'On December 16, far-right British commentator Katie Hopkins tweeted a video of a man adorning a skull cap pelting a brick at a sedentary bus. She claimed, “The mentality of the Islamists protesting against the Citizenship Bill”. She further opined, “Why would India want these types as citizens Hindus build. Islamists destroy. Keep going Modi. Hooray for #CAB2019”. So far, the tweet has amassed close to 8,200 retweets. Hopkins has been featured on Indian media outlets like Republic TV, India Today and Times Now...
'Two days after prime minister Narendra Modi said those who were protesting against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act could be “identified by their clothes,” the BJP’s West Bengal president and Medinipur MP Dilip Ghosh said lungi-clad terrorists had made their way to Bengal from Bangladesh. Ghosh was responding to Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who on day two of her three-day anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act and anti-National Register of Citizens rally, took the mic to condemn Modi’s ‘clothes’ remark...'
'Videos have surfaced from Sri Rama Vidyakendra High School in Karnataka with hundreds of children in white shirts and white pants and some others in white shirts and saffron dhotis running towards a poster of the BabriMasid reenacting the demolition, bringing down the Babri Masjid with anything they can get their hands on... As the narrator says, ““They start demolishing the structure with anything they can get their hands on. With enthusiasm, Hanuman bhaktas with Hanuman’s anger, they bring down Babri structure.
'A global network of pro-Indian fake websites and think-tanks is aimed at influencing decision-making in Europe, researchers say. The co-ordinated network of 265 sites operates across 65 countries, according to a report by EU Disinfo Lab, a Brussels-based NGO, The researchers traced the websites to an Indian company, Srivastava Group. The network was also found to involve groups responsible for anti-Pakistan lobbying events in Europe... EU Disinfo Lab's investigation started by looking at EP Today, a website which claimed to be an online magazine for the European Parliament in Brussels.
'The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed all 18 review petitions filed against its November 9 judgment to allot the disputed land in Ayodhya to the Hindu parties and clearing the path for the construction of a Ram temple...'
'After Hindu right-wing outfits decided to call for a rally demanding “proper identification” of people belonging to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) who have converted to Christianity in the tribal Dang district of Gujarat, the situation there has become tense. According to the Indian Express, the Rashtriya Janjati Sangh, a Hindu outfit, has called for a rally on December 16 in Dang with the primary demand that all tribal Christians must change their religion on their school’s leaving certificate (LC) from Hindu ST to Christian ST.
'...We propose that it is time to call this regime by its name. What we are seeing is not procedural or substantive fascism; this is fascism, this is how it has always operated, and there is no need for any doubt, confusion or surprise when it comes to its methods (total disregard for future consequences of their actions so long as they gain more power) or its aims (absolute domination of every sphere of human life, from the political to the economic, social and cultural). To understand this is crucial.
'A sociology professor of a prominent college in Mumbai was approached by a few of her Muslim students last week. They seem troubled and full of anxiety. Their disturbing query: “How do we procure documents to prove that we are Indian citizens?” The female professor, not a Muslim, was shocked. She said that they must concentrate on their studies and exams and not bother about these documents. However, they were adamant and restless, wondering from where there parents and grandparents will get the documents to prove their Indian identity.
'A group of Indian scientists and scholars from within and without the country have released a note of protest against the draft Citizenship Amendment Bill, expected to be tabled in parliament on December 9. The Bill proposes to grant citizenship to Indians on the basis of religion as well as passively excludes Muslims, and has triggered protests around the country and from various civil society groups as a result. The scholars’ note, shared in full below, also calls attention to this aspect of the Bill and states that it violates the spirit of Article 14 of the Indian Constitution.
