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Why do people love to hate?

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Bengal Riots

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Ranjona Banerji

And once again, India is heading towards what journalists of old used to call a “communal tinderbox”. Sectarian hatred, which sadly simmers below the surface across pockets of India, has once again started to find violent expression. This expression is usually related to political patronage – some Hindus feel that majoritarian rule is the answer for India whenever the BJP is in power. And in Bengal, there are claims that Mamata Banerjee’s Muslim appeasement policy has given strength to Islamist feelings in some areas of Bengal. Kerala is also going through some churn between the CPM and the BJP and once again the accusation is that various Islamic groups have free rein there: Hatred growing on hatred to destroy us all.

It is convenient for us to get stuck in the politics of it. That as if, had politicians not existed or did not pit one cause against the other, we would have loved each other desperately. The politics of it allows us to escape from the reality: That there is hatred, there is fear, there is a sense of historical injustice and there is insecurity. Almost all of it is illogical and unreasonable, almost all of it stems from ignorance and bigotry and all of it makes a mockery of our humanity.

History will show us that there is no one answer, there is no easy answer. Anthropologists will point to ancient atavistic impulses. Archaeologists will find old bones with evidence of extreme violence. Sociologists and psychologists will examine chinks in our relationships with others and with ourselves. They will all be correct. There is hatred in us and it will continue.

Do upbringing and experience play a role? Yet there are people who have suffered after the Partition riots and have tried to build bridges and there are those who have suffered and become filled with thoughts of revenge. The way some soldiers who have seen fighting and death become pacifists and others become even more dogged about military solutions to a conflict over all other ones. Does education make a difference? Clearly it does not, when you consider the number of educated terrorists of all political hues. Does being religious make a difference? This is the most tragic of all human beliefs when you consider that most extremist behaviour is justified in the name of religion.

We can accept that this is how we are and move on. Let law and order take each individual case and let the human constructs of evidence and justice deal with the consequences of human iniquity. Small individual steps to offset our human flaws. But this does not work on any grand scale.

The only thing that will make a difference is if law is matched with societal determination. Look at how Germany has tackled its anti-Semitic past. It was not the only nation in Europe which has persecuted Jews. The word “pogrom”, used loosely today for rioting and ethnic cleansing, is a Russian word meaning to “wreak havoc, demolish violently”, was specifically used for attacks on Jews. Across Europe, Jews faced everything from social discrimination to outright violence. Every kind of justification and lie to persecute any minority group today was used then.

But what happened in Nazi Germany with the cruel genocide of 6 million Jews in concentration camps was so bad, so horrific, that it became too much for the collective conscience of the Germans and of much of the world. Germany more than any other nation follows a very strict policy when it comes to anti-Semitism because it is always aware of its past. No solution is perfect but this is the one solution which has stood out as a beacon of hope and so it must.

Racism has not found such an easy solution nor has gender equity. Here in India, apart from the anger with minority religions that some of the majority Hindus have, we have still not managed as a society to acknowledge the terrible damage done to our fellow humans by the strictures of caste. We still look for justifications for dehumanisation, against and above the law of the land.

There is no easy answer and as long as we don’t honestly search for some as a society, we shall continue to be victim to politicians, religious clerics and other vested interests, to those whose power flows from creating and fostering hatred amongst us. We have reached that crossroads yet again. The last time someone tried to appeal to our collective conscience, we killed him. There is no Mahatma Gandhi today. There is only us. And we don’t look pretty.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

India News

Rahul Gandhi attacks PM Modi after fresh Trump tariffs

Addressing the All India Congress Committee (AICC) session on the banks of the Sabarmati River on Wednesday, Gandhi warned that an “economic storm” is looming over India.

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Congress leader and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, accusing him of yielding to pressure from US President Donald Trump regarding the imposition of tariffs, questioning Modi’s leadership and silence on critical issues.

Addressing the All India Congress Committee (AICC) session on the banks of the Sabarmati River on Wednesday, Gandhi warned that an “economic storm” is looming over India.

“Did you see the photograph of PM Modi hugging Trump? This time, Trump didn’t just hug; he ordered Modi ji to accept new tariffs without a word of protest. To distract from this, they staged a two-day drama in Parliament,” Gandhi said, taunting, “Where is the PM hiding?” He also took a jibe at Modi’s earlier “56-inch chest” rhetoric, implying a lack of assertiveness on the global stage.

Gandhi further criticized Modi’s recent meeting with Bangladesh Chief Advisor Mohammad Yunus, pointing out what he described as contradictory stances. “Yunus gives adverse remarks, yet he is sitting with him. What kind of leadership is this?” he questioned, highlighting what he sees as inconsistency in Modi’s foreign policy.

Turning to domestic issues, Gandhi strongly condemned the recently passed Waqf (Amendment) Act, calling it “anti-Constitutional” and an assault on religious freedom. “This Act is not just an attack on one community; it’s a threat to the freedom of religion itself,” he warned, alleging that the BJP and RSS have broader designs.

Citing an article in an RSS-affiliated magazine, he claimed that after targeting Muslims, the BJP-RSS would soon turn their attention to the rights of Christians and Sikhs.

Gandhi also outlined the Congress party’s strategy to counter these challenges. He announced plans to empower and strengthen District Congress Committees and their leaders, positioning them as the backbone of the organization moving forward.

