As the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) celebrated a resounding hat-trick victory in the Haryana assembly elections, they did not miss the opportunity to take a sweet jibe at their political opponent, the Indian National Congress. In an unexpected move, the BJP’s Haryana unit placed an online order for 1 kilogram of jalebi – a popular Indian dessert – for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, to be delivered to the party’s headquarters in Delhi. The jalebi, costing approximately Rs 609 including taxes, was ordered from the Bikanervala store in Delhi’s Connaught Place. The recipient address was listed as 24, Akbar Road, New Delhi, the Congress party headquarters. Interestingly, the recipient’s name was cheekily marked as "Jalebi for Rahul Gandhi." As if that were not enough, the order was placed on a cash-on-delivery basis, adding another layer of jest to the gesture. As India’s election nears, Bollywood can be seen embracing the BJP's political ideology The selection of jalebi as a symbolic gift was not arbitrary. During a recent campaign stop in Guhana, Haryana, Rahul Gandhi sampled jalebi from a local shop and remarked that the sweet should be produced on an industrial scale, making it available not only throughout India but also to global consumers. The comment was met with ridicule from the BJP, who pointed out that "jalebi factories do not exist." As a result, jalebi started trending on social media as a topic of political satire. On the day of the election results, as it became clear that the BJP was set to retain power for a third consecutive term in Haryana, several party leaders seized upon the jalebi reference to troll the Congress. Celebrations were in full swing, with Rajasthan Chief Minister and BJP leader Bhajanlal Sharma even taking up a ladle to fry some jalebis himself. The BJP’s sweet gesture of sending jalebi to Rahul Gandhi’s doorstep not only underscored their electoral triumph but also served as a reminder of the political banter exchanged during the campaign. Source: Agencies

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to leave for New Delhi on Saturday to attend her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony at his invitation. PM's speechwriter, M Nazrul Islam, today confirmed her joining in the swearing-in ceremony scheduled for Sunday (June 9). She will return home on June 10, he added. Modi is likely to take oath as the prime minister of India for the historic third term in a row on June 9 after his BJP-led NDA alliance won 293 seats in the elections for 543-member Lok Sabha, the lower house of Indian parliament. PM Hasina and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremsinghe are among the foreign leaders who have been invited to witness Modi’s oath-taking ceremony. Earlier, Modi invited Hasina to attend the swearing-in ceremony of his government,  and she accepted the invitation. Modi has thanked PM Hasina for her warm wishes following his election victory. Prime Minister Hasina was among the first foreign leaders to congratulate Modi, reflecting the warmth and personal rapport between the two leaders. "India and Bangladesh share historic relations, which have seen unprecedented growth in the last decade," Modi said. In a message shared through X, Modi said he looks forward to working together to further strengthen the people-centric partnership between Bangladesh and India. Earlier, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina congratulated Narendra Modi on the resounding victory of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Lok Sabha election. "As the leader of the largest democracy in the world, you carry the hopes and aspirations of the people of India," she said. Modi received a congratulatory telephone call from Sheikh Hasina for the victory of NDA, according to the Press Information Bureau of India. The two leaders pledged to continue working together to further deepen the historic and close ties under the renewed mandate towards achieving Viksit Bharat 2047 and Smart Bangladesh 2041. They acknowledged the significant improvements achieved in the lives of the people of both countries in the last decade and looked forward to further enhancing the transformative relationship across all domains that include economic and development partnership, energy security, connectivity including digital linkages and people-to-people contacts among others. PM Narendra Modi called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday and tendered his resignation along with the Union council of ministers.

Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud today (June 05, 2024) congratulated the winning alliance led by BJP and the people of India for exercising their democratic rights in the just-held election in India. The Foreign Minister also congratulated the Congress-led alliance INDIA. “We congratulate NDA, INDIA and the people of India for continuing the democratic trend. It’s an inspiration and example of democracy,” he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs while responding to a question. The BJP emerged victorious on 240 out of 543 seats, while the Congress secured 99 seats. Despite the Lok Sabha having 543 members, counting was conducted for 542 seats following the uncontested election of BJP's Surat candidate, Mukesh Dalal. Hasan said a new government will soon be formed in India and hoped that the relations between Bangladesh and India will reach to a new height with deeper cooperation and expansion of people-to-people ties. Read more: PM Hasina to visit New Delhi June 21-22 and China July 9-12 “This is the choice of the Indian people. The same alliance will be in power. Our ties will continue. Our relationship with India is based on the spirit of 1971 Liberation War and bonded through shared sacrifice and blood,” said the Foreign Minister. He said opposition parties in India play a responsible role which is not seen in Bangladesh. Responding to a question on the water-sharing issue, Hasan said the government of Bangladesh deals with the central government of India and they will continue discussion on fair share of water of common rivers. “We have excellent relations with India. This special relationship cannot be compared to anyone else,” Hasan said. Read more: Dhaka's interest to join BRICS: Beijing assures its support to Dhaka

About 80 chartered flights have landed at the new international airport of India's holy city of Ayodhya for Monday’s partial opening of the controversial grand temple for one of Hinduism’s most revered deities, Lord Ram. Ayodhya’s airport can barely accommodate the influx of private jets. “The planes will depart after dropping guests,” airport manager Saurabh Singh said. The temple was built over an ancient razed mosque, and most political opposition leaders are boycotting the temple's opening, saying it doesn't befit a secular India. However, the list of attendees boasts some of India's most influential people: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, industrialists Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani and Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan. Ahead of the upcoming general election, Modi’s Hindu nationalist party is using the elaborate consecration ceremony to lobby the country's Hindu majority. Read more: Ancient Temples of Bangladesh: Remembering Their Past Glory THE LEGEND OF RAM, THE PRINCE OF AYODHYA The temple will be the sacred abode of one of the Hindu pantheon's most popular gods Ram, who Hindus believe was born at the exact site in Ayodhya. Millions of Hindus worship Lord Ram with an intense belief that chanting his name in times of adversity will bring peace and prosperity, and most of those who practice Hinduism keep idols of Ram in their homes. Major Hindu festivals like Dussehra and Diwali are associated with mythological tales of Ram extolling the virtues of truth, sacrifice and ethical governance. The mythological Hindu epic “Ramayan," which tells the story of Ram’s journey from prince to king, has often been adapted in popular culture. One of the most-viewed fabled shows is the TV series “Ramayan” created in the 1980s which continues to have a faithful audience. Ram’s divinity is not only the dominant religious force in India but also part of the ancient cultural heritage in countries like Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar and Malaysia. Read more: A Hindu temple built atop a razed mosque in India is helping Modi boost his political standing A TEMPLE RISES Spread over nearly 3 hectares, the temple — which is still being built— has an estimated cost of $217 million. It's made with pink sandstone, adorned with intricate carvings, and has 46 doors — 42 of which will have a layer of gold. Anil Mishra, a member of the trust overseeing the construction, said the temple blends traditional design with cutting-edge technology and is “crafted without the use of iron, steel, or cement." A 1.3-meter (4.25-foot) dark stone sculpture depicting Ram was installed in the temple’s inner sanctum for Monday’s consecration. The religious ritual of “Pran Pratishtha," which signifies giving life to the idol, will be conducted according to Hindu Vedic scriptures. The deity can then receive and bless devotees. After the ceremony, the temple will open to the public and an estimated 100,000 devotees are likely to visit daily, authorities say. AYODHYA, PAST AND PRESENT The city known for its narrow lanes crowded with Hindu pilgrims and shops selling miniature Ram idols, has been given a facelift with modern infrastructure and services. Ayodhya’s modest airstrip has grown into an expansive international airport with a 2.2-kilometer (about 1.4-mile) runway in the first phase. The clean railway station has a daily passenger capacity of about 50,000 people. “The historical and spiritual significance of Ayodhya makes it a compelling destination,” and a huge surge in demand is anticipated, said Ravi Singh, a representative of the Indian Hotels Company Limited. THE CONTROVERSY Ayodhya has been at the center of India’s turbulent politics and the Hindu majoritarian quest to redeem the country’s religious past for decades. Its diverse, multicultural past was overrun by strident Hindu nationalism after mobs demolished the 16th-century Babri mosque in 1992. Hindus won a prolonged legal battle in 2019, allowing them to build the temple. Hindus make up about 80% of India’s population but the country is also home to some 200 million Muslims who have frequently come under attack by Hindu nationalists. Modi has been the face of an unprecedented, and unapologetic, fusion of religion and politics in India and led the temple’s groundbreaking ceremony in 2020. Critics say the idea of a diverse, constitutionally secular state leading a Hindu religious ritual is deplorable. Most opposition leaders have declined the invitation, saying the event is being used for political campaigning by Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which promised to build a Ram temple as part of its election strategy. Modi has asked people to publicly celebrate the consecration by lighting lamps at homes and temples. The message is clear: Mobilization of Hindu voters will be a key issue in the upcoming national election as Modi looks to extend his rule for a record third-consecutive term. Read more: India's Modi is set to open a controversial temple in Ayodhya in a grand event months before polls

