Gnanavapi Complex Survey

Gyanavapi Complex where a mosque exists from 17th century is being surveyed by ASI under the supervision of courts.  The first day of the survey lasted around seven hours and the ASI team mostly captured the layout and images of structures inside the complex. DGPS survey equipment is being used. Ground penetrating radar (GPR) technology will also be used informed Vishnu Shankar Jain, a lawyer with the survey team. Remains of fragmented idols have been found in the debris.  It is said that 5 Kalash, 2 ft  Trishul, 5 ft idol are found at Gyanvapi. It is likely that idols would be discovered during the survey, according to lawyer Sudhir Tripathi, who is accompanying the survey team. 

Muslim groups unsuccessfully attempted stalling the survey.  They submitted in the court that the survey would “reopen wounds of the past”, admitting to the forceful conversion of the nature of the complex.  

All India Majilis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi felt that a narrative would be set in favor of Shiv temple revival once the report on the ongoing operation arrives.  

He said RSS and BJP would play a key role in setting narrative of equating mosque at Gyanavapi complex with the Babri Masjid.  (6/8/2023)

Facets of Manipur Violence 2023

            

Manipur has two regions - hills and valley. Valley has 10% of area of Manipur. Remaining 90% area of Manipur is hill regions. Valley is in the central portion of Manipur and the Hills surround the Valley.    Manipur has a population of about 3 million people. 53% of them are Meitis and about 40% of them Kukis.  Kukis live in hilly regions and Meitis in Valley regions.  Meiti people include majorly Hindus and also Muslims, and  Buddhists. Kukis are Predominantly Christians and Naga people.  

In Manipur Legislative Assembly, there are 60 seats.  Out of them 19 are reserved for STs - i.e., Nagas and Kukis.  Forty are unreserved general constituencies. Out of these 40, 39 seats are won by Metei candiddates in the last election. 

Meiteis cannot buy land in the hill regions. But Kukis and other ST groups can buy lands in the valley. After the military coup of 2021 in Myamnar, there is an influx of large number of refugees into Manipur.  These refugees have affinity to Kukis. However, in the valley, influx has created concern among Meiteis.  

In April, Government authorities cleared three illegally built Churches in Imphal East district.  Christian groups were upset with the decision. In the beginning of 2023, the State Government also initiated removal of illegal immigrants from reserve forest areas. Eviction drive in Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, and Tengnoupal was viewed with religious color. 

In Manipur, there are at least four valley-based armed groups, several Naga groups and nearly 30 Kuki armed insurgent organizations. The proliferation of armed groups — at one point estimated to stand at around 60.  Arms sale, narco trading and human trafficking are being employed to sustain anti-establishment momentum. Armed groups have political clout and influence election outcome. No political party in the state can refute the allegations of seeking support from the armed groups. 

Manipur violence started with the HC verdict extending the ST status to Meiti Community in Manipur on 23rd April 2023.  Specifically, violence started with burning of gym on 28th April at Sadbhavana Mandap.  Burning continued on 30th with torching of Forest Range Office. Anglo-Kuki war centenary gate was burnt on 3rd May. In Churachanpur, several villages are burnt by Kuki groups.  Meitei groups retaliated in Imphal valley areas. 

The violence has resulted nearly 100 deaths and the burning of at least 1,500 buildings. More than 35,000 people are displaced and more than 300 relief camps are being operated in the state.

The Manipur government issued a shoot at sight order on 4 May. By the end of 3 May, 55 columns (70x55=3850 troops) of the Assam Rifles and the Indian Army were deployed in the region and by 4 May, more than 9,000 people were relocated to safer locations. By 5 May, about 20,000 and by 6 May, 23,000 people had been relocated to safe locations under military supervision.The central government airlifted 5 companies  (600 troops) of the Rapid Action Force to the region. Nearly 10,000 army, para-military and Central Armed Police Forces were deployed in Manipur. On 4 May, the Union government invoked Article 355, the security provision of the Indian constitution, and took over the security situation of Manipur. As of 14 May, the total military build up in Manipur stood at 126 army columns (8820 troops) and 62 companies of paramilitary forces (7440 troops).  According to one report about 40000 central government security personnel are deployed in Manipur. 

