently suspended) lawmaker, said that any Muslim unhappy with the name change would be considered a traitor.

The BJP has been widely accused of stoking religious tensions across India, and of promoting a Hindu identity for India that runs contrary to the country’s founding principles of religious pluralism.

In response to often brazen hate speech and discrimination from public figures, young Muslims have adopted Aurangzeb as a symbol of defiance. “It comes from a place of angst and humiliation, where the Muslims are continuously being provoked,” says Imtiaz Jaleel, a lawmaker from Aurangabad. “Under normal circumstances, I don’t think the Muslims even think about Aurangzeb.”

But posting the former ruler’s picture often elicits serious consequences. Right-wing Hindu groups, which have been publicly supported by members of Modi’s BJP, have been keeping a close eye on Muslims’ social media posts, claiming that even a photograph of Aurangzeb hurts their religious sentiments.

This is what happened to Taufiq, who, Shafiq says, doesn’t understand English and so wasn’t aware of what was written alongside the image he posted. But before he had time to delete the story, someone in his village had taken a screenshot.

Rupesh Rathi, 40, works in Hasnabad for Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a parent organization of BJP. He says that ever since Aurangabad was renamed, these situations have become more prevalent. “A Hindu friend of Taufiq in the village saw his story, took a screenshot, and sent it to me,” says Rathi. “After that, some seven or eight of us had a discussion on what to do about it.”

The consensus was to file a complaint. “Everybody found it objectionable,” Rathi says.

Armed with those screenshots, some 20-25 people turned up at the local police station and filed a complaint against Taufiq. Gradually, more people from the neighboring villages joined in, and the mob grew to over 100 people. The police were “extremely cooperative,” Rathi says. “We were assured that there will be a proper investigation into this. There were four or five more Muslim boys that had uploaded that status. As a result of the complaint, they deleted it.”

When authorities arrested Taufiq, they confiscated his phone so they could investigate who else might have circulated his post.

Shafiq bailed Taufiq out. The charges are still pending. Shafiq says his brother is scarred by what happened. “He is just 18,” Bhagwan says. “His health deteriorated quite a bit after the incident. He is still shaken because of the hostility with which he was targeted. The matter could have been resolved within the village.”

At least 13 similar cases in Maharashtra have been reported in the national media over the past four months.

Shirish Inamdar, a former deputy commissioner of police in Maharashtra’s intelligence department, says he thinks the police aren’t acting fairly, but that the cases reflect the state’s politics. Until June 2022, Maharashtra was ruled by a coalition government of three regional parties, but a year ago the BJP poached 40 of the lawmakers from one of the parties in the ruling coalition and came to power in the state. Ever since, Inamdar says, the persecution of Muslims has increased. “The local police do it to save their own skin,” he says. “The powers that be have told the police to register as many cases and vitiate the atmosphere.”

Inamdar says the cases filed against Muslims over social media posts are unlikely to succeed in a court of law. “Everybody knows that,” he says. “But the cases drag on, and it becomes a blot on the person’s record. They have to appear for court dates, they have to spend money on the lawyer. The process becomes the punishment.”

Madhav Bhandari, vice president of Maharashta BJP, defended the police, saying that “police cases over social media posts have happened under previous governments too” and that he also believes pictures of Aurangzeb “hurt religious sentiments in Maharashtra.” He adds: “Everybody is entitled to be proud of their religion.”

Prateek Waghre, policy director of the Internet Freedom Foundation, an NGO, says that this kind of campaign is a form of lateral surveillance of minorities, where people have to be constantly alert for anything that could be exploited to attack them. “It points to broader societal issues, where there aren’t too many degrees of separation between people reporting Instagram or WhatsApp updates and the ones being reported,” he says. “Many of them are on their contact lists. There is also a possibility of watch lists being maintained. It is scary.”

Since Modi became prime minister in 2014, there has been a notable increase in hate speech across the country, with Hindu nationalist groups calling for the mass rape of Muslim women and the extermination of the community. The RSS and other groups affiliated with the BJP have fueled unfounded conspiracy theories, including the “love jihad,” which alleges that Muslim men are seducing Hindu women en masse and converting them to Islam. There have been multiple incidences of assaults on minorities, and even lynchings.

“There will be people dismissing these as isolated events and saying there are only so many cases in a country of a billion people,” Waghre says. “But the ripple effect is hard to ignore and also hard to measure. It impacts people’s minds and their behavior.”

In Maharashtra, the campaign has widened the divisions between communities.

