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After weeks of a lull in the Kashmir valley, the Jammu and Kashmir Police and security forces have eliminated three terrorists including those who had killed a resident Kashmiri Pandit and a labourer from Nepal in an encounter in the Shopian district early in the morning on Tuesday.

The unveiling of the portrait of VD Savarkar at the Legislative Assembly hall of Suvarna Vidhan Soudha, Belagavi has triggered a controversy.

Great moment @BJP4Karnataka govt installed a portrait of a patriot of patriots Veer Savarkar in the Karnataka assembly.

As expected, London-founded @INCIndia opposed.

BJP 👏👏#VeerSavarkar pic.twitter.com/3DiWmXG8Uj

Congress leaders headed by former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and KPCC President D K Shivakumar staged a protest at the entrance of the Soudha before the start of the 10-day winter session of the state legislature on Monday in protest.

The Congress leaders stated that Savarkar was in no way connected to Karnataka and that the BJP leadership raked up the Savarkar issue only to divert people’s attention from core issues like the 40 percent commission in public works, rampant corruption, failure of law and order situation, and more in the state.

A group of top Congress leaders displayed portraits of icons including Kuvempu, Shishunal Sharief, and several others, demanding the government to also display their photos in the Legislative Assembly as well.

Addressing media persons during the protest, Shivakumar said, “Savarkar was a controversial person which all the people are aware of. The BJP leadership is trying to disturb the winter session by launching his portrait.

“Bommai and Kageri had informed us that the portraits of Gandhiji, Ambedkar, and other personalities will be installed at the Soudha, but we came to know about the installation of Savarkar’s portrait only through media today,” he said.

Calling Bommai as a `King of liars,’ Shivakumar said Bommai had lied to him and that he was not aware of the issue of the display of portraits at the Suvarna Vidhan Soudha. “The CM is a King of liars. Savarkar had joined hands with the Britishers and he had written a clemency petition to the British, admitting his mistakes,” said Shivakumar.

Siddaramaiah also objected to the display of Savarkar’s portrait and said the portraits of many other personalities who actually played a great role in history should be displayed at the Soudha instead.

#Karnataka unit of #Congress staged a protest against the state #BJP's decision to install a picture of the freedom fighter Veer Savarkar in the Legislative Assembly at Suvarna Vidhana Soudha.@INCKarnataka pic.twitter.com/5QLu6cye6V

Congress backs Tukde Tukde gang but doesn’t respect national icons like Veer Savarkar

The same Congress, which was backing the Tukde Tukde gang and, more dangerously, the terrorists who are trying to break the country, are now have objections when a veteran freedom fighter is being honoured.

It is worth mentioning here that Karnataka Congress chief D.K. Shivakumar had objected to calling the main accused in the Mangaluru blast case, Mohammed Shariq, a terrorist. Shariq was apparently influenced by videos of fugitive Zakir Naik, whose sessions were being addressed by top Congress leaders like Digvijay Singh eulogising the Islamic preacher.

"Who are these terrorists? What action has been taken? Without investigation how can they just call someone a terrorist? If they had gone into detail, we would know. Was it a terrorist act like something that happened in Mumbai, Delhi and Pulwama?" Shivakumar had questioned. The grand old party had come out in support of the so-called 'student activists' Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid and terrorist Afzal Guru. Kanhaiya Kumar later joined the party.

"Veer Savarkar's daring defiance of the British Government has its own important place in the annals of our freedom movement" - PM Indira Gandhi

Indira Gandhi had released a commemorative stamp of Savarkar and donated Rs. 11,000 to a trust in his name from her personal account. pic.twitter.com/UhlkFxQQXX

Congress' sworn hatred for Savarkar

Party leader Rahul Gandhi has displayed his hatred towards Savarkar time and again. Only recently during his 'yatra', Gandhi said Savarkar might be an icon for the BJP and RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) but not for him. "He was jailed in Andaman for two-three years. He started writing mercy petitions," the Congress MP said, belittling the Hindutva icon. The former Congress president is known for making such derogatory comments. He claimed that Savarkar wrote a book on himself with a different name and highlighted how brave he was. "He used to take pensions from the British, work for them and work against the Congress," Gandhi further claimed.

Veer Savarkar's daring defiance of the British government has its own important place in the annals of our freedom movement ~ PM Indira Gandhi.

Indira Gandhi had issued commemorative stamp on Savarkar

She also donated Rs 11000 from her personal account to Savarkar memorial fund pic.twitter.com/pBFTgfj7et

Congress must study its own past

But before opposing, the Congress party must introspect itself and see what Indira Gandhi had written in the praise of Veer Savarkar. Her letter dated 20th May 1980 was in response to a letter written by Swatantryaveer Savarkar Rashtriya Smarak secretary Pandit Bakhle wherein he had spoken about the plans to celebrate Savarkar's birth centenary.

