Controversy erupts over talk on Operation Sindoor at Raj Bhavan
A talk on Operation Sindoor, organised by Kerala Raj Bhavan on Wednesday, has sparked a heated political debate, particularly due to the attendance of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) ideologue and editor of Thuglak magazine S. Gurumurthy has the lead speaker.
The session, which was themed 'Paradigm shift from candlelight to BrahMos', was chaired by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar.
'Politicising the office'
Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan condemned the event and slammed Raj Bhavan for politicising the gubernatorial office by inviting the RSS leader to speak at a function honouring the defence forces involved in Operation Sindoor.
The Congress leader also expressed concern over Mr. Gurumurthy's political remarks, especially those allegedly made against former Central governments and leaders. 'Raj Bhavan is not the platform for such political speeches. It is the official residence of the Governor. Inviting an RSS leader to speak at such an event, especially with remarks aimed at previous governments, is unfortunate and inappropriate,' Mr. Satheesan told mediapersons on Thursday.
While he did not oppose the event on Operation Sindoor, he emphasised it would have been more suitable to invite military experts or foreign policy specialists to speak on the subject. He also urged the State government and the Chief Minister to clarify their stance on the issue.
Rejecting the Opposition's criticism, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader V. Muraleedharan praised the Governor's decision to invite Mr. Gurumurthy. He added that the era of using the Raj Bhavan for Congress' internal political games is over. 'The event organised with S. Gurumurthy as a speaker was a timely and appropriate one,' he said.
He further stated that Mr. Gurumurthy is not just a RSS leader, but a renowned thinker and economist.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Mevani attacks BJP over atrocities on Dalits, weaker sections in Gujarat
Congress's Vadgam MLA Jignesh Mevani on Saturday questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah's silence on alleged incidents of atrocities against Dalits, adivasis and other weaker sections in Gujarat, and announced that the party will hit the streets to raise the issue. Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters in the Capital, Mevani accused the PM, the Home Minister and the RSS of 'putting the values of Manusmriti above the Constitution'. Citing the low conviction rate in cases of atrocities on Dalits, Mevani said at the national level, this figure is 30-35%, but in Gujarat it is only 3-5%, which means 95% of the culprits in the state go scot-free. The Congress leader told reporters that several incidents of Dalit atrocities have been reported from Gujarat such as the murder of a 19-year-old Dalit youth in Amreli, the alleged setting ablaze of a Dalit senior citizen in Patan and the alleged gangrape of a Dalit girl in which BJP members are alleged to have been involved. 'The Congress is preparing to launch a massive demonstration in August-September against atrocities being afflicted on Dalits, adivasis and those from the weakened sections in Gujarat,' he announced.
India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
"We are land of Mahatma, Buddha but also of Krishna...gave befitting reply to those who attacked our country": Priyanka Chaturvedi
Berlin [Germany], June 8 (ANI): Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi has said that India's Armed Forces have given a befitting reply to those who have cast an evil eye on the country and that there will be a firm response to any terror attack. Priyanka Chaturvedi, who is a member of an all-party delegation visiting partner countries to highlight India's zero tolerance policy against terrorism, told members of the Indian diaspora in Germany that India gave a firm response to the Pahalgam terror attack through Operation Sindoor. 'Our armed forces gave a befitting reply to those who have time and again attacked our country . Our response has been mature, responsible,' she said. 'We are the land of Mahatma, we are the land of Buddha, but we are also the land of Krishna,' she added. She said the terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir was targeted in Operation Sindoor. She said India was, in a way, carrying out the work of the UN, by targeting terror camps. Priyanka Chaturvedi also took a jibe at Pakistan getting a position to serve as vice-chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee of the United Nations. 'Do you know what responsibility they got? They have gotten the vice-chairmanship of the Counter-Terrorism Committee. This is like asking Masood Azhar and Hafeez Saeed to fight for global peace and justice. We have to call this out. Not only India but the entire world is suffering. From Masood Azhar to Osama Bin Laden - all have been found there (Pakistan). They have also gotten chairmanship of the Taliban Sanctions Committee,' she said. She said all faiths co-exist peacefully in India. 