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Showing posts from October, 2020

India: Explained: Why BJP is cashing in on the Manusmriti controversy in Tamil Nadu

  The   BJP , which was short of issues before the Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections in 2021, is getting some help with the Manusmriti flaring up in the state. In his speech delivered at a small online event titled ‘Periyar and Indian Politics’, Dalit leader and   Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) chief Thirumavalavan   quoting from the Manusmriti said: “What does Sanatana Hindu Dharma say about women? Women are basically created by God as prostitutes. All women are prostitutes, as per Hindu dharma… Manu dharma.” The objection is to the use of the word “prostitute,” which many argue is an interpretation of the speaker from an ancient text, or possibly from one of the many published translations of Manusmriti. Soon, BJP leader Khushbu Sundar  sought an apology   from the leader. After A Ashwathaman, the state secretary of BJP legal cell filed a complaint, the Chennai city police booked Thirumavalavan under Sections 153, 153 (A)(1)(a), 295 A, 298, 505 (1)(b) a...

INDIA: Muslim-Hindu demography of Jammu and Kashmir: what the Census numbers show

  The land laws that were amended and notified by the Centre for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday (October 26) have   omitted the protection   earlier available to its “permanent residents”. It allows the purchase of non-agricultural land by outsiders, even though the government may provide some protection through notifications. The decision, celebrated by  BJP  leaders and spokespersons, has given fresh wind to fears expressed by political parties in Kashmir about attempts to fundamentally alter the demography of the Valley. On Tuesday, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah posted on Twitter that the Centre had now ended “even the tokenism of domicile”, and that  “J&K is now up for sale” . The Census of 2011 showed that the religious make-up of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir had remained almost entirely unchanged over the previous half century. The special status of Jammu and Kashmir under the Constitution was removed on ...