On July 19, a video went viral showing two Kuki women, one aged in her 40s and one in her 20s being stripped, paraded naked on the streets, slapped and sexually assaulted by apparently Meitei men.The women were forcibly taken away from the police station when they were fleeing the violence hit areas by a mob. The younger victim were gangraped and one of the victims' father and teenage brother were killed by the mob while trying to protect the victim. Despite the complaint being lodged no action was taken by the police for more than 2 months until the video emerged. 

A BJP MLA has appealed SC against the recommendation from HC for reservations to Meiteis.  About 10 Kuki MLAs inlcuding eight BJP MLAs have demanded separate administration to the Kuki community.  BJP vice president from Mizoram has resigned from BJP alleging state supporting demolition of Churches.  An Archbishop from Kerala has criticised Modi of sponsoring violence in Manipur and destroying Christian communities of Manipur. Religious divide has caused Manipur violence and it is being disguised as tribal, political and caused by administrative lapses.  

                           

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Understanding Manipur – mediasyndicate

Indian Budget 2023-24 - Introduction and Reactions

Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act, 2003 provides a legal framework to stabilize the budgeting process in India.  However, the act is not complied with by any of the governments and the act has been amended to relax its requirements for specific years as well as in general terms.  A committee is formed in 2016 which provided a report in 2017 with specific recommendations to amend the act.  The act is not amended further. The discussion on FRBM amendments is an ongoing discussion. The philosophy of the FRBM is to limit the debt, fiscal deficits and the revenue deficits. There are many suggestions and specific targets to be reached on these parameters.  There are also roadmaps for achieving these targets in steps over a period of a few years.   Roughly speaking, a target of 40% of GDP of debt is provided for central government. A target of 60% of GDP as debt for General Government is provided.  The fiscal deficit is expected to be on a reducing trend with at least 0.5% reduction per year and optionally about 0.2% reduction in revenue deficit.  A fiscal deficit of 3% of GDP and a revenue deficit of anything less than 2% of GDP may be considered as a good economic condition.

Economy is on growth path with about 6.5% real growth in GDP and over 10.5% growth in Nominal GDP. While the Government size is about 15% of the GDP, Fiscal Deficit is about 5.9% and Primary deficit is about 2.4%.  The revenue receipts amount to 58.5% of Government size, Capital receipts are at 41.5%.  Interest servicing is 24% of the total revenue of the Government.

India’s debt would be 16.9trillion Rupees and India is giving the interest for this debt at a rate of 7%.  Total debt of India is about 375% of the total governmental revenue and about 56% of the GDP.  Compared to the previous year, the debt is increased by over 5% of the GDP estimates.

The fiscal deficit is still higher from the spirit of the FRBM act although the government is able to reduce the fiscal deficit in 2023-24 to 5.9 percent of GDP from 6.4% budgeted for 2022-23, 2021-22 was 6.7%.  Even the opposition appears to be satisfied with the declining trend of the fiscal deficit even though the actual deficit is way above the desired level of 3% or less.  The Debt is also not within the limits of the FRBM spirit. It may be noted that it is not in the declining trend too.

Major share of the economic activity is taken by services sector with more than 50% of the share (55%). Industry has a share of 31% of the GDP and the agriculture sector has the remaining share of 14%.  Growth wise, Industry is in the forefront with 11.8%, next is services with 7% and the agriculture is growing at the rate of 4%.

 Indian workforce is about 50Crores. Just above 50% of the workforce is self employed.   12.1 crores are employed in industry.  Agriculture workforce 40%, industry 25% and Services 35%. Inflation is running at 4%-5% and the unemployment is at 7%.

