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Armed Forces Veterans, Former Bureaucrats To Hold Conclave Against Distortion of Hinduism

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Armed Forces Veterans, Former Bureaucrats To Hold Conclave Against Distortion of Hinduism

[vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Armed forces veterans and retired civil servants, coming out against growing intolerant hyper-nationalism, authoritarianism and majoritarianism, have joined civil society, media persons and other citizens to collectively fight the threat to fundamental rights and free speech in the country.

“We believe that as a quintessential Hindu but supremely a humanist and universalist, Gandhiji would be horrified at the way Hinduism is being twisted and distorted for political gain,” they said, inviting eminent citizens to a conclave on “Hinduism and Hindutva” to be held on the occasion of Gandhiji’s death anniversary on 30 January 2018.

The event will be chaired by Air Marshal Vir Narain (Retd) and the speakers include Professor Ram Puniyani (Retd), Ashok Vajpeyi, IAS (Retd) and Swami Agnivesh.

The move is one of the many protests in the country against the increasing attempts to impose a narrow concept of uniform, north Indian upper caste Hindu practices on the country. Its significance, however, lies in the fact that the prime movers and organisers of the event come from the very organisations that form the vanguard of government and the state that is pushing the Hindutva project.

The event also marks a strengthening of the alliance of its two constituents – organisations of armed forces veterans and former bureaucrats – which had initially started off on this route separately.

On 10 June 2017, sixty-five retired civil servants had written an Open Letter regarding the general spirit of religious intolerance, vigilantism, the propensity to crack down on student groups or universities that express dissent, a witch-hunt against certain NGOs if they oppose the State, systematic trolling to intimidate those who disagree with the dominant ideology, hyper-nationalism, authoritarianism and majoritarianism that all threaten free speech and other fundamental rights – that pervade the atmosphere in India today. The petition urged the reinstatement of reasoned debate, discussion and dissent and calls upon all public authorities, public  institutions and Constitutional bodies to defend the spirit of the Constitution of India.

On 30 July 2017, over 100 Veterans of the Armed Forces addressed a letter to the Prime Minister, chief ministers and LGs pointing out that the ethos of Armed Forces is that of ‘a family’ irrespective of caste, creed, language or culture and that what is happening today in our country is negation of the concept of ‘Unity in diversity’ and Constitutional rectitude. Dissent should not be equated to treason. The Veterans therefore urged the powers that be at the Centre and States to take note of their concern for the morale of our Armed Forces and urgently act to uphold our Constitution both in letter and spirit.

As a next step, the two groups  came together and held a Conclave on October 10 2017 in New Delhi. The subject was “A Fractured Polity – the Relevance of Gandhi today.” The Chair was Justice AP Shah. Ramachandra Guha and Mrinal Pande were the other panelists. There were participants from both groups, civil society and the media.

This time, they have chosen the occasion of Gandhiji’s death anniversary on 30 January to hold another Conclave on the theme of “Hinduism and Hindutva” at the  Indian Social Institute (ISI) on Lodi Road from 3 pm – 6.30 pm.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Siddaramaiah not interested in taking Rajya Sabha post, say sources

Sources reveal that Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has turned down an offer for a Rajya Sabha seat, preferring to remain active as an MLA in state politics despite leadership transition talks by the Congress high command.

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The political landscape in Karnataka is witnessing intense developments as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has reportedly expressed his unwillingness to accept a Rajya Sabha berth or transition into a national role in New Delhi. According to sources familiar with the discussions, the veteran leader prefers to remain active within state politics and continue his tenure as an MLA rather than shifting his focus to the national capital.

High command pushes for transition

This revelation comes on the heels of marathon high-level meetings convened by the Congress leadership in Delhi to address the ongoing leadership discussions in Karnataka. Insiders state that the party central leadership has backed Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to take over the top post, in line with internal understandings following the 2023 assembly elections.

To facilitate a smooth leadership transition in the state, the high command offered Siddaramaiah a parliamentary seat in the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections alongside a prominent national role. However, sources indicate that the Chief Minister has rejected this proposal and requested more time to deliberate on his next steps.

Official stance downplays leadership shift

Publicly, senior party leaders have sought to quell rumors regarding an immediate change of guard. Following a lengthy deliberation at the party headquarters, General Secretary K.C. Venugopal stated to the media that the discussions were exclusively centered around selecting candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council seats in Karnataka. He dismissed reports of an imminent chief ministerial swap as mere speculation.

Siddaramaiah also echoed this sentiment when questioned by journalists, emphatically denying that any leadership changes were debated during the official meeting. Despite these denials, political circles remain abuzz, as the Chief Minister has reportedly met with cabinet ministers and loyalists to discuss the evolving situation before returning to Bengaluru.

