News Analysis India

Tag: Tolerance

  • Sickening to see violence against Muslims celebrated in India: Indian American actress Padma Lakshmi

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Asserting that there is no threat to Hinduism in India or anywhere else, Indian American supermodel and author Padma Lakshmi on Wednesday said people of all faiths should be able to live peacefully in “this ancient, vast land”.

    The 51-year-old, who posted a series of tweets, said there is “widespread anti-Muslim” rhetoric in the country and hoped Hindus don’t succumb to “this fear-mongering” and “propaganda”.

    Fellow Hindus, don’t succumb to this fear-mongering. There is no threat to Hinduism in India or anywhere else. True spirituality doesn’t include any room for sowing hatred of any kind.People of all faiths should be able to live peacefully together in this ancient, vast land.
    — Padma Lakshmi (@PadmaLakshmi) April 27, 2022
    Tagging news articles from international publications like The Guardian and Los Angeles Times on Delhi’s Jahangirpuri clash between two communities during a Hanuman Jayanti procession and the violence in Khargone city of Madhya Pradesh during Ram Navami celebrations earlier this month, Lakshmi said “true spirituality” has no place for hatred.

    “Sickening to see the violence against Muslims celebrated in India. The widespread anti-Muslim rhetoric preys on fear and poisons people. This propaganda is dangerous and nefarious because when you consider someone less than it’s much easier to participate in their oppression,” she wrote.

    The New York-based “Top Chef” star said all faiths should live together peacefully. “Fellow Hindus, don’t succumb to this fear-mongering. There is no threat to Hinduism in India or anywhere else. True spirituality doesn’t include any room for sowing hatred of any kind. People of all faiths should be able to live peacefully together in this ancient, vast land,” she tweeted.

    The Jahangirpuri violence, which erupted on April 16, left eight police personnel and a local resident injured. Almost a week later, a ‘Tiranga Yatra’ was taken out by Hindu and Muslim residents of the area to give a message of peace and harmony.

  • Sickening to see violence against Muslims celebrated in India: Padma Lakshmi

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Asserting that there is no threat to Hinduism in India or anywhere else, Indian American supermodel and author Padma Lakshmi on Wednesday said people of all faiths should be able to live peacefully in “this ancient, vast land”.

    The 51-year-old, who posted a series of tweets, said there is “widespread anti-Muslim” rhetoric in the country and hoped Hindus don’t succumb to “this fear-mongering” and “propaganda”.

    Fellow Hindus, don’t succumb to this fear-mongering. There is no threat to Hinduism in India or anywhere else. True spirituality doesn’t include any room for sowing hatred of any kind.People of all faiths should be able to live peacefully together in this ancient, vast land.
    — Padma Lakshmi (@PadmaLakshmi) April 27, 2022
    Tagging news articles from international publications like The Guardian and Los Angeles Times on Delhi’s Jahangirpuri clash between two communities during a Hanuman Jayanti procession and the violence in Khargone city of Madhya Pradesh during Ram Navami celebrations earlier this month, Lakshmi said “true spirituality” has no place for hatred.

    “Sickening to see the violence against Muslims celebrated in India. The widespread anti-Muslim rhetoric preys on fear and poisons people. This propaganda is dangerous and nefarious because when you consider someone less than it’s much easier to participate in their oppression,” she wrote.

    The New York-based “Top Chef” star said all faiths should live together peacefully. “Fellow Hindus, don’t succumb to this fear-mongering. There is no threat to Hinduism in India or anywhere else. True spirituality doesn’t include any room for sowing hatred of any kind. People of all faiths should be able to live peacefully together in this ancient, vast land,” she tweeted.

    The Jahangirpuri violence, which erupted on April 16, left eight police personnel and a local resident injured. Almost a week later, a ‘Tiranga Yatra’ was taken out by Hindu and Muslim residents of the area to give a message of peace and harmony.

  • Trolled on social media, Army deletes tweet on ‘iftaar’ party in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district

    By PTI

    JAMMU: The Army’s tweet about holding of an ‘Iftaar’ party for the civilian population in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district was removed after trolling allegedly by extremist elements who felt offended by the pictures highlighting the secular character of the armed forces.

    The now-deleted tweet on the Twitter handle of PRO Defence Jammu read “keeping alive the traditions of secularism, an Iftaar was organized by the Indian Army at Arnora in Doda district”. It was accompanied by several photographs showing the Army and civilian breaking the Ramzan fast together, a senior officer interacting with locals and a uniformed person joining ‘Namaz’ (prayers).

    अब यह बीमारी भारतीय सेना में भी घुस गईं हैं? दुःखद … https://t.co/AiRkdLUUBl
    — Suresh Chavhanke “Sudarshan News” (@SureshChavhanke) April 21, 2022
    However, the tweet, which was uploaded on April 21, was deleted within hours after the handle came under attack from the trolls who were apparently against the secular character of the Army, a practice followed by the force which holds ‘Sarva Dharma Sthal’ — a place of worship for all religions in all its formations across the country.

    Though an Army spokesperson declined to comment on the issue, an Army officer on the condition of anonymity said the force had not only tweeted about the function but also issued an official release as Iftaar parties are a regular feature during the fasting month of Ramzan to build a strong bond with the public.

    It was surprising and sad to see the reaction of certain people to the tweet which triggered unnecessary debate and was killing the basic message of upholding communal harmony, the officer said. “Now this disease has spread even in the Indian Army? Sad,” a tweet in Hindi by a social media user referring to the Army hosting the Iftaar party triggered a debate in support and against the Army.

    Indian Army has been at the forefront of interfaith harmony.We as officer’s take pride in the fact that we have NO religion, we just adopt the religion of the troops we command! https://t.co/7nUSPapgq9
    — Maj Gen (Dr) YashMor (@YashMor5) April 22, 2022
    However, the removal of the tweet from the Army handle did not go down well with the veteran soldiers. “Indian Army has been at the forefront of interfaith harmony. We as officers take pride in the fact that we have NO religion, we just adopt the religion of the troops we command,” Maj Gen (retd) Yash Mor tweeted.

  • Sushma to inaugurate Gandhi-Zayed digital museum for peace in UAE

    External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will inaugurate a digital museum in Abu Dhabi showcasing the life, works and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi and the founder of modern UAE Shaikh Zayed.

    The Gandhi-Zayed Digital Museum, which will promote peace, tolerance and sustainability, is part of the celebrations to mark 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and centenary celebrations of the birth of Shaikh Zayed, an official statement said.

    Swaraj will be on a two-day visit to the UAE from December 3-4, where she will co-chair the 12th session of the India-UAE Joint Commission Meeting for Economic and Technical Cooperation with her counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

    The Museum will showcase rare photographs, videos and objects representing the life, works and philosophy of both renowned leaders.

    The soft launch of the museum will take place at the Founder’s Memorial in Abu Dhabi, Indian embassy in the UAE said in a statement.

    The interactive museum aims to celebrate the similarities, the influence they had, and the change they caused.