India’s Congress Party has been criticised for its statement on the Israel-Hamas war. Over 3,000 people have been killed in the most recent conflict between Israel and Hamas. The Congress denounced the attacks on the Israeli people on Sunday (October 08, 2023), noting that violence never solves anything, reports NDTV. After Hamas fired 5,000 rockets from Gaza into Israel, a full-fledged conflict broke out. Also read: Palestinians scramble for safety as Israel pounds sealed-off Gaza Strip to punish Hamas The Congress Working Committee (CWC), voiced "dismay and anguish" over the conflict and reiterated its support for the Palestinian people's right to "land (and) self-government, and to live with dignity and respect". Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh stated that his party has always maintained that the genuine aspirations of the Palestinian people must be met through dialogue while safeguarding Israeli national security concerns, the report said. Also read: What to know on fifth day of latest Israel-Palestinian war The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) slammed the statement, claiming that Congress was “supporting Hamas”. The BJP accused the opposition of being a "hostage to minority vote bank politics" and of sponsoring terrorism, it added. "Congress' CWC resolution on the Israel war is a classic example of how Indian foreign policy was hostage to Congress' minority vote bank politics, until Modi happened," BJP MP Tejasvi Surya said, adding "A reminder of how quickly things will go back to zero if we aren't vigilant in 2024." Also read: Israel-Hamas war: Humanitarian groups scrambling to assist civilians Prime Minister Narendra Modi has strongly denounced the acts and stated unequivocally that India stands with Israel. The war's total death toll has surpassed 3,000, and Israel's military has announced the construction of a base for thousands of soldiers in preparation for the next phase of reprisal. Late Monday, Hamas warned it was ready to execute captives it had captured if Israel attacked.

The Indian government has put forward a bill ensuring a third of seats for women in the lower house of the parliament and state assemblies. The bill, which was initially presented in 1996, has been in the works for decades, amidst objections from various political parties, reports BBC. Also read: Modi opponents boycott opening of new parliament building as PM reshapes India’s power corridor Its return is likely to bolster the chances of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) luck in national elections next May, it said. The bill was introduced during the first session of the new Indian parliament, but it is still a long way from becoming law. It would need the consent of both houses of the parliament and a majority of state legislatures, as well as the signature of the Indian president. Also read: Silence on Manipur ethnic violence prompts no-confidence vote against Indian PM Modi The reported proposals to raise the total number of seats might complicate implementation even further, the report said. Indian Prime minister Narendra Modi lauded the proposed law and said it was a historic occasion for the country in his inauguration speech at the new parliament building. "The world understands that only talking of women-led development is not enough. This is a positive step taken on that front," he told politicians as he appealed to them to support the bill. He also took a shot at the opposition, claiming that the past Congress-led administrations had failed to pass the measure while they were in office. Also read: Hasina, Modi agree to resolve outstanding bilateral issues through talks "There have been discussions around women's reservations for years. We can say with pride that we have scripted history," he said. Modi opened the new parliament building in May, but no business has been conducted there until now. He convened a five-day special session, which began on Monday but was held in the old parliament building on the first day. Members of the two houses gathered for a picture session in the old building on Tuesday morning, followed by a ceremony commemorating parliament's history in the Central Hall of the British-era structure. They subsequently relocated to the new parliament, which was formally named as the Parliament House of India by the office of the lower house of parliament.

