Latest news with #SanataniHindus
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Kolkata Police defend arrest of influencer over ‘hate speech'
Kolkata Police have defended the arrest of social media influencer and law student Sharmistha Panoli, stating that the posts made by her amounted to 'hate speech' and should not be conflated with freedom of expression. The arrest has sparked political outrage, with the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accusing the Mamata Banerjee-led government of 'state-sponsored repression'. BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia termed the arrest 'shameful'. 'Mamata Banerjee's police travelled nearly 1,500 kilometres from Kolkata to arrest law student Sharmistha Panoli – just because she had expressed her opinion, for which she had publicly apologised!' he wrote in a post on social media platform X. Some social media accounts are spreading false information that Kolkata Police has unlawfully arrested a law student for opposing Pakistan. This narrative is mischievous and misleading. Expressing national pride and patriotism is a thing that every citizen and organisation… — Kolkata Police (@KolkataPolice) June 1, 2025 Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari, also voiced his support for Ms. Panoli, alleging that punitive action in the State is selectively directed 'only against Sanatani Hindus'. Online campaigns under hashtags such as #ReleaseSharmistha and #FreeSharmistha have gained traction, with supporters questioning the legality of Kolkata Police's action in arresting a woman residing in Gurugram, and the role of Haryana Police in the process. According to the police, Ms. Panoli, a resident of the Anandapur area in Kolkata, had been absconding since an FIR was registered against her at Garden Reach Police Station on May 15. She was arrested from Gurugram on May 30. In a statement issued on Sunday, Kolkata Police said that 'multiple accounts on social media are spreading misinformation' by portraying the arrest as unlawful. They asserted that the arrest was not linked to her 'opposing Pakistan', but rather due to a video 'insulting to the religious belief of a class of citizens of India' and one that promoted 'disharmony and hatred between different communities'. The case pertains to a video Ms. Panoli shared on social media following the recent Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives. In the video, she made remarks deemed anti-Islamic and used offensive language while referring to Pakistan, also making unsubstantiated claims about 'Operation Sindoor'. She later issued an apology on May 15, the day the FIR was lodged. TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said on Monday, June 2, 'This is a complete provocation, a deliberate trap. Such poisonous instigation is feared to have a very bad impact on the public. Therefore, there is no comparison with this post. Hence, according to the law, police action has been taken.' Speaking to The Hindu, Ms. Panoli's lawyer, Mohammad Shamim, said, 'She is in judicial custody till June 13. Her bail plea was rejected because the court said that the investigation is still at a nascent stage and they wanted to give time to the officers to investigate the matter.'
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Faith and fortune: Kedarnath yatra fuels Rs 200 crore economic boom in one month
DEHRADUN: The Shri Kedarnath Dham Yatra, a beacon of faith for 800 million Sanatani Hindus worldwide, is consistently setting new benchmarks, with this year's pilgrimage already generating an astounding Rs 200 crore in revenue within just one month of its commencement. This spiritual journey is not only a profound experience for devotees but also the backbone of Uttarakhand's economy, with 'hotel operators alone accounting for over Rs 100 crore of this impressive sum,' official sources revealed. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami affirmed the Yatra's role as Uttarakhand's spiritual and cultural axis. He stated, "The government's goal is not just to provide facilities to pilgrims, but also to economically empower local youth, women, and traders."
Indian Express
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
2 Sanatani Ekta Manch activists arrested for ‘pasting' Pakistan flag in Bengal; police claim accused had plans to instigate communal violence
The West Bengal police arrested two members of the Sanatani Ekta Manch on charges of trying to instigate communal violence in the Gopalnagar area of Bangaon police district on Friday. The police claimed the two had pasted a Pakistan flag on the wall of a washroom beside Akaipur railway station under the Gopalnagar police station. Speaking about the arrest, the police wrote on Facebook, 'Investigation revealed that this was wilfully done by 1. Chandan Malakar (30) and 2. Progyajit Mondal (45), both local residents and active members of a political party as also of Sanatani Ekta Manch. They have confessed to the act…' They added that the accused also had plans of writing objectionable graffiti near the flag. The police further said, 'We shall spare no efforts to bring to book those who are hatching such conspiracies to trigger communal unrest.' Dinesh Kumar, Superintendent of Police, said, 'We are investigating where these guys got Pakistani flags. We are also investigating whether any other persons were behind them or not.' After this matter came to light, Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh blamed the BJP for trying to create tension between groups. However, local Bangaon-Uttar BJP MLA Ashok Kirtania said, 'When Sanatani Hindus are realising that they should be united, then Mamata Banerjee 's police are doing such conspiracies.'