In June, police filed a case against a 14-year old Muslim boy in the central region of Maharashtra over an Instagram photograph of Aurangzeb. His parents are small farmers, and his uncle is a tailor in the village. “He is just a kid,” says the uncle, who WIRED is not identifying to protect the boy’s privacy. “He even made an apology video and promised to not do it again. He deleted his Instagram account and is scared to join back. But still a case was filed against him. We had to pay a lot of money for a bail bond in court to avoid arrest. This can potentially ruin or jeopardize his career. Is this where we want to head as a society?”

The boy’s Instagram post was reported by a young man living nearby who was working for a radical right-wing group. In the complaint, he said the photograph “hurt his religious sentiments.” The police charged the 14-year-old with “deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs” and “intention to incite offense.”

The uncle says that over four decades of living in the village, where he has developed relationships with people across communities, this is the first time he has felt exposed. “I have participated in Hindu festivals, I have very close Hindu friends,” he says. “But the politics of the state has ruined everything. Is there a ban on sharing pictures of figures from history?”

[southasianstakingaction]

ASATA Statement on the March 3, 2024 "Unity March against Anti-Semitism"

There will be a “Unity March against Anti-Semitism'' in San Francisco tomorrow. However the last 147 days of  genocide in Palestine have made clear that this “unity march” is just a cover for Zionists advocating to continue bombing and starving Palestinians. 

The only non-Jewish speaker at the event is Pawan Deshpande from the Hindu American Foundation (HAF). HAF is a right wing Hindu Nationalist (Hindutva) hate group that started as an outgrowth of the core Hindu Nationalist group, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), associated with the current fascist BJP regime in India. These organizations advocate for Hindu Fascism at every level, both in the US and India. You can read more about the VHP in this recent report by Savera, a new, progressive South Asian coalition in the US. 

The presence of an HAF speaker at this Zionist march is a clear signal of the deep ideological and political alliance between Zionists and Hindu nationalists. Both ideologies are built on the belief of an ethnonationalist state only achieved through normalizing violence against minorities, ethnic cleansing, state repression, and cultural erasure. Zionists and Hindu nationalists have been increasingly working together on building power and strategy. This alliance is apparent in India being the largest purchaser of Israeli weapons, their use of Israeli technology and strategy in the ongoing occupation of Kashmir, and India’s recent sale of “killer” drones to Israel. 

Pawan Deshpande and the HAF don’t represent the diversity of the South Asian or Hindu communities in the Bay Area. ASATA stands with the majority of Americans in calling for a permanent ceasefire. Since October, we have joined our Palestinian and Arab comrades, along with people of conscience across the Bay Area, fighting for an end to US aid to Israel and a Free Palestine. 

We continue to call on South Asians and South Asian organizations in the United States to reject the continued co-option of our identities by organizations such as the HAF and to see clearly that the only “unity” perpetuated by this march is a unity in support of a fascist and genocidal regime that continues to invisibilize the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people.

[warningsine]

"January 22, 2024 is not merely a date in the calendar but heralds the advent of a new era," Modi said, speaking outside the temple to the Hindu deity Ram, built on grounds where a mosque stood for centuries before it was torn down in 1992 by Hindu zealots incited by members of his party.

That demolition triggered the worst religious riots since independence – killing 2,000 people, most of them Muslims – and shook the foundations of India's officially secular political order.

Tens of thousands of chanting and dancing devotees waving flags, honking horns and beating drums have converged on the northern town of Ayodhya, with roads clogged, trains packed full and the rest marching in on foot.

Few members of Ayodhya's Muslim community were seen joining the jubilant street party.

But for Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the opening of the Ram Mandir temple is a landmark moment in a decades-long campaign to align the country's governance with its majority faith.

"The Lord has made me an instrument to represent all the people of India", Modi said when he launched an 11-day ritual fast ahead of the "auspicious" opening.

Tycoons, cricketers and actors

Excitement has reached a fever pitch, with thousands of Hindu believers dancing in packed streets as giant loudspeakers blast out religious tunes.

Vijay Kumar, 18, took four days to reach the town after walking and hitchhiking 600 kilometres (370 miles).

"We just wanted to be here," Kumar said. "We just wish to see the temple before we leave."

About 2,500 musicians are expected to perform on over 100 stages for the crowds of pilgrims, desperate to see the elaborate temple, built at an estimated $240 million that the project's backers say was sourced from public donations.

The 140 kilometres (87 miles) between the town and Uttar Pradesh state capital Lucknow is a seemingly endless stream of billboards of blue-skinned Ram with bow and arrow – as well as of Modi and the region's chief minister, the saffron-robed Hindu monk Yogi Adityanath.

