Bernie Sanders pontificates on PM Modi and India citing ‘minorities below assault’: Here is how he’s mendacity by way of his enamel

Amid Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official state go to to the United States, US Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont focused him, claiming PM Modi-led Indian Government has cracked down on the press and civil society. He additional claimed that the Modi authorities had jailed political opponents and aggressively pushed Hindu nationalism leaving little area for the minorities within the nation.

Prime Minister Modi’s authorities has cracked down on the press and civil society, jailed political opponents, and pushed an aggressive Hindu nationalism that leaves little area for India’s spiritual minorities. President Biden ought to elevate these information in his assembly with Modi.

— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) June 21, 2023

In a tweet, he wrote, “Prime Minister Modi’s government has cracked down on the press and civil society, jailed political opponents, and pushed an aggressive Hindu nationalism that leaves little space for India’s religious minorities. President Biden should raise these facts in his meeting with Modi.” Interestingly, his assertion got here at a time when former President Donald Trump is a doable jail time for 400 years.

During his assembly with PM Modi, Sanders was additionally one of many signatories amongst 75 US lawmakers who wrote to President Biden urging him to lift questions on “human rights” and different points.

This is just not the primary time Sanders has propagated pretend information towards India. In 2020, he claimed Delhi Riots have been anti-Muslim however in actuality, they have been towards Hindus which has been stated by the court docket as nicely.

Over 200 million Muslims name India residence. Widespread anti-Muslim mob violence has killed not less than 27 and injured many extra. Trump responds by saying, “That’s up to India.” This is a failure of management on human rights.https://t.co/tUX713Bz9Y

— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) February 26, 2020
The claims of a crackdown on the press are incorrect

Sanders claimed that Modi Government has cracked down on the press. If that was the case, portals like The Wire, Scroll, and others wouldn’t have survived within the nation. Furthermore, the federal government would have crushed propaganda peddlers and identified anti-Modi people like Muhammed Zubair, Pratik Sinha, Rana Ayyub, Arfa Khanum, Ravish Kumar and others. On the opposite, they’re flourishing and minting cash by spreading propaganda.

Another side of the tweet may be directed to the most recent Press Freedom rating by Reporters Without Borders, which ranked India at 161 out of 180 international locations. OpIndia debunked the rating. Reporters Without Borders ranked India in press freedom primarily based on doubtful stories and false information. They claimed the central authorities is spending greater than 130 billion rupees (Rs 13,000 crores) or 5 billion euros a 12 months on print and on-line media adverts alone. However, OpIndia’s RTI confirmed India had spent lower than 1,000 crores on authorities commercials in all codecs per 12 months.

Furthermore, the rating was primarily based on doubtful and half-baked stories of journalists being tried, arrested, and jailed. The report talked about Siddique Kappan, Rana Ayyub, Fahad Shah, Irfan Mehraj and others. Interestingly, all of them have legitimate instances towards them in court docket. Our detailed report on Press Freedom rating may be checked right here.

From The Wire or BBC that confronted motion from investigating companies indulged in practices towards the legislation. The Wire defamed India by cooking two investigating tales, one on a pretend, imaginary app referred to as Tek Fog and the second on BJP having unrestricted energy in Meta. Our protection on each may be learn right here and right here.

BBC is going through motion for alleged tax evasion. It has been claimed that the motion was taken in gentle of a controversial documentary towards PM Modi that was banned in India, however that isn’t the case. Not to overlook, BBC continues to be functioning in India, and the central authorities has not banned the media home.

There isn’t any hazard to civil society

There are quite a few NGOs, skilled protesters, and activists who, regardless of their anti-Modi, anti-BJP and anti-India stand, are working freely within the nation. The authorities of India debunks their claims sometimes, however nobody has come below unlawful detention or confronted any atrocities from the federal government. Few members of the so-called civil society are going through critical expenses below Acts like UAPA. Furthermore, some NGOs have both shut down their outlets or misplaced FCRA licenses. But there’s a purpose for each arrest in such instances.