"I have received your letter of 8th May 1980. Veer Savarkar's daring defiance of the British Government has its own importance in the annals of our Freedom Movement. I wish success to the plans to celebrate the birth centenary of the remarkable son of India," Gandhi had written in her return reply. The fact has been confirmed by none other than eminent historian and well-known author Vaibhav Purandare, who has written a book on Savarkar, "The true story of the father of Hindutva".

He said in his book that the letter written by Indira Gandhi was authentic. Not just the letter, Indira Gandhi also condoled the death of Savarkar in 1966.

She also released a statement praising Savarkar as a revolutionary who had inspired many in the country, Purandare said. No doubt, even Indira Gandhi recognized the valiant efforts of the freedom fighter in getting independence for the country. So, it is time that Congress should look back and recognize the sacrifices of Veer Savarkar before it's too late.

Ajmer (Rajasthan): Hazrat Syed Naseruddin Chishty, the Chairman of All India Sufi Sajjadanashin Council and successor of the spiritual head of Ajmer Sharif Dargah, has proclaimed that Muslims are far more secure in India than Pakistan after the latter’s Foreign Minister and his deputy made a venomous attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India at large on the world stage.

Syed Naseeruddin Chishty head of All India Sufi Sajjadanshin Council condemned the statement of Pakistan FM Bilawal Bhutto & reminded him that Bin Laden was sheltered by #Pakistan for years & that Indian Muslims are far more secure & in a better position than Pakistani Muslims. pic.twitter.com/0pmtE1n5Hy

“I strongly condemn the venomous language used by the Pakistani Foreign Minister and Deputy Foreign Minister against our Hon’ble Prime Minister and motherland,” said Chishty. Criticising the Pakistani Foreign Minister he said, “Bilawal Bhutto has not only downgraded the position of the Pakistani Foreign Minister but also of entire Pakistan.”

“Pakistan should bear in mind that Indian Muslims are far more secure and in much better condition than Pakistani Muslims,” he said.

He also added that Bilawal Bhutto has forgotten that terrorist Osama bin Laden didn’t die but was killed in Pakistan by American security forces right under the nose of the Pakistani government.

Chishty also advised Bilawal Bhutto not to compare Pakistan with India. “Don’t ever compare the great country of India with your unstable country because the Constitution of India guarantees freedom of religion to all,” he said and added that he and every Muslim of India feel proud to be an Indian.

Earlier this week replying to a question from a Pakistani journalist, who accused India of spreading terror, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar replied, “You are asking the wrong minister when you say how long will we do this. It is the ministers of Pakistan who will tell how long Pakistan intends to practice terrorism.”

“These comments are a new low, even for Pakistan. Bhutto’s frustration would be better directed towards the masterminds of terrorist enterprises in his own country, who have made terrorism a part of their state policy. Pakistan needs to change its own mindset or remain a pariah.” pic.twitter.com/1hMRJnPtcm

Lashing out at Jaishankar, Bilawal had unleashed a series of personal attacks on PM Modi and also hit out at the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

In response to media queries on Bilawal’s ‘uncivilised’ remarks, Arindam Bagchi, the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs said in New Delhi, “These comments are a new low, even for Pakistan. Pakistani Foreign Minister’s frustration would be better directed towards the masterminds of terrorist enterprises in his own country, who have made terrorism a part of their state policy. Pakistan needs to change its own mindset or remain a pariah.”

“We wish that Pak FM would have listened more sincerely yesterday at the UNSC to the testimony of Anjali Kulthe, a Mumbai nurse who saved the lives of 20 pregnant women from the bullets of the Pak terrorist Ajmal Kasab. Clearly, their FM was more interested in whitewashing Pakistan’s role,”

Response to Bilawal Bhutto (Pakistani Pappu) from a vibrant Indian Muslim @Shehzad_Ind Shehzad Poonawala. What a befitting reply. pic.twitter.com/FiaJsateuZ

He also stated that Pakistan is a country that glorifies Osama bin Laden as a martyr and shelters terrorists like Lakhvi, Hafiz Saeed, Masood Azhar, Sajid Mir and Dawood Ibrahim.

References:

indianarrative.com

Minister of Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju in Rajya Sabha said that the root cause of the huge pendency of cases in courts is 'judicial vacancy' which will continue to be a problem until a new system for appointment of judges is adopted.