Bukesh Rajiybng, 54, travelled for three days in a jam-packed train to attend the celebration.

"It's a moment we have all dreamed of for decades," he said. "I think the people and Ram will definitely bless Modi for this."

Other attendees jetted in to the newly built international airport and will stay at a crop of hotels built to cater to the millions of pilgrims expected to visit each year. 

Among the celebrity guests at the opening are Indian tycoons, former national cricket captain Virat Kohli and Bollywood titan Amitabh Bachchan.

'Death and destruction'

Modi and the BJP have sought to bring the Hindu faith to the forefront of public life since sweeping to power a decade ago.

Party luminaries regularly condemn earlier eras of Islamic rule over parts of India as a time of "slavery" when their own religion was oppressed, with Ayodhya a key plank in their narrative.

Devout Hindus believe Ram, one of the most revered Hindu gods, was born in the town more than 7,000 years ago, but that the Babri mosque was built over his birthplace by a 16th-century Muslim emperor.

The BJP played an instrumental role in public campaigning that eventually led to the mosque's demolition.

The destruction presaged the rise of the BJP and Modi as unstoppable electoral juggernauts, displacing the secularist Congress party that had governed India almost without interruption since independence from Britain.

Modi's consecration of the temple alongside Hindu priests will again project him as a defender of the faith ahead of a general election expected to begin in April.

The BJP is heavily favoured to win a third successive landslide victory, in part because of Modi's appeals to Hindu nationalism, and opposition parties are boycotting the temple ceremony, saying the event will be a thinly veiled campaign rally.

Many of India's 200 million Muslims, already anxious in a climate of increased sectarian tensions, have watched the clamour around the temple with trepidation.

Mohammed Shahid, 52, speaking to AFP last month in Ayodhya, recounted how his father was burned alive by a mob.

"For me, the temple symbolises nothing but death and destruction", he said.

[odnewsin]

Naveen Patnaik calls BJD workers to raise voice against BJP’s ‘anti-people’ policies, price rise

Bhubaneswar: Ahead of BJD’s 28th foundation day December 26, its chief Naveen Patnaik Wednesday urged members to remain dedicated to serving the people of Odisha, while the party announced a mass demonstration in Bhubaneswar January 6 to highlight the price rise of essential commodities and other issues. Patnaik asked party supporters to raise voice against the “BJP government’s anti-people…

[news365timesindia]

[ad_1] Paromita Das GG News Bureau New Delhi, 5th December-Maharashtra’s politics has long been dominated by towering figures, historic shifts, and strategic maneuvers. Among the state’s key players, Devendra Fadnavis has established himself as a resilient and ambitious leader. After his dramatic return to power in 2022 as Deputy Chief Minister in the Eknath Shinde-led government, Fadnavis is now on the path to making history. His rise and continued influence highlight his determination to surpass his predecessors and potentially become one of Maharashtra’s longest-serving political leaders. While Fadnavis has already proven his mettle by defeating political heavyweights like Sharad Pawar, the question remains whether he will go on to set new records in Maharashtra’s political timeline. December 5 is a significant date that symbolizes key transitions in the state’s political history. This day in 2019 saw Uddhav Thackeray taking oath as Chief Minister of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, which was formed in a surprising coalition of the Shiv Sena, Congress, and NCP. Now, four years later, Maharashtra’s political landscape has transformed yet again, with Fadnavis holding a critical position in the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance. Maharashtra’s Chief Ministerial Timeline: Who Holds the Records? Maharashtra has seen a series of Chief Ministers who have left their marks in different ways. However, the record for the longest tenure as Chief Minister is still held by Vasantrao Naik of the Congress, who served for 11 years and 78 days from 1963 to 1975. His tenure is credited with laying the foundation for modern Maharashtra through policies focused on agricultural development and rural upliftment. Other notable leaders include Vilasrao Deshmukh (7 years, 129 days), whose focus was on urban development, and Sharad Pawar (6 years, 221 days), who remains a dominant figure in Maharashtra’s politics even today. Devendra Fadnavis, who served as Chief Minister for 5 years and 17 days from 2014 to 2019, holds the distinction of being the first BJP leader to complete a full term in the state’s top post. His tenure was marked by initiatives such as the Nagpur-Mumbai Samruddhi Expressway and reforms aimed at improving urban infrastructure. Now serving as Deputy Chief Minister, Fadnavis’s calculated political maneuvers signal his ambition to eventually reclaim the Chief Minister’s chair and aim for a record-breaking tenure. From Uddhav Thackeray’s Oath to the Rise of Fadnavis-Shinde Alliance December 5, 2019, was a landmark date in Maharashtra’s political history as Uddhav Thackeray took the oath of office as Chief Minister of the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition. This marked a dramatic shift, as the Shiv Sena broke its decades-old alliance with the BJP to join hands with ideologically opposed parties, the Congress and NCP. Thackeray’s tenure, which lasted 2 years and 214 days, was riddled with challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, internal dissent, and allegations of governance lapses. The MVA government collapsed in 2022, owing to Eknath Shinde’s rebellion within the Shiv Sena, orchestrated in no small part by the strategic acumen of Devendra Fadnavis. The BJP-Shiv Sena alliance formed thereafter saw Shinde take over as Chief Minister and Fadnavis assume the role of Deputy CM—a surprising but significant move that reinforced Fadnavis’s image as a master strategist willing to play the long game in Maharashtra’s politics. The Political Battle Against Sharad Pawar Sharad Pawar has been a cornerstone of Maharashtra’s political fabric, known for his deep understanding of coalition politics and ability to navigate complex alliances. However, Fadnavis’s strategic moves in recent years have significantly undermined Pawar’s influence. In 2023, the BJP successfully split the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) by bringing Ajit Pawar and several other senior leaders into the ruling coalition. This blow to the NCP’s unity not only weakened the opposition but also symbolized a turning point in Maharashtra’s political dynamics.