A spokesperson of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has labeled the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) as the “most corrupt organization in the world” amidst a drive at BBC’s offices as part of an investigation by income tax authorities of the country. BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia made the remarks today, saying, “India is a country which gives an opportunity to every organization, as long as you don't spew venom.” He also said that the searches were legal and that the timing had nothing to do with the government, reports BBC. Earlier today, the country’s Income Tax department officials conducted searches at BBC’s offices in New Delhi, reports Associated Press. The search was conducted a few weeks after a controversial documentary about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's involvement in the 2002 anti-Muslim riots was released. Also read: DU students protest BJP spokespersons’ derogatory remarks on Prophet Muhammad Last month, India banned the two-part documentary, titled "India: The Modi Question," and authorities scrambled to halt screenings and restrict social media clips of the program, which critics and political opponents decried as an assault on press freedom. The documentary was described as a "propaganda piece designed to push a particularly discredited narrative" that lacked objectivity by India's Foreign Ministry.  

A 64-year-old former school teacher in India scripted history on Thursday by being the youngest and first tribal politician to win the presidency.  Droupadi Murmu, a former state governor who was fielded by India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, defeated her main challenger and opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha, a former finance minister, by a huge margin. Murmu is slated to take oath of office on July 25, replacing incumbent head of state Ram Nath Kovind whose five-year tenure ends a day before. Also read: Voting underway to elect new India President Voting to elect India's 15th President was held on Monday, where more than 95% of the eligible 4,500-plus lawmakers across the country exercised their franchise. In India, the President is elected not directly by the people but by the members of both Houses of Parliament -- the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha -- and state assemblies and federal government-ruled Territories. Like in Bangladesh, the Indian President is the ceremonial head of state who does not exercise executive powers. Who's Murmu? Born in independent India on June 20 in 1958, Murmu completed her graduation in 1979 and began her career as a government employee before becoming a school teacher. She subsequently made a foray into the eastern Indian state of Odisha's politics, first as a local civic body councillor and then as a legislator. Also read: India's top court frees leading Muslim journo The two-term legislator went on to become a minister in the Odisha government in 2000. And some 15 years later, Murmu was sworn in as the first woman Governor of the neighbouring eastern state of Jharkhand. In her personal life, Murmu lost her husband and their two sons. While her husband died of a cardiac arrest, one of her two sons was found dead under mysterious circumstances in 2009. She has a daughter.