The government size of 15% of the GDP appears to be decent.    There is a perception that the cost of living  is not decreasing.  Modern facilities are available but at a higher cost.  Public infrastructure is boosted with higher capital expenditure. However, optimal spending may not be there.  Further, the operating efficiency and financial discipline during execution are not visible. Speed of execution is not seen in many occasions.  The question that whether government is balancing the social good v/s good economic practices is answered by referring to reduction in funds on MGNREGA and subsidies. Opposition point to the reduction in MNGREGA funds to argue that social good is neglected where as supporters of the Government point to the reduction in subsidies to say that budget is economically sound.

Tax rates are reduced in the Budget and for a person getting an annual revenue of 15lakhs the difference between the old and the new tax structure without considering any deductions is about 37500 Rupees.  Allocation for the Ministry of Education for the next financial year is ₹1,12,898.97 crore. Over 8% increase in the allocation compared to the previous year.  This is the highest allocation for the education sector so far.

 

“the actual expenditure was substantially lower than budgeted last year, and alleged that this was Prime Minister Narendra Modi's strategy of headline management -- "over promise, under deliver". - Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh

 

“changes in the income tax slabs will not help anyone. This Budget does not address India’s unemployment issue” - Mamatha Banjerjee

“Delhi had been meted out “step-motherly” treatment in the Union Budget “yet again”. “The people of Delhi paid Rs 1.75 lakh crore in income tax last year. Out of that, only Rs 325 crore has been given to Delhi for development work. This is completely unjustified,” – Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

“There are some good things in Union Budget 2023 but there was no mention of MNREGA, poor rural labour, employment and inflation,” – Congress Leader Shashi Tharoor

“There has been little change in the Union Budget over the last 8-9 years. Taxes increased, money is not being spent on welfare schemes and subsidies.  Taxes are being collected for some crony capitalists and big businessmen.” - Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.

“pro-corporate” budget that was only in the interest of  Adani, Ambani and Gujarat. This is a pro-corporate budget. All interests of Adani are fulfilled in this budget, but the common man has been ignored,” - Congress leader K Suresh 

“it would be better if the budget is for the country rather than for the party.  whenever the Centre talks about the figures of beneficiaries of schemes, it must remember that India is a vast country of about 130 crore poor, labourers, deprived, farmers who are yearning for their Amrit Kaal. This year’s budget is also not much different. No government points out the shortcomings of last year and makes new promises again, while in reality the lives of more than 100 crore people are at stake as it was before. People live by hope, but why false hope?,” Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati.

"This budget will be called 'Naam Bade Aur Darshan Chhote Budget' (big on announcements and short on delivery). No effort has been made in this budget to find a solution to massive unemployment. Inflation is hurting every household and the common man is in trouble. There is nothing in the budget that would reduce prices of items of daily use. Overall, the Modi government has made life difficult for the people. The country's economy has been deeply hurt," Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge.

 

“increasing people’s purchasing power with job generation and boosting the growth of domestic demand. This budget fails to meet this situation. On the contrary, it squeezes the government expenditures to reduce the fiscal deficit while giving further tax concession to the rich. …mere 7 per cent when the increase in nominal (with inflation) GDP over the same period is estimated to be 10.5 per cent. Thus, as a percentage of GDP there is a reduction in government expenditure. If interest payments are excluded then this expenditure is only 5.4 per cent more than last year. Once the implicit inflation rate of 4 per cent and increase in population of around 1 per cent are accounted for, this so called “people-centric” budget only mounts further attacks on the livelihoods of the vast majority of our population” – Budget analysis by CPI,Marxist

Fact Check: Islamic Ritual before distribution of Food

News: Practice of Spitting on Food before it is being served in practiced by a section of people

·         There are videos in the public domain showing Muslims spitting on food before it is being served.  The descriptions say that it is a pious Muslim tradition to add saliva to the food after reciting some Quranic verses before distributing it. 

·         It is also told that, even the commercial establishments owned by Muslims have adopted this practice.  It is also told that Muslims managing the road-side restaurants in towns, cities and high-ways, who are seen as tasting eateries and beverages before selling them are also following this practice.

·         Many Islamic Scholars in online Islamic websites, in response to the questions by devout Muslims, have provided explanation on the validity of this practice in Islam.

