'On July 11, the Telangana government “externed” or banned godman Paripoornanada Swami from Hyderabad for a period of six months, stating that he is involved in ‘anti-social’ activities. He was dropped off at his peetham (peeth or ashram) called Sri Peetham at Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh. Paripoornanada, along with Dalit film critic Kathi Mahesh, were externed from Hyderabad by the city police. The row began when the baba and his followers took exception to comments made by Mahesh about the Ramayana.
'Nearly two months after Cobrapost first reported how some media houses were prepared to strike business deals to promote the Hindutva agenda and help polarise voters in the run up to the 2019 elections, the website has released a second batch of video recordings shot surreptitiously by an undercover reporter that shows managers and owners of some of the largest newspapers and TV channels succumbing to the same package of Hindutva advertorials.
'On the political front, the BJP is showcasing its inclusive character; however, in the social sphere, the right wing is using anti-Dalit sentiments to consolidate its political base.
'The founder and editor of Postcard News – a website accused of spreading fake news to further a communal agenda – is hoping to get a BJP ticket from Karnataka’s Moodabidri. Mahesh Vikram Hegde, the editor of the right-wing portal who was recently arrested by the Karnataka Central Crime Branch (CCB) recently, for allegedly spreading fake news and communally sensitive stories. He is currently out on bail in the case. State media convenor of BJP Yuva Morcha, Karnataka – Sandeep Ravi – confirmed to TNM that Mahesh Vikram Hegde is interested in contesting from Dakshina Kannada.
'A journalist on Monday tweeted, without naming them directly, that "they" need to be "killed" before "they kill us". Although interpretations of the tweet may differ from person to person, many saw it as a tweet advocating violence against members of a particular community -- Muslims -- and called it genocidal in its intent. Many also reported the tweet as well as the account as abusive or advocating violence. However, Twitter doesn't find anything wrong with the tweet and replied to many saying that the tweet advocating murder of people doesn't violate its rules...'
'Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar on Sunday alleged that the Prime Minister’s Office had asked the Maharashtra government to not arrest the two Hindutva leaders accused of inciting violence in Bhima Koregaon near Pune on January 1. A day after the violence on New Year’s Day, the police had filed cases against 85-year-old Sambhaji Bhide, who leads the organisation Shiv Pratishthan, and Milind Ekbote, who heads the radical Hindu outfit Samasta Hindu Aghadi. The two have not been arrested yet...'
'Gwalior district administration's refusal to permit construction of a temple in the name of Mahatma Gandhi's killer Nathuram Godse has not stopped Hindu Mahasabha from laying the foundation stone for the same. The foundation stone was laid in Hindu Mahasabha's Daulatganj office area. A statue has already been put up in the office to which floral tributes were paid today...'
'The Assam Police arrested anti-corruption campaigner and Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti leader Akhil Gogoi on charges of sedition on Wednesday. He was arrested from Golaghat city for his speech about an armed struggle in Assam’s Moran town on Tuesday. He has also been accused of spreading religious animosity, police said. During his speech, Gogoi is believed to have said that if Hindu migrants from Bangladesh were forced upon Assam, people from the state would be forced to take up arms.
'After Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was convicted of rape and his followers wrecked havoc in parts of Punjab, Haryana and Delhi – leading to the death of at least 30 people – several BJP leaders were left in an awkward position. Several Haryana BJP leaders had gone to pay their respects to the Sirsa-based Dera chief after the elections in 2014. BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj invited intense backlash by openly supporting Singh and suggesting that the rape survivor should not be believed. “Who is right? Crores of people who see god in Ram Rahim or that girl who filed a complaint?
'The CBFC has told filmmaker Suman Ghosh to bleep out words - the board thinks are controversial - like “Cow”, “Hindu India” and “Hindutva view of India”. Even as Ghosh has expressed his inability to do the same, the filmmaker is waiting for a written communication on the changes suggested by the board, according to reports. The film board’s scrutinizing the filmmaker and the subject of the film has drawn criticism from politicians, actors and civil society claiming that the board’s remarks are shocking.