India’s latest round of political trouble stemming from the remarks made by two BJP leaders continues to grow. Its initial effects were more external but now disruptions and violence are more visible within India. It’s polarising the population along several lines and not just religious but others as well. Every group which has a conflict with the other are up in arms. These conflicts and disruptions point to the fragility of One India as an idea that dominates India. Indian politics, both under the colonials and later is driven by this theme of One. But now it’s taking a hit. The result is a signal that India’s political model needs to adjust to contemporary aspirations of the state as a whole in its modern incarnation. India’s historical baggage “India” was essentially the Magadha centre based in North India which ruled over the regions claiming various rights including divine ones. This process of conquest is narrated in the two great epics, Mahabharat and Ramayana as holy tasks. This is common in every history of any region. The Holy Roman Empire, the Islamic Ummah to European colonialism, all basically reflect this aspiration. With India, the difference was that the Magadhan conqueror was conquered and this break was psychologically fundamental to the Indians.  Imperial India led by elephant armies was defeated by the horse riding swifter armies of central Asia –Mohammed Ghori- that tore a continuous North India dominated history asunder. Understandably, they became the permanent enemy and since it represented a break, repairing the historical break has become a task that most Indians believe in. READ: Angry protests hit India over new short-term military jobs British colonials replaced another colonial power –Mughals- in most Indian eyes. Thus it was much easier for many locals to collaborate and cooperate as their loyalty to the Turko-Afghan state was naturally missing. The British also took advantage of the situation and marginalised the pre-British elite, the Turko-Afghan elite. The problem was that many Indians, mostly peasants had converted to Islam the elite were only a few thousand but the followers of the faith of the central Asian invaders were millions and as one single marginalized group became impossible to ignore. They had become almost a quarter of India’s population and it’s this demography that influenced colonial history. Thus the Pakistan movement became the movement of the conquerors and still does. Bangladesh, which India helped birth, is a better deal than Pakistan but still not really India, a hope Hindu Mahasabha had in 1971. Thus, India appears truncated to many Indians and the trauma of the Central Asian conquest, strengthened by the birth of Pakistan lives on. Hindu-Muslim issue The invader population is Muslim and the invaded are Hindus in Indian eyes.  Hence the historic issue has profound sociological implications.  If the British used, “divide and rule” policy as some claim –they were already divided- the Indians ruling class currently is using a “divide to rule” policy that is creating problems that goes beyond electoral politics. It may be producing a dysfunctional state or sorts. Minorities in every south Asian country are excluded to a certain degree including in Bangladesh. However, whether they are seen as hostile or not is important. In India they are and BJP has ridden to power using that historical trauma packaged in modern semiotics, particularly packaging it in Pakistan marked boxes. By denying a full sense of citizenship to Muslims, India may feel close to having achieved some collective revenge of the conquest. The problem is this is the present and not the past that India battles now. Price of history? It’s not a Hindu-Muslim issue but past vs the present issue and the impact is higher. India is the only Hindu state in the world but there are many Muslim states making India isolated and seen as discriminatory against Muslims. India doesn’t look good which would be fine if it didn’t matter. But India wants to be a big power which is tough to achieve with such a toxic brand that India has now produced. The world isn’t interested in India’s past but its present. India today looks oddly old fashioned in its anti- Muslim policy. The levels of support for the 2 BJP leaders have ballooned naturally, as has inter-faith community clashes. The inevitable fall out is an assured victory of the BJP in the next elections but  India’s  status as an inclusive power appealing to mid-level states , many of whom are Muslim majority is vastly reduced. And that in a few years may have an impact beyond the pleasures of winning 2023.

India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday sacked two of its spokespersons over their recent controversial remarks against Prophet Muhammad that triggered a major diplomatic row with the Gulf states. Announcing the suspension of BJP national spokesperson Nupur Sharma from her post and expulsion of its Delhi media cell head, Naveen Kumar Jindal, the party said that it “respects all religions”. “The BJP does not promote such persons or philosophy… it (the BJP) strongly denounces the insult of any religious personalities of any religion,” the party said in a statement. Also read: AL, BJP discuss improvement of relations between them In fact, the BJP swung into firefighting mode after two of the Gulf states -- Qatar and Kuwait, with which India shares close ties -- summoned the Indian envoys in their respective countries to lodge their "strong protest" over their controversial remarks. Qatar's Foreign Ministry made it clear to Indian Ambassador Deepak Mittal that it was "expecting a public apology and immediate condemnation of these remarks from the Government of India". "Allowing such Islamophobic remarks to continue without punishment, constitutes a grave danger to the protection of human rights and may lead to further prejudice and marginalization, which will create a cycle of violence and hate," the Gulf state said. Kuwait's Foreign Ministry too demanded a "public apology (from the BJP) for these hostile statements". India's main opposition Congress party, however, lashed out at the BJP over the fiasco and questioned if the ruling outfit was on a course correction mode. Also read: Riding on 'Brand Modi', BJP wins big in India state elections "The placatory expulsion of two key members and spokespersons of the BJP from its primary membership, done obviously under duress of threats from external powers, exposes the much touted ‘muscular posturing’ and positioning of the BJP and the Modi Government. Is the BJP sincere in course correcting?" the Congress said in a statement.