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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay travels to New Delhi for first official meeting with PM Narendra Modi

Newly sworn-in Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay embarked on his first official visit to New Delhi to hold a high-level meeting with PM Narendra Modi, focusing on economic aid, fertilizer supply, and water rights disputes.

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Tamil Nadu CM Vijay and PM Modi

Marking his maiden official visit to the national capital since assuming office, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday to deliberate on a wide range of state-specific matters. The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief, who led his fledgling party to a historic victory in the recent assembly elections, took the oath of office on May 10. While the Prime Minister had previously extended his congratulations via social media, this marks the first formal in-person meeting between the two leaders.

According to official sources, the Chief Minister departed from Chennai on a chartered flight at 10:00 AM. The high-profile meeting with the Prime Minister is slated for 4:30 PM, where Vijay is expected to submit a comprehensive memorandum outlining Tamil Nadu’s long-pending welfare and developmental demands.

Key state matters on the table

The core of the discussions is expected to center around financial assistance and clearances for major infrastructure projects in the state. Media reports indicate that the Chief Minister will heavily push for additional funds to bankroll ongoing developmental initiatives.

Furthermore, the interstate Mekedatu water dispute remains a high-priority issue. Chief Minister Vijay has already written to the Prime Minister, urging him to instruct the Union Jal Shakti Ministry and the Central Water Commission (CWC) to reject the Detailed Project Report submitted by Karnataka for a reservoir at Mekedatu.

Other critical administrative concerns to be raised include ensuring an uninterrupted supply of fertilizers for the upcoming Kharif farming season and the removal of the 11 percent import duty on cotton to protect the raw material supply chain for the state’s textile industry.

A packed diplomatic itinerary

Accompanied by a team of senior officials and select cabinet colleagues, the Chief Minister’s itinerary extends beyond the Prime Minister’s Office. Vijay is likely to sit down with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to directly advocate for financial backings for key state portfolios.

The new administration has also drawn national interest for its structural innovations, including retaining critical departments under the Chief Minister—such as Home, Police, and Women Welfare—and carving out a dedicated cabinet-level Artificial Intelligence department, making Tamil Nadu only the second state in the country to do so.

Navigating a complex political landscape, the TVK-led government, which holds 108 seats in the assembly and enjoys backing from coalition partners including the Congress, Left parties, VCK, and IUML, is also using this trip to engage with national opposition leaders. Chief Minister Vijay is scheduled to meet Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi during his stay in the capital.

Before wrapping up his tour, the Chief Minister is slated to participate in a cultural event at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), where he will formally inaugurate a statue of the revered Tamil poet-saint Thiruvalluvar installed by the Tamil Nadu government. Sources indicate that Vijay will conclude his official engagements and return to Chennai on Thursday.

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Case registered against Mamata Banerjee over controversial 2025 religion remark

A formal police case has been registered against Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee in Siliguri, West Bengal. The complaint alleges that her 2025 “Ganda Dharm” remark targeted Hinduism and hurt the religious sentiments of the community.

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Mamata Banerjee

A formal police complaint has been lodged against Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal’s Siliguri. The legal action stems from an alleged derogatory remark regarding Hinduism made during an Eid congregation in Kolkata in 2025.

The case was registered following a complaint filed by a local lawyer, Rinki Chatterjee, who alleged that the former Chief Minister’s comments deeply hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus globally.

Legal charges and complaint details

The police have invoked multiple sections under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against Banerjee, including Section 351(1) for criminal intimidation, Section 352 for intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace, and Section 353 for promoting feelings of enmity, hatred, or ill will between different communities.

According to the complaint, the controversy traces back to an Eid event organized on Kolkata’s iconic Red Road in 2025. While delivering a speech targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Banerjee purportedly referred to the version of Hinduism championed by the political rival as “Ganda Dharm” (filthy religion).

Chatterjee stated in her complaint that labeling Sanatan Dharma in such a manner at a religious gathering was “absolutely unacceptable”. The complainant also pointed to other instances where senior TMC leaders allegedly targeted Hinduism, adding that Banerjee made indirect threats to the Hindu community during the 2026 West Bengal Assembly election campaign to influence voters through intimidation.

Political responses to the FIR

The reported statements had previously drawn sharp criticism from the state BJP leadership last year, including strong objections from current Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. However, this FIR represents the first formal legal action taken regarding the speech.

When approached for a response, Atri Sharma, a lawyer and general secretary of the TMC’s Darjeeling unit, declined to comment officially as a party spokesperson. However, he noted that many within the party internal circles found the remarks inappropriate at the time they were spoken. Sharma acknowledged that holding a high public office required restraint and affirmed that every individual holds the moral right to pursue legal remedies.

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