 

Fact check by  @medsyn

To determine if a practice is Islamic, there are a couple of rules. First is if it is available in Quran. Second is if it is available in Sunna. Sunna includes credible biography of Messenger and the Hadiths (things recorded by companions of Muhammad).  References to rituals related to food are not available in Quran. However, they are available in Hadiths. 

But before visiting these sources, it is better to understand the explanations available in the public domain from the contemporary Islamic Sources.  The acts that are seen in the video are said be an act of Dua – that is a prayer to God with a request, a supplication or a request.  Along with the prayer, the action involved is said to be blowing.  Some people say that it is blowing air, some say it is blowing water. But, the water is not seen in the video. The purpose of Dua with blowing is for prosperity of food that is being prepared.

According to devout Muslims, the contemporary explanations are to be matched with Quran and Sunna for confirmation.  In the, Hadiths, there are references of Prophet Muhammad purifying the food.  In one specific reference, dough and a meat pot from the house of a companion of the Messenger was added with saliva of the Messenger as an act of purification. 

In a slightly different context, Muslims follow Ruqyah – an exorcist practice of pre-Islamic era. However, the prayer that is recited by Muslims is from Quran. This practice is approved by the Messenger. And here, a patient or a person who is affected by Jinn may be treated by invoking the name of Allah, smearing the mixture of soil and saliva (or water) with the act of blowing.

Saliva is also used in Islam to ward off the evil.  During prayers, if the believers are disturbed by Satan, the Muslims are advised to spit saliva to their left three times. 

Prophet Muhammad was respected very much by his companions. So much that there are references that his companions used to take the water used by the Prophet for washing for their own personal use.  His companions used to fight for this water and they used to smear the little water they get on to their bodies. 

Not just that, one Hadith mentions that, his devout companions would even collect the spittle of the Prophet Muhammad and smear it on their bodies.  

Prophet Muhammad has also approved Ruqyah being performed by some of his companions. It may be safely interpreted that purification of food may also be performed by his companions during his time and at present times. 

Many Islamic websites address this question from the believers who would like to know the validity of use of saliva in Islamic rituals.  These websites give long answers and many times to specific questions. For example, one answer exclusively attempts to answer the use of saliva to ward off satan, another answer deals with Ruqyah.  Yet another answer explains the purification of food. The conclusion in these websites is that there is no harm in blowing some light saliva.

Based on these references and contemporary explanations, it appears that blowing air over food before distribution with air, water or saliva is not barred in Islam.  And, many may be practicing this ritual either in religious gatherings or in commercial establishments.  

Hadith References:

Muhammad bin Ar Rabi:  Messenger took a mouthful of water from a bucket ejected on Muhammad bin Ar-Rabi in his house.

Urwa:  He had gone to the kings and to Caesar, Khosrau and An-Najashi. But, he has never seen any of them respected by his followers as much as Muhammad is respected by his followers. If he spat, the spittle would be taken in the hand of one of the Messengers companions. He would rub it on his face and skin. If Messenger performed ablution, his companions would struggle to take the remaining water for their ablutions.

Jabir bin Abdullah: Wife of Jabir bin Abdullah gave dough to him the Prophet, and he spat in it and invoked for Allah's Blessings in it. Then the Prophet proceeded towards our earthenware meat-pot and spat in it and invoked for Allah's Blessings in it.

Abu Said Al-Khudri:  Chief of a tribe that was not following Muhammad was stung by a scorpion. They asked the companions of the Prophet medicine or anybody who can treat with Ruqya. The Prophet's companions asked payment and the tribe agreed to pay a flock of sheep. One of the Prophet's companions recited al-Fatiha surah, gathered his saliva and spat at the snake-bite. The patient got cured and his people presented the sheep.  Then, followers asked Messenger whether is lawful. To this question, Messenger smiled and approved the practice.  He permitted taking  the flock of sheep and asked for a share for himself.

Aisha: Messenger used to treat via Ruqya with name of Allah, and applying a mixture of the earth of land with a slight shower of saliva. He also approved this treatment from some of his companions.