On the issue of social justice, he reiterated the party’s commitment to a caste census, stating, “We will break the 50 percent reservation barrier. What Telangana has done, we will do across the country.”

He accused the RSS’s ideology of being fundamentally opposed to the Constitution, claiming, “They want to control all institutions in the country.” Gandhi urged party leaders to brace for a tough fight to defend the Constitution, emphasizing, “They have all the resources, but we have truth and the love of the people on our side.”

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India News

Nightclub roof collapse in Dominican Republic: Toll crosses 114

As concrete slabs crashed down, more than 114 people were killed, and many others were trapped on a packed dance floor where attendees were enthusiastically enjoying a merengue concert early Tuesday morning. Authorities reported over 255 injuries.

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The iconic Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo was bustling with musicians, athletes, and government officials when debris began to fall from the ceiling, landing in patrons’ drinks.

Tragedy struck with the collapse of the entire roof, claiming the lives of at least 98 individuals and injuring around 160 in one of the worst nightclub disasters in the Dominican Republic’s history. As concrete slabs crashed down, more than 114 people were killed, and many others were trapped on a packed dance floor where attendees were enthusiastically enjoying a merengue concert early Tuesday morning. Authorities reported over 255 injuries.

Among the deceased was Rubby Pérez, a beloved merengue star who had been performing just moments before the calamity. His body was recovered early Wednesday, according to emergency operations director Juan Manuel Méndez.

Rescue teams continued to search for survivors more than a day after the incident. “We will remain here as long as there are reports of missing persons,” Méndez stated.

Assistance arrived from rescue teams from Puerto Rico and Israel on Wednesday to aid local officials in their efforts.

As night fell on Tuesday, families and friends still searching for their loved ones gathered outside the club, where a guitarist played soothing melodies while they sang hymns.

Only 32 victims have been identified thus far in what is marked as one of the Dominican Republic’s deadliest disasters. Reports indicate that among the victims were a cardiologist, a government architect, a retired police officer, and the brother of the vice minister of Youth.

Also among the deceased are MLB pitcher Octavio Dotel and Dominican player Tony Enrique Blanco Cabrera, as confirmed by Satosky Terrero, spokesperson for the Professional Baseball League.

Nelsy Cruz, the Governor of Montecristi province and sister of seven-time MLB All-Star Nelson Cruz, informed President Luis Abinader about the disaster. Tragically, she called for help from beneath the rubble but later succumbed to her injuries in a hospital.

Other casualties included saxophonist Luis Solís, who was performing on stage when the roof fell, several Venezuelan bartenders, and an Army officer who left behind four daughters. Grupo Popular, a financial services firm, noted that three of its employees perished, including the president of AFP Popular Bank and his wife. Unfortunately, many more victims remain unidentified.

“I’ve searched all the hospitals and haven’t found her,” lamented Deysi Suriel, who was desperately trying to locate her friend, 61-year-old Milca Curiel, during her vacation in the Dominican Republic.

Numerous anxious relatives flocked to the National Institute of Forensic Pathology to search through lists of victims, while others scoured hospitals, clutching photos of their loved ones.

“There’s a lot of pain,” commented Senator Daniel Rivera, the former public health minister. “We must exercise patience.”

Among those desperately looking for their families was Kimberly Jones, whose godson, 45-year-old artist Osiris Blanc, and his friends were unaccounted for.

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India News

Air India passenger allegedly urinates on fellow passenger onboard Delhi-Bangkok flight

Air India issued a statement acknowledging the incident, stating, “Air India confirms that an incident of unruly passenger behavior was reported to the cabin crew operating flight AI2336 from Delhi to Bangkok on April 9, 2025.

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Air India flight

In a disturbing incident of unruly behavior on an aircraft, a passenger on an Air India flight from Delhi to Bangkok allegedly urinated on a fellow traveler in the business class cabin on Wednesday, April 9, officials confirmed. The episode has sparked outrage and prompted swift action from both the airline and authorities.

According to reports, the incident occurred aboard Air India flight AI 2336, where the accused, seated in seat 2D of the business class, targeted a nearby passenger, who is reportedly the Managing Director of a major company. While the victim has not yet lodged a formal complaint, the accused has offered an apology for his actions, which have been widely condemned as unacceptable.

Air India issued a statement acknowledging the incident, stating, “Air India confirms that an incident of unruly passenger behavior was reported to the cabin crew operating flight AI2336 from Delhi to Bangkok on April 9, 2025.

The crew followed all established procedures, and the matter has been reported to the relevant authorities.” The airline added that, in addition to warning the unruly passenger, the crew offered assistance to the aggrieved passenger to file a grievance with officials in Bangkok, but this offer was declined at the time.

A company spokesperson further explained that the case would be reviewed by the airline’s Standing Independent Committee, which will assess the incident and decide on any potential actions against the offender. “Air India continues to adhere to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) set by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in handling such matters,” the spokesperson said.

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu assured that the government is closely monitoring the situation. “Whenever incidents of this nature occur, the Ministry takes note. We will engage with the airline, and if any wrongdoing is identified, necessary action will be taken,” he stated, emphasizing the government’s commitment to passenger safety and decorum on flights.

The incident has reignited concerns about passenger behaviour on Indian airlines, which have faced similar cases in the past.

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