By engineering this split, Fadnavis effectively dismantled Pawar’s decades-long dominance and consolidated the BJP’s position in the state. This political victory showcased Fadnavis’s ability to outmaneuver even the most seasoned leaders, further solidifying his reputation as one of Maharashtra’s most influential politicians. Devendra Fadnavis’s Long-Term Vision Devendra Fadnavis’s political journey has been defined by resilience, adaptability, and strategic foresight. Despite setbacks, such as the 2019 loss of the Chief Minister’s position, Fadnavis has consistently demonstrated his ability to regroup and realign himself with shifting political landscapes. His decision to accept the role of Deputy CM in 2022, while unconventional for a leader of his stature, underscores his pragmatic approach to power. By focusing on governance and maintaining his influence within the BJP-Shiv Sena coalition, Fadnavis has positioned himself as the de facto leader of Maharashtra’s ruling dispensation. However, to truly break records and cement his legacy, Fadnavis must address key challenges such as rural distress, urban infrastructure deficits, and the state’s economic recovery. His tenure as CM was marked by ambitious infrastructure projects, and a return to the top post could provide an opportunity to build on these initiatives and deliver long-term benefits for Maharashtra. Conclusion: Will Fadnavis Break the Record? Devendra Fadnavis stands at a pivotal moment in his political career. Having already demonstrated his ability to defeat stalwarts like Sharad Pawar and navigate complex alliances, he is well-positioned to make history in Maharashtra politics. Whether he will break the record for the longest-serving Chief Minister remains to be seen, but his trajectory suggests that he will remain a dominant force in the state for years to come. As Maharashtra continues to grapple with the challenges of governance and development, Fadnavis’s leadership will likely play a critical role in shaping the state’s future. His ability to balance political ambition with effective governance will ultimately determine whether he can achieve the lasting legacy he aspires to create.     The post Devendra Fadnavis on the Brink of History: The Leader Who Redefined Maharashtra Politics appeared first on Global Governance News- Asia's First Bilingual News portal for Global News and Updates. [ad_2] Source link

[news365times]

