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The Curious Case of the Democratic Party of India https://caravanmagazine.in/politics/s-jaishankar-indian-embassy-covert-us-lobbying-article-370-kashmir URVASHI SARKAR 10 February 2023
Indian embassy in Washington engaged lobbying firm to run obscure entity to influence US lawmakers after abrogation of Article 370

On 1 December 2019, (https://efile.fara.gov/docs/6401-Exhibit-AB-20191204-11.pdf - filing under US law-FARA) Cornerstone Government Affairs began to work on behalf of the government of India. On the very same day they “acquired a new foreign principal”, the Democratic Party of India. (https://efile.fara.gov/docs/6401-Supplemental-Statement-20200228-6.pdf)

‘Be crucial vote bank to save Sanatan Dharma’: Kalicharan Maharaj appeals to Hindus to vote for Hindutva at Hindu Janjagruti Rally in Baramati https://www.opindia.com/2023/02/be-crucial-vote-bank-to-save-sanatan-dharma-kalicharan-maharaj-at-hindu-janjagruti-rally-in-baramati/
Thousands of Hindus participated in the Hindu Janjagruti Morcha in Baramati and demanded stringent laws against Love Jihad, cow slaughter, and illegal forceful conversion

9 February, 2023

The mainstream media has been trying to avoid entering the debate triggered by the ongoing Shudra rebellion against the Ramcharitmanas of Tulsidas, a Brahmin, for pleading with his God Rama to punish Shudras, Dalits and women, and equating them with animals and drums.

https://thewire.in/caste/mohan-bhagwat-ramcharitmanas-shudra-insult-caste 

Bihar education minister Chandrashekar and Swami Prasad Maurya of the Samajwadi Party (SP) have opposed the inclusion of such texts in the school and college curriculum – something the BJP regime in its ‘New Education Policy’ is pushing with a view to teaching students about India’s ancient culture and heritage. The debate they have triggered has introduced a ‘Shudra vs Brahmin’ dimension to the caste question in north India, hitherto confined to reservations and the economic accommodation of the oppressed castes in the governance.

Earlier, in a 2014 meeting in Kerala, Bhagwat himself said, “The Sangh should not get into eradicating or opposing caste. Caste is a system that exists in society. It would remain until the society believes in it.” But who really believes in it? Surely, the Shudra/Dalit/Adivasi society is not interested in the caste system. In fact, it is ‘Dwija’ society which is still interested in this system because it is the source of its power, privilege and spiritual authority.

It is from this perspective that Akhilesh Yadav has challenged Mohan Bhagwat to take his recent statement to its logical conclusion. “You have clarified [there is no caste] in front of God. Please also make it clear what is the reality regarding the caste system for human beings.” In other words, what are Bhagwat and the RSS doing at the ground level to remove caste inequalities? This is a serious and genuine question which cannot be ducked.

A major political party in a big state like UP is asking why a Brahmin author sought to humiliate Shudras, Dalits and women – the main wealth creators of society. In Tulsidas’s time, Birbal, a Brahmin and Todar Mal, a Kayastha, were among Akbar’s top administrators.

by Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd

09/02/2023

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