West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday criticised RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat for equating the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya with India’s “true independence,” calling it an attempt to distort history.

Bhagwat suggested that the date of the temple’s consecration should be regarded as “Pratishtha Dwadashi,” claiming it marked the moment when Bharat’s genuine independence was attained after enduring centuries of “parachakra” (enemy attacks).

“This is anti-national. I strongly condemn this. Such dangerous remarks should be retracted. This is an effort to rewrite history. We are committed to preserving our independence and are prepared to make sacrifices for India, but we will not tolerate this,” Banerjee stated at the state secretariat, Nabanna.

Meanwhile, at the inauguration of the Congress’ new office in Delhi on Wednesday, Rahul Gandhi remarked that Bhagwat’s statement would have led to the RSS chief’s arrest in any other country. “To suggest that India did not gain independence in 1947 is an insult to every Indian. It’s time we stop listening to this nonsense,” he fervently declared, launching an attack on the BJP.

Gandhi also accused the RSS and BJP of having “captured every single institution of our country,” stating that the Congress is now fighting “the Indian State itself.” In response, the BJP countered Gandhi’s remarks by accusing him and his party of having ties to “urban Naxals and the Deep State,” which they allege seeks to damage India’s reputation.

“The Congress has a history of fostering forces that undermine a strong India. Their desire for power has led them to compromise the nation’s integrity and betray the people’s trust. However, the citizens of India have made it clear that they will always reject this decayed ideology,” asserted BJP chief JP Nadda.

This controversy was sparked by Bhagwat’s comments made on Monday during an RSS event in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, where he asserted that the consecration date should be celebrated as a pivotal moment in India’s history.

A group of 101 farmers will restart their march to Delhi on January 21, departing from the Shambhu border, in a bid to urge the government to meet their demands, which include a legal guarantee for the minimum support price (MSP) for crops, according to farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher on Thursday.

This “jatha” (group) of farmers had previously attempted to march on foot towards Delhi on December 6, December 8, and December 14 of last year, but were blocked by security personnel in Haryana.

The renewed efforts by the protesting farmers follow a recent fast-unto-death initiated by a group of 111 farmers on the Haryana side of the border near Khanauri, in support of fasting farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, whose hunger strike reached its 52nd day on Thursday.

During a press conference at the Shambhu border on Thursday, Pandher, the leader of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, criticized the central government for failing to heed the demands of farmers who have been stationed at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders for the past 11 months. “Both the forums [SKM-Non Political and KMM] have decided that the ‘jatha’ of 101 farmers will resume their march to Delhi on January 21 from the Shambhu border,” he stated.

“We have observed and believe that the government is unwilling to engage in talks. Both forums have decided to intensify the agitation,” Pandher added.

On January 15, the group of 111 farmers began their fast-unto-death in solidarity with Dallewal, vowing not to relent until their demands are fulfilled. Meanwhile, the new ‘jatha’ is positioned on the Haryana side of the border while Dallewal continues his hunger strike on the Punjab side at the Khanauri border.

In response to the protests, the Haryana Police has increased security measures on its side of the border and has implemented Section 163 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, which prohibits gatherings of five or more people.

The farmers have expressed alarm over Dallewal’s “deteriorating” health, warning that he is at risk of “multiple organ failure” due to his prolonged fasting. Dallewal, convener of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political), has been on an indefinite hunger strike at the Khanauri border since November 26 of last year.

Farmers, under the banners of SKM (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, have been camped at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points since February 13 last year, after security forces prevented them from marching to Delhi to advocate for various demands, including a legal guarantee for MSP for their crops.

Nate Anderson, the founder of Hindenburg Research, has decided to shut down his short-selling venture, which has famously exposed alleged frauds amounting to billions and sent shockwaves through major corporations. From igniting a $150 billion crisis for the Adani Group to taking down giants like Nikola and Eros International, Hindenburg has become synonymous with financial scrutiny and controversy depending on one’s perspective.

In a comprehensive blog post titled “Personal Note From Our Founder,” Anderson revealed his decision, stating that the firm has fulfilled its mission and that it is time to move forward. “As I’ve shared with family, friends, and our team since late last year, I have made the decision to disband Hindenburg Research,” he wrote.

Anderson emphasised that his choice was not prompted by any single factor. There are no external threats, health concerns, or urgent issues necessitating this decision. Instead, he described it as a natural conclusion to a significant chapter in his life.

This announcement follows Hindenburg’s completion of its final investigations into alleged financial fraud, which have been submitted to regulators. “As of the last Ponzi cases we just completed and are sharing with regulators, that day is today,” Anderson noted.

Reflecting on his career, he acknowledged that his intense dedication to the firm had come at the expense of other life areas. Initially motivated by a desire to prove himself, he ultimately began to view Hindenburg Research as just one of many chapters in his life.

In the upcoming six months, Anderson plans to create and share content, including materials and videos, to transparently illustrate the firm’s investigative techniques. He hopes this will inspire others to pursue similar efforts.

Hindenburg Research operated with a small but committed team of 11 members. Anderson praised their dedication to precise, evidence-based reporting and their courage in uncovering financial fraud. His team’s efforts have significantly influenced the landscape of financial accountability, with nearly 100 individuals facing civil or criminal charges partially attributable to their investigations.

“Nearly 100 individuals have been charged civilly or criminally by regulators, at least in part due to our work, including billionaires and oligarchs. We shook some empires that we felt needed shaking,” Anderson stated.

Hindenburg garnered international attention in January 2023 when it published a report alleging fraud and stock manipulation by the Adani Group. This report triggered a massive selloff in Adani’s stock, erasing over $100 billion from Gautam Adani’s personal wealth and causing the market capitalization of 10 Adani Group companies to plummet from ₹19.19 lakh crore on January 24, 2023, to below ₹7 lakh crore by February 27.

Although Adani stocks eventually recovered, the Supreme Court later noted that allegations made by organizations like Hindenburg, without proper verification, cannot be considered valid evidence. Previously, Hindenburg’s investigations included exposing Nikola Corporation in 2020 for fraud, which resulted in the resignation of founder Trevor Milton.