[ad_1] Paromita Das GG News Bureau New Delhi, 5th December-Maharashtra’s politics has long been dominated by towering figures, historic shifts, and strategic maneuvers. Among the state’s key players, Devendra Fadnavis has established himself as a resilient and ambitious leader. After his dramatic return to power in 2022 as Deputy Chief Minister in the Eknath Shinde-led government, Fadnavis is now on the path to making history. His rise and continued influence highlight his determination to surpass his predecessors and potentially become one of Maharashtra’s longest-serving political leaders. While Fadnavis has already proven his mettle by defeating political heavyweights like Sharad Pawar, the question remains whether he will go on to set new records in Maharashtra’s political timeline. December 5 is a significant date that symbolizes key transitions in the state’s political history. This day in 2019 saw Uddhav Thackeray taking oath as Chief Minister of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, which was formed in a surprising coalition of the Shiv Sena, Congress, and NCP. Now, four years later, Maharashtra’s political landscape has transformed yet again, with Fadnavis holding a critical position in the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance. Maharashtra’s Chief Ministerial Timeline: Who Holds the Records? Maharashtra has seen a series of Chief Ministers who have left their marks in different ways. However, the record for the longest tenure as Chief Minister is still held by Vasantrao Naik of the Congress, who served for 11 years and 78 days from 1963 to 1975. His tenure is credited with laying the foundation for modern Maharashtra through policies focused on agricultural development and rural upliftment. Other notable leaders include Vilasrao Deshmukh (7 years, 129 days), whose focus was on urban development, and Sharad Pawar (6 years, 221 days), who remains a dominant figure in Maharashtra’s politics even today. Devendra Fadnavis, who served as Chief Minister for 5 years and 17 days from 2014 to 2019, holds the distinction of being the first BJP leader to complete a full term in the state’s top post. His tenure was marked by initiatives such as the Nagpur-Mumbai Samruddhi Expressway and reforms aimed at improving urban infrastructure. Now serving as Deputy Chief Minister, Fadnavis’s calculated political maneuvers signal his ambition to eventually reclaim the Chief Minister’s chair and aim for a record-breaking tenure. From Uddhav Thackeray’s Oath to the Rise of Fadnavis-Shinde Alliance December 5, 2019, was a landmark date in Maharashtra’s political history as Uddhav Thackeray took the oath of office as Chief Minister of the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition. This marked a dramatic shift, as the Shiv Sena broke its decades-old alliance with the BJP to join hands with ideologically opposed parties, the Congress and NCP. Thackeray’s tenure, which lasted 2 years and 214 days, was riddled with challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, internal dissent, and allegations of governance lapses. The MVA government collapsed in 2022, owing to Eknath Shinde’s rebellion within the Shiv Sena, orchestrated in no small part by the strategic acumen of Devendra Fadnavis. The BJP-Shiv Sena alliance formed thereafter saw Shinde take over as Chief Minister and Fadnavis assume the role of Deputy CM—a surprising but significant move that reinforced Fadnavis’s image as a master strategist willing to play the long game in Maharashtra’s politics. The Political Battle Against Sharad Pawar Sharad Pawar has been a cornerstone of Maharashtra’s political fabric, known for his deep understanding of coalition politics and ability to navigate complex alliances. However, Fadnavis’s strategic moves in recent years have significantly undermined Pawar’s influence. In 2023, the BJP successfully split the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) by bringing Ajit Pawar and several other senior leaders into the ruling coalition. This blow to the NCP’s unity not only weakened the opposition but also symbolized a turning point in Maharashtra’s political dynamics.

By engineering this split, Fadnavis effectively dismantled Pawar’s decades-long dominance and consolidated the BJP’s position in the state. This political victory showcased Fadnavis’s ability to outmaneuver even the most seasoned leaders, further solidifying his reputation as one of Maharashtra’s most influential politicians. Devendra Fadnavis’s Long-Term Vision Devendra Fadnavis’s political journey has been defined by resilience, adaptability, and strategic foresight. Despite setbacks, such as the 2019 loss of the Chief Minister’s position, Fadnavis has consistently demonstrated his ability to regroup and realign himself with shifting political landscapes. His decision to accept the role of Deputy CM in 2022, while unconventional for a leader of his stature, underscores his pragmatic approach to power. By focusing on governance and maintaining his influence within the BJP-Shiv Sena coalition, Fadnavis has positioned himself as the de facto leader of Maharashtra’s ruling dispensation. However, to truly break records and cement his legacy, Fadnavis must address key challenges such as rural distress, urban infrastructure deficits, and the state’s economic recovery. His tenure as CM was marked by ambitious infrastructure projects, and a return to the top post could provide an opportunity to build on these initiatives and deliver long-term benefits for Maharashtra. Conclusion: Will Fadnavis Break the Record? Devendra Fadnavis stands at a pivotal moment in his political career. Having already demonstrated his ability to defeat stalwarts like Sharad Pawar and navigate complex alliances, he is well-positioned to make history in Maharashtra politics. Whether he will break the record for the longest-serving Chief Minister remains to be seen, but his trajectory suggests that he will remain a dominant force in the state for years to come. As Maharashtra continues to grapple with the challenges of governance and development, Fadnavis’s leadership will likely play a critical role in shaping the state’s future. His ability to balance political ambition with effective governance will ultimately determine whether he can achieve the lasting legacy he aspires to create.     The post Devendra Fadnavis on the Brink of History: The Leader Who Redefined Maharashtra Politics appeared first on Global Governance News- Asia's First Bilingual News portal for Global News and Updates. [ad_2] Source link

[currentmediasstuff]

Tamil Nadu BJP Chief Annamalai Plans UK Fellowship Sabbatical

In a surprising move, Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai is set to take a three-month sabbatical to the UK for a fellowship programme, following the party’s recent electoral setback in the Lok Sabha elections. Despite not winning any seats, Annamalai’s decision to pursue the Chevening Gurukul Fellowship for Leadership and Excellence at the University of Oxford was reportedly made well before the election results were announced.