For instance, Umar Khalid, one of many so-called activists that rose to “fame” after anti-India slogans, is below judicial custody as a case below UAPA is ongoing towards him. Khalid was allegedly one of many co-conspirators of the anti-Hindu riots in Delhi in 2020. Another instance is Sharjeel Imam, arrested and going through trial for his alleged anti-India feedback. Imam vouched for reducing northeast from the remainder of the nation and gave provocative speeches throughout anti-CAA protests fanning communal violence.

NGOs like Amnesty India have shut down outlets in India. Amnesty India was booked by investigating companies for amassing international funds with out an FCRA license. They actively propagated towards India, and Amnesty International continues to take action. Home Ministry has canceled FCRA licenses of 1000’s of NGOs because the Modi authorities got here to energy in 2014. In a lot of the instances, they both didn’t apply to resume the license or have been discovered to be using FCRA funds towards the legislation.

No political opponents have been jailed

Sanders claimed the Indian authorities had jailed political opponents. The solely political leaders behind bars are Aam Aadmi Party, Satyendra Jain and Manish Sisodia. While AAP and different events have claimed they’re “political opponents” of PM Modi, it needs to be famous that AAP has just about zero presence on the nationwide stage. The social gathering has governments in a half state, i.e. Delhi and Punjab. Apart from that, wherever they’ve contested elections, most of their candidates misplaced deposits, together with UP, Goa and Gujarat.

Now coming to Satyendra Jain and Manish Sisodia, whereas the previous is going through expenses of cash laundering, the latter is going through expenses in excise coverage rip-off case. In each instances, the courts have denied them bail. In the case of Jain, the High Court categorically stated prima facie his function was evident within the matter. Bail to Sisodia has been denied by the courts a number of instances on comparable grounds. Both issues are sub-judice.

Another political opponent that’s going through a court docket case is Rahul Gandhi, who the Sessions Court convicted in a defamation case. He was disqualified from the Lok Sabha following the conviction. A court docket stayed his conviction. Gandhi has a historical past of creating defamatory remarks, and he needed to apologise for a similar within the Supreme Court. However, he continued to make derogatory remarks towards PM Modi, RSS, BJP chief and even freedom fighters, together with Veer Savarkar.

Ironically, Rahul Gandhi, PM Modi’s most vocal political opponent, has been free as a chicken, even touring the USA, and has by no means been jailed.

Religious minorities are secure in India

The subsequent declare that Sanders raised was that the spiritual minorities have little area left within the nation as PM Modi is pushing Hindu nationalism. In actuality, regardless of being within the majority, Hindus have the least voice within the nation. While a minor incident towards a minority is propagated as if there was a catastrophic incident in India, Hindus die with none a lot spotlight within the media. Take the instance of Tasleem Ahmed Rehmani, who had provoked former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma throughout a debate by utilizing derogatory language towards Bhagwan Shiv. While he was the explanation for what Sharma stated what she stated, it was twisted and used towards Hindus. Alt News’ Zubair performed an important function in setting a goal on Sharma’s head. In the aftermath, Hindus, together with Kanhaiya Lal and Umesh Kohle, have been killed by Islamists merely for supporting Sharma.

The ban on terrorist organisation Popular Front of India has been propagated as an assault on Muslims. In actuality, the group was working towards India and attempting to determine Sharia Law in India by 2047. They have been behind a number of terrorist assaults, luring naïve Muslim youth into extremism to hitch terrorist outfits.

Contrary to the notion that minorities are below risk in India, the federal government of India has labored extensively for the betterment of the marginalized. Schemes like Ujjawala Yojna, Awas Yojna, mortgage schemes, and pension schemes have been designed and applied at in depth ranges by the Union Government.

Donald Trump seems at as much as 400 years in jail

Former President Donald Trump is going through expenses of allegedly unlawfully storing nationwide safety paperwork when he left workplace. The authorities additionally claimed that he lied to the officers who sought to get better the paperwork. Trump was arrested and introduced in court docket, the place he pleaded not responsible. His supporters stated the fees towards him have been fabricated. If confirmed responsible by the court docket, Trump could face jail of as much as 400 years.