Media Reports – October 1, 2024
Indian Prime Minister Modi calls Hezbollah, Hamas operations as terrorism
As Israel stepped up its attacks on Hezbollah, Houthis and Hamas, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi phoned his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu Monday (Sept 30) and spoke about recent developments in West Asia, according to Indian media reports.
The phone call came three days after Israel assassinated the Hezbollah Chief Hasan Nasrallah in a bombing raid in which Israeli air force jets used ground penetrating munition.
Calling the Hezbollah and Hamas operations against Israel as terrorism, Modi told Netanyahu: “Terrorism has no place in our world”.
Modi also said: “It is crucial to prevent regional escalation and ensure the safe release of all hostages. India is committed to supporting efforts for an early restoration of peace and stability.”
In the past year, Modi and Netanyhu have spoken at least four times after Israel launched a military offensive against Hamas in Gaza following the October 7 Hamas operation.
India is firing the engine of war in Gaza while preaching peace
Reports suggest that the weapons pipeline from India to Israel has surreptitiously kept flowing to meet war-shortages, in effect aiding genocide in Gaza.
By Bharat Bhushan
Both in the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas wars, India has projected itself as a potential peacemaker. Now, it turns out that India has been stoking the war in Gaza by supplying munitions, drones, and explosives to Israel.
Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told a TV interviewer, “We are the only ones who have a clear stand, we are not on the side of anyone. We are on the side of peace. … And because of this, the world has developed trust in us that there are the only people who do not talk about giving arms (weapons) to anyone and do not talk about fighting anyone”. Evidence on the ground, however, shows that India is far from playing the neutral peacemaker.
Neither Modi nor any of his voluble ministers have chosen to come clean on credible reports of supplying munitions and weapons to Israel. But the world is clearly taking note of India’s subterfuge. On May 15, a cargo ship named Borkum avoided docking in Spain because of protestors on the shore.
Nine European MPs had already written to the Spanish President to disallow the ship carrying weapons and ammunition to Israel, saying, “Allowing a ship loaded with weapons destined for Israel is to allow the transit of arms to a country currently under investigation for genocide against the Palestinian people.”
The weapons cargo apparently originated in Chennai, India. An investigation by Al Jazeera showed, “The ship contained explosives loaded in India and was en route to Israel’s port of Ashdod, some 30km (18 miles) from the Gaza Strip. Marine tracking sites show it departed Chennai in southeast India on April 2 and circumnavigated Africa to avoid transiting through the Red Sea, where Yemen’s Houthis have been attacking vessels in reprisal for Israel’s war.”
A week later, a second ship with arms and ammunition originating in India, the Denmark-flagged cargo ship Marianne Danica, sought permission to dock at Spain’s south-eastern port of Cartagena on May 21. The ship was apparently carrying 27 tonnes of explosives from Chennai to Israel’s Haifa port.
The Spanish authorities acted on learning that the ship carried weapons destined for Israel. Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares, told the media, “The foreign ministry will systematically reject such stopovers for one obvious reason: the Middle East does not need more weapons, it needs more peace.”
Munitions India Ltd, a public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Defence, was allowed to ship ordinance to Israel in January. The company claims to be engaged in the “production, testing, R&D and marketing of a comprehensive range of ammunition and explosives for the army, navy, air force and paramilitary forces''. It produces “small, medium and high calibre ammunition, mortars, rockets, hand grenades etc. with in-housing manufacturing of initiatory compositions, propellants and high explosives".
In April, it sought permission for a repeat export of the same items to Israel. In February, India was reported to have supplied 20 Hermes 900 medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) manufactured at Adani Elbit Advanced Systems India Limited, Hyderabad, to Israel. The drones, capable of both surveillance and aerial bombardment, are reportedly already in active deployment in Gaza. Ironically, the Adani-Elbit joint venture was set up with Elbit Systems of Israel, the first of its kind to manufacture the Hermes 900 drone outside Israel. Apparently, the Adani facility converted 20 of them specifically for the Israeli Defence Forces…... [Deccan Herald – June 28, 2024]
Indians Join Israel’s War On Gaza!
By NC Bipindra
Over 200 Indian-origin Jews from the Bnei Menashe community, who migrated to Israel in the recent past, have joined the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) for active or reserve duty in the war on the Palestinian group Hamas since the October 7 massacre, media reports said.
According to a report by the Jerusalem Post, which quoted the Shavei Israel nonprofit this week, they were either called up for active or reserve military duties or volunteered.
Of these soldiers, 75 were recent immigrants from India who volunteered for military duty post the Hamas attacks, while the remaining 140 were called for military service from their settlements across Israel.
Shavei Israel is a Jerusalem-based nonprofit founded by Michael Freund to strengthen Israel’s ties with the Jewish diaspora communities worldwide.
The nonprofit has been lobbying over the last two decades for mass immigration of the Bnei Menashe community, which claims its descent from one of the Lost Tribes of Israel.
In May, the Jerusalem Post quoted Freund: “There are a total of about 5,000 Menashe people left in India who have been requesting to immigrate to Israel for many years.”
According to Shavei Israel, 99 percent of all men of military age who immigrated from India joined Israel’s fight against the Hamas terrorist group, while 90% of women enrolled in National Service. [Eurasiantimes – November 13, 2023]
https://www.eurasiantimes.com/indian-boost-scores-of-emigrated-volunteers-join-idf-to-fight-terror-group-hamas/
The Kashmiriat – September 27, 2024
Hindutva group files petition claiming Ajmer Dargah built over Mahadev temple
A petition has been filed by a Hindu group in a Rajasthan court speaking massive controversy, claiming that the renowned Ajmer Sharif Dargah was constructed over a temple dedicated to Mahadev.