Fellowship Details and Annamalai’s Intentions

The prestigious Chevening Gurukul Fellowship is designed for young leaders and mid-career professionals with notable leadership potential. Running from mid-September to December, the fellowship offers an opportunity for participants to hone their leadership skills and gain international exposure. According to BJP sources, Annamalai had planned this sabbatical in advance and has approached the party high command for permission to accept the fellowship.

Annamalai’s Leadership and Electoral Campaign

Annamalai, an IPS officer-turned-politician, led a vigorous Lok Sabha campaign in Tamil Nadu with the backing of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior BJP leaders. Although the party didn’t secure any seats, Annamalai’s efforts have been credited with laying a strong foundation for the BJP in the state. In 12 out of Tamil Nadu’s 39 Lok Sabha seats, the BJP-led NDA finished second, outperforming the AIADMK.

Reaction from Party Leaders

Party insiders stress that Annamalai’s sabbatical should not be seen as a consequence of the election results. Instead, it is viewed as a personal decision to recharge after an intense campaign and statewide foot-march, ‘Enn Mann, Enn Makkal’. “Annamalai wants to be different from the typical politician who spends all day in politics. He believes this break will be beneficial in the long run,” said an aide.

Internal Party Dynamics

Despite the sabbatical, Annamalai remains a crucial figure within the Tamil Nadu BJP. Some party leaders acknowledge his dissatisfaction with the lack of cooperation from senior members and the support for contesting the 2026 Assembly polls in alliance, which contrasts with Annamalai’s preference for the BJP to contest alone. His outspoken criticism of AIADMK leader and former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa also contributed to the AIADMK breaking ties with the BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

Looking Ahead

Annamalai’s application for the Chevening Gurukul Fellowship, which included an interview in Delhi in May, underscores his commitment to personal and professional growth. As he prepares for his fellowship at the University of Oxford, the Tamil Nadu BJP chief aims to return recharged and ready to lead his party with renewed vigor.

[marwahstudios]

8th Global Fashion and Design Week Noida 2024 Sets New Standards in Creative Excellence

Noida, India — The 8th Global Fashion and Design Week, held in Noida, has set unprecedented records, becoming the largest fashion event hosted by an educational institution both in India and internationally. This three-day event dazzled attendees with its innovative displays in fashion and furniture design, under the leadership of Festival President Sandeep Marwah, who is also the president of Marwah Studios.

Organized by the International Chamber of Media and Entertainment Industry in collaboration with AAFT School of Fashion and Design, AAFT School of Interior Design, and AAFT School of Hospitality and Tourism, the festival showcased the depth of global creative talent. An impressive roster of participants from 72 countries contributed to a culturally rich and diverse experience.

The event featured 200 designers who participated in 90 rounds of runway shows, displaying over 550 garments. Additionally, there were four exhibitions including collections of coffee table books, Indian Suits & Sarees, a Photography Exhibition, and 100 creative furniture pieces. The culinary arts were also highlighted with 9 food shows representing the cuisine of 20 countries, all prepared by 700 professionals over nearly three months of planning.

The festival attracted a footfall of 23,000 people, including 250 notable figures from the fashion and design world, as well as 20 Ambassadors and High Commissioners, adding a significant international flavor to the event. A marching band from AAFT added a royal touch to the festivities, which were covered by 500 media houses worldwide.

Each day of the event was documented by the AAFT School of Journalism, with support from 100 volunteers from AAFT School of PR Events and Advertising, 100 digital media representatives from AAFT School of Digital Marketing, and 100 camera persons from AAFT School of Still Photography.

The overwhelming appreciation and congratulations from 72 nations underscored the festival’s success in integrating and showcasing the unique cultural garments of various countries, alongside their national flags, in a spectacular ramp show format.

The opening session of the event was graced by distinguished guests including H.E. Dambajavyn Ganbold, Ambassador of Mongolia, Cdr. K.L. Ganju, Honorary Consul General of Comoros in India, celebrated designer Rina Dhaka, and Ruby Yadav, Cultural Head of the BJP Wing. The session was supported by the World Peace Development and Research Foundation, which endeavors to promote the messages of love, peace, and unity through art and culture as championed by Marwah Studios.