'The Jinnah inside Asim Munir was woken when he delivered the speech saying Hindus and Muslims cannot coexist. Today, India is a shining example of how 200 million Muslims live in harmony and is a befitting reply to Pakistan,' she said. Chaturvedi said she belongs to a party which is against talks with Pakistan till it supports cross-border terrorism. 'I am proud I come from that party', she said. She gave a call for the diaspora to show support for the Indian armed forces and the diaspora burst into chants praising them. At the start of the community event, the Indian diaspora observed a two-minute silence to pay tributes to people who lost their lives in the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. Priyanka Chaturvedi told ANI later that it is global responsibility to fight against terrorism. 'We have seen the strength of our diaspora in the six nations we met various officials and we kept forward our views in front of told them the problem of terrorism that we have been facing for decades can also reach your is the responsibility of the world to call out and the various nations that we visited have extended support to us in the fight against terrorism...' The delegation, led by Ravi Shankar Prasad, includes BJP MPs Daggubati Purandeswari, MJ Akbar, Gulam Ali Khatana, and Samik Bhattacharya; Congress MP Amar Singh, Priyanka Chaturvedi from Shiv Sena (UBT,) AIADMK MP M Thambidurai and former diplomat Pankaj Saran. The delegation arrived in Germany after concluding their visit to Belgium. Earlier, Ravi Shankar Prasad, said they raised strong concerns about terrorism during their visit to Brussels and generals of Pakistan 'run that country with the help of a military terrorist coalition', which is a 'threat' to democracy and humanity. The Indian Armed Forces carried out targeted strikes against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of over 100 terrorists. India repelled subsequent Pakistani aggression and pounded its airbases. (ANI)
India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
No one vacated village: Resident in Barmer following one month of Operation Sindoor
Jaisalmer (Rajasthan) [India], June 7 (ANI): Following the completion of one month of Operation Sindoor, people living near the Indo-Pak border in Rajasthan expressed happiness. A resident in Barmer said that there was too much enthusiasm among the people during Operation Sindoor, and nobody living near the border vacated their village. A resident, Raghuvir Singh, said, 'My village is just 2 km away from the Indo-Pak border. We have seen Operation Sindoor very closely. Nobody living near the border vacated their village; they supported the Indian Army and BSF. The Indian Air Force destroyed the terrorist hideouts in Pakistan and proved that this is the new India, 'jo ghar mein ghuskar maarta hai'. There was not much impact in Barmer. Uttarlai Air Force Station is nearby.' Another resident in Barmer said that the youth and senior citizens in the village were willing to be part of the operation. A resident, Ashok, said, 'We trust the leadership of PM Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the Indian Armed Forces. We were not scared as our Indian Armed Forces are very strong.' A local in Jaisalmer said, 'There is a wave of happiness among the people. The Indian Armed Forces destroyed the terrorist hideouts in Pakistan. India gave a befitting reply to Pakistan. It was a very proud moment not only for the Muslim community but also for the entire nation that Colonel Sofiya Qureshi briefed the nation on Operation Sindoor' Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that Pakistan 'saw its doomsday' on the night of May 6 during Operation Sindoor, a deep strike mission that he said left the Pakistan Army and terrorists stunned. Addressing a public gathering in J-K's Reasi, PM Modi said, 'Remember, exactly one month ago, on the night of May 6, Pakistan saw its doomsday. Now, whenever Pakistan hears the name of Operation Sindoor, it will remember its shameful defeat. The Pakistani Army and terrorists had never thought that India would attack terrorists hundreds of kilometres inside Pakistan in such a way.' He said Operation Sindoor demonstrated the strength of Aatmnirbhar Bharat and praised the armed forces for their trust in 'Make in India.' 'You have seen how Operation Sindoor has shown the power of Aatmnirbhar Bharat. Today, the world is discussing India's defence ecosystem. There is only one reason behind this. Our army's trust in Make in India. Every Indian has to repeat what the army has done,' he said. He also urged the youth of Jammu and Kashmir to actively participate in Mission Manufacturing, announced in this year's Budget. 'I want to ask the youth of Jammu and Kashmir to join this mission. Your ideas and skills will take India's economy and security to new heights,' he said. The Prime Minister also announced financial assistance for families affected by border shelling. He said houses fully damaged by cross-border shelling would receive Rs 2 lakh, while partially damaged houses would be given Rs 1 lakh. 'The suffering of more than 2,000 families affected by shelling is also our own suffering. Now, those houses which have suffered heavy damage will be given Rs 2 lakh, and those partially damaged will receive Rs 1 lakh more,' he said. (ANI)