The petition demands that “Bhagwan Sankatmochan Mahadev Virajman” be declared the rightful owner of the land where the Dargah is situated.
Additionally, it seeks the removal of the Dargah and the reconstruction of the Bhagwan Shri Sankatmochan Mahadev Temple at the site.
In response to the petition, Syed Naseeruddin Chishti, chairman of the All India Sufi Sajjadanshin Council and successor to the spiritual head of Ajmer Dargah, condemned the claims, calling them an act of religious provocation.
He expressed strong disapproval, stating, “We strongly condemn this act and will respond to it. These people are pointing fingers at holy religious places for cheap popularity, which is unfortunate!”
Chishti emphasized the historical reverence shown towards the Dargah by rulers from the Mughal, Rajput, and Maratha eras.
Chishti also highlighted the significance of the Dargah as a symbol of peace and cultural harmony, respected by followers of all religions, including notable figures from Sanatan Dharma.
He criticized the Hindu Sena, the group responsible for filing the suit, and called for government intervention to prevent such incidents, urging for guidelines to address religious fanaticism.
Referring to an earlier statement by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Chishti agreed with Bhagwat’s sentiment about not seeking temples in every mosque.
Pertinently, Ajmer Sharif Dargah, located in Rajasthan, is the Dargah of the revered Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.
Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti is widely regarded as one of the key figures in spreading Islam in India, particularly through his Sufi teachings.
He arrived in India in the late 12th century and settled in Ajmer, Rajasthan, where his influence grew.
Ajmer Sharif Dargah Or Hindu Temple? Controversy Mounts Over Religious Site
The Hindu factions are claiming that the Ajmer Sharif Dargah was originally an ancient Shiva temple. With this new assertion, yet another name has been added to the list of controversial claims regarding mosques and dargahs. However, proving this claim and obtaining official recognition as a Hindu temple is expected to be a lengthy legal battle.
These assertions have been made by the Hindu Sena, which has filed a petition in a Rajasthan court seeking to declare the Moinuddin Chishti Dargah as a temple. The petition argues that, similar to the Gyanvapi complex, Hindu organisations are now making claims on the Ajmer Sharif Dargah.
The Ajmer Sharif Dargah, the shrine of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, is historically noted to have been built by Mughal Emperor Humayun. However, now, nearly eight hundred years later, Hindu organizations have staked their claim on the Ajmer Sharif Dargah.
The Hindu Sena claims that there was a Shiva temple that was destroyed by Muslim invaders, after which the dargah was established. This assertion has sparked a strong reaction from the management of the Ajmer Sharif Dargah.
https://zeenews.india.com/india/ajmer-sharif-dargah-or-hindu-temple-controversy-mounts-over-religious-site-2799037.html
Times of India – September 26, 2024
Hindu Sena in court to declare Ajmer dargah a temple, sparks outrage
JAIPUR/AJMER: A lawsuit filed by Hindu Sena in an Ajmer civil court, demanding that the historic Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Dargah be declared 'Bhagwan Shri Sankatmochan Mahadev Virajman Temple' as it was built on the site of a Shiva temple, has sparked outrage among Muslims across the country, with various organizations and individuals terming it a deliberate attempt to target the community and create communal divisions.
The suit, filed by Hindu Sena chief Vishnu Gupta on Tuesday, was slated to come up for hearing for Wednesday, but was deferred to Oct 10 over jurisdictional issues.
The petitioner's advocate, Shashi Ranjan Kumar Singh, claimed the suit was "based on facts derived from authentic sources".
The petitioner has demanded that the Sufi shrine be removed from the premises, Archaeological Survey of India be directed to conduct a survey at the site on the lines of the Gyanvapi survey in Varanasi, and a Shiva temple be reconstructed at the place.
The petition claims Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti came to Ajmer with Mohammad Ghori, (12-13th century Afghan ruler) who, after killing Prithviraj Chauhan, destroyed a large number of temples, including the Sankat Mochan Mahadev temple.
Citing books and purported "evidence", the Hindu Sena claimed the roof design of the main entrance gate of the Ajmer shrine resembled a Hindu structure, and historical records suggested existence of a Shiva temple at the site.
Reacting sharply to the development, Syed Sarwar Chishti, secretary of Anjuman Syed Zadgan, the body of 'Khadims' (priests) at the shrine, Wednesday said, "This is a frivolous claim and an attack on the holy shrine of Khwaja Gharib Nawaz. It has deeply hurt the sentiments of millions of devotees, both Hindu and Muslim. Our commitment to peaceful coexistence should not be mistaken for cowardice."
AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi told TOI, "Is it not the same shrine where PM Narendra Modi has been sending Chadar during Urs every year? This petition is a blatant violation of the Places of Worship Act (Special Provisions), 1991. The people and organisations behind such frivolous petitions are backed by BJP. It is an attack on the dignity of followers of Sufism, who come from various religions. This is an assault on the country's pluralism and the Constitution." The All India Muslim Personal Law Board's spokesperson Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas said "the petition challenging the status of Ajmer dargah is part of a larger conspiracy to target our dargahs and mosques"