[newz-archive]

Modi’s Southern Sojourn: A Strategic Push with Artificial Intelligence

In a whirlwind series of visits spanning the past 10 days, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has orchestrated an unprecedented outreach to the five southern states of India. From bustling roadshows to solemn inaugurations, Modi’s presence has been felt both physically and virtually, unveiling development projects worth over Rs 6,000 crore. The timing couldn’t be more critical as the BJP and the NDA gear up for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections with ambitious targets in mind.

Over the course of his journey, Modi has crisscrossed Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana multiple times. Each stop strategically chosen, each event meticulously planned. Just recently, he graced Palakkad in Kerala and addressed a rally in Salem, Tamil Nadu. His schedule doesn’t relent, as he moves from public meetings in Telangana to Karnataka, culminating in a stirring roadshow in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.

The BJP’s stronghold in the South has historically been confined to Karnataka, but Modi’s relentless efforts signal a shift in dynamics. The party’s aspirations soar high, aiming to secure a substantial foothold in the region. Prakash Javadekar, Kerala in-charge for the BJP, exudes confidence, predicting the party’s emergence as the single largest force in South India.

But Modi’s strategy extends beyond mere physical presence. Leveraging technology like machine learning, the BJP is bridging linguistic gaps by translating the PM’s speeches into local languages. This strategic move ensures that Modi’s message resonates deeply with diverse audiences across the region.

Even before the Model Code of Conduct took effect, Modi was on a spree, virtually inaugurating projects and laying foundations, seamlessly connecting with the South from various corners of India. Whether it’s launching Vande Bharat trains or unveiling highway projects, Modi’s vision for Southern development knows no bounds.

Noteworthy is Modi’s “gifting spree” in February, where he inaugurated a plethora of projects ranging from educational institutions to infrastructure upgrades. The gesture was not just symbolic; it was a testament to the government’s commitment to Southern progress.

Moreover, the announcement of Bharat Ratna for the late M S Swaminathan, a revered agricultural scientist from Tamil Nadu, underscores the government’s recognition of Southern contributions to the nation’s growth.

In Modi’s Southern sojourn, every move is calculated, every step forward meticulously planned. As the landscape of Indian politics undergoes a transformation, Modi’s strategic push backed by artificial intelligence underscores a commitment to inclusivity and progress for all corners of the nation.

[indiejones]

INDIA'S 'GOVT IN EXILE' FOUNDATION DAY! … ALSO, INDIA'S 'JAN SANGH' FOUNDATION DAY! - OCT 21 !

People, jfyi. Today is Foundation Day of Independent India's 1st Interim Govt In Exile,in Singapore. By Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose,in 1943.

Also of Jan Sangh, founded by Shyam Prasad Mukherjee, purposely on same day- Oct 21,in 1951!

The ancestry of what we call today's 'Modi BJP'.

[timesnew7]

INDIA Wants To Finish Sanatana, Push Country Back Into Slavery: PM

PM Modi made the remarks at an event in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh.

NEW DELHI

New Delhi: In a scathing attack on the opposition INDIA alliance, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that it wants to finish Sanatana Dharma and push the country back into slavery for 1,000 years. The statement, which was made by the Prime Minister at a rally in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh on Thursday, is his first public reaction to the controversy over DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin's remarks on Sanatana Dharma. "They held a meeting in Mumbai recently, and I think they decided the policy and strategy of how to run the 'ghamandiya' alliance there. They have also decided on a hidden agenda. The strategy is to attack the culture of India. They have decided to attack the faith of Indians and finish the thoughts, values and traditions that have united the country for thousands of years," the PM said in Hindi. Drawing a link between India's heroes and the Sanatana culture, he said, "The 'ghamandiya' alliance has resolved to finish the Sanatana culture and traditions that inspired Devi Ahilyabai Holkar. It was the strength of Sanatana that the Rani of Jhansi, Lakshmibai, could challenge the British and say that she would not give up her Jhansi." PM Modi said Mahatma Gandhi considered Sanatana Dharma to be essential to his life. "He was inspired by Lord Ram all his life. His last words were 'hey Ram'," he added. The Prime Minister asserted that Swami Vivekanand and Lokmanya Tilak were also inspired by Sanatana and it was this culture that moved freedom fighters who were hanged by the British to say that they wanted to be born "in the lap of Bharat Ma" again.  "In the days to come, they will step up their attacks on us. Every Sanatani, every person who loves this country, those who love the people of this country; all of us have to stay vigilant. They want to finish Sanatana and push the country back into 1,000 years of slavery. But we have to stop such forces together. Through the strength of our organisation, we have to ensure that their strategy does not succeed," he said.  The PM's remarks came days after Udhayanidhi Stalin, who is a Tamil Nadu minister and a leader of INDIA bloc member DMK, spoke about "eradicating" Sanatana Dharma. While talking about caste differences, he had equated Sanatana Dharma with diseases like dengue and malaria. The BJP has used the remarks to attack both the Opposition alliance and the individual parties that are a part of it. While Udhayanidhi Stalin has stood by his statement and has found support from his father and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, allies like the Congress, AAP and Trinamool Congress have distanced themselves from it.  PM Modi laid the foundation stone for projects worth more than Rs 50,000 crore in Madhya Pradesh, including a petrochemical complex at the Bina Refinery of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited. He will also visit poll-bound Chhattisgarh today. INDIA Wants To Finish Sanatana, Push Country Back Into Slavery: PM Read the full article

[every-day-updates]

Bihar Bridge Collapse: Construction Company Gets Notice; Engineer Suspended

The company has been asked to explain why it should not be blacklisted by the government and further action taken against it, a top official said.

Patna: Taking a grim view of the bridge collapse incident two days ago, the Bihar government has slapped a show cause notice on the construction company concerned, a top official said on Tuesday.

Pratyay Amrit, the Additional Chief Secretary for the road construction department, also said that the executive engineer concerned has been suspended.

“The Haryana-based company, which was awarded the contract, has been served with a show cause notice by the Managing Director of Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam and asked to reply within 15 days”, Amrit told PTI.

The company has been asked to explain why it should not be blacklisted by the government and further action taken against it, he said.

“The department has also suspended the executive engineer concerned for his failure to keep an eye on the quality of the work”, added the Additional Chief Secretary.

Constructed over the river Ganges, the bridge was supposed to link Bhagalpur and Khagaria districts.

The under-construction bridge, a portion of which caved in on Sunday, involved a cost of over ₹ 1,700 crore and was supposed to be completed by 2019. The foundation stone of the structure was laid in February 2014, by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav had earlier indicated that portions of the bridge had been demolished earlier in a planned fashion and the final collapse indicated that fears about the structural stability of the bridge were correct.

The incident took place a year after another portion had collapsed during a thunderstorm.

The chief minister had, on Monday, voiced strong displeasure over the poor quality of the work and the inordinate delay in completion.

The BJP, which had been in power in the state till about a year ago, has been pinning the blame on “corruption” and demanding the chief minister’s resignation.

[daily-media]

PM Modi flags off Kerala's first Vande Bharat train from Thiruvananthapuram

Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off Kerala's first Vande Bharat train from Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a two-day Kerala visit, flagged off the state’s first Vande Bharat train between Thiruvananthapuram and Kasargod from Thiruvananthapuram Central Station on Tuesday.

According to Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the train will cover 11 districts, Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Pathanamthitta, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasargod.

The Prime Minister was accorded a warm welcome as he reached Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday morning. He then left for the central railway station.

Prior to flagging off the Vande Bharat Express from platform 1 of the railway station, he interacted with a group of school children inside one of the coaches of the train.

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor were also present with the PM as he interacted with the students inside the train.

The children showed Modi paintings and sketches of him and the Vande Bharat train made by them.

Hundreds of people also gathered on the opposite side platform to see the PM flag off the train.

The Vande Bharat Express, which will connect the state capital with the northern-most Kasaragod district of Kerala, has been projected by many as an alternative to the LDF government’s ambitious semi-high speed rail corridor, SilverLine.

The PM flew down from Kochi in the morning and was given a grand reception by BJP leaders and workers on his arrival at the Thiruvananthapuram airport here.

The entire state capital was under a tight security net, with deployment of hundreds of police personnel and stringent traffic restrictions, as the PM travelled from the airport to the railway station.

His entire nearly six km journey from the airport to the railway station was akin to a road show with the PM standing on the footboard of his vehicle and waving to the people on the roadside as they showered him with flowers.

After the flagging off of the train, he is scheduled to launch several other developmental projects, including the Kochi Water Metro service, from the Kerala Central Stadium here.

He will lay the foundation stones of various projects, like the electrified Dindigul-Palani-Palakkad section and the country’s first Digital Science Park, and dedicate them to the nation at a ceremony to be held at the Central Stadium.

[newsreadersin]

PM Modi address party workers on 44th foundation day of BJP through video conferencing

PM Modi address party workers on 44th foundation day of BJP through video conferencing File Pic Addressing party workers on the 44th foundation day of BJP today through video conferencing, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today asserted that social justice is not just a political slogan but an article of faith for the Bharatiya Janata Party. He said many political parties have only ensured the…