Ben Affleck says he started drinking as he felt trapped in a marriage with Jennifer Garner 2
Hollywood star Ben Affleck says he struggled with drinking during his marriage to Jennifer Garner, with whom he shares three children.
During an appearance on the Howard Stern Show on Monday, Affleck, 49, who is back with former girlfriend Jennifer Lopez now, said he’d started to feel trapped in the marriage with Garner. The former couple raises Violet, 16, Seraphina, 12, and Samuel, 9, reported People magazine.
“I’d probably still be drinking. It’s part of why I started drinking … because I was trapped,” the ‘Argo’ director admitted to Howard Stern of feeling unhappy in his marriage to Garner, 49. “I was like ‘I can’t leave ’cause of my kids, but I’m not happy, what do I do?’ What I did was drink a bottle of scotch and fall asleep on the couch, which turned out not to be the solution.” Affleck has been in and out of rehab multiple times for alcohol addiction, including in 2001, 2017 and 2018, when he and Garner finalized their divorce.
The “Gone Girl” star, who wed Garner in 2005 and later separated in 2015, also Stern that he and Garner tried their best to save the marriage but it did not work out.
”The truth was, we took our time, we made the decision … We grew apart,” Affleck explained.
“We had a marriage that didn’t work, this happens, with somebody that I love and respect, but to whom I shouldn’t be married any longer. Ultimately, we tried. We tried, we tried because we had kids. Both of us felt like we don’t want this to be the model that our kids see of marriage.” Affleck is now back with Lopez, with whom the actor rekindled his romance after calling off their engagement in 2004.
India Test captain Virat Kohli on Wednesday asserted that he will play in the upcoming ODI series in South Africa, putting to rest speculations about his availability and his equation with newly-appointed white-ball skipper Rohit Sharma.
“I was and I am available for selection all the time. I never communicated with BCCI asking for rest. I am available for the ODI series in South Africa, and was always available,” Kohli said during the pre-departure press conference before the tour of South Africa.
Over the last two days, speculation has been rife that not all is well between Kohli and Rohit, who will not play the Tests due to a hamstring injury.
Shortly before the T20 World Cup got underway in the UAE, Kohli had announced his decision to step down as India’s T20I captain after the tournament.
India will play three Tests against South Africa, starting December 26, followed by as many ODIs in January.
Maharashtra government slashes RT-PCR rates to Rs 1,975 from 4,500 5
The Maharashtra government has once again slashed the price of the RT-PCR test at Mumbai airport. In the beginning, the price was Rs 4,500. Then it was cut down to Rs 3,900. And now it is slashed to Rs 1,975, said a press release.
Today the notification regarding the same will be issued and airport authorities will be informed. Before this, Mumbai airport had the highest RT-PCR rates and this was burning a hole in the wallets of the passengers. Especially those passengers who were from the same group or family.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra reported 684 new Covid-19 cases, 686 recoveries, and 24 deaths in the last 24 hours, said the state health bulletin on Tuesday. 8 more patients were found infected with Omicron in the state on Tuesday.
Out of these 7 are from Mumbai and one patient is from Vasai Virar. Till date, a total of 28 patients infected with Omicron have been reported in the state. Out of these, 9 have been discharged after a negative RT-PCR test report.
BMC Elections – Shiv Sena will be in a win-win situation 7
The 2022 BMC elections would be very critical because there are several factors that may influence them. Let us assume that in 2022 BJP has a good number of corporators elected. Though BJP will have the highest number it is difficult for them to cross the majority margin, single-handedly. Wherein, Shiv Sena will naturally join hands with INC & NCP and elect their mayor. Also, SS-INC-NCP already has the upper hand as they presently are in power in the state. And with power what attracts is ‘Money’ & ‘Votes’. Here it is really getting difficult for BJP to cross the majority margin against this TRIO and should search for a friend but hardly any option.
BJP (Hindutva + Modi factor + non-Maharashtrian vote bank) + Friend (New Saffron agenda + Maharashtrian vote bank) can get some fortune for BJP in civic polls. The need is for the committed Hindu voters of SS, NCP & Congress to support BJP. The shifting loyalties from NCP and Congress to BJP could be a remote possibility, however, committed Shiv Sena voters will continue to vote for SS as their personal needs and requirements can only be fulfilled by SS and not by anybody else.
Moreover, most Soldiers are actually pleased with the MVA govt functioning especially the top Shiv Sena leadership as they believe that their leaders are adhering to their unique style, they are familiar with from party inception especially on all matters of state and party governance. As per current and near-future situations, Shiv Sena and NCP are sure to fight together for BMC Elections. Congress may not fight jointly but is almost sure to join a post-poll alliance with Shiv Sena and NCP.
BJP never had a stronghold in BMC historically. However, if they are able to create a secret alliance with parties like MNS, they may have some chance to put up a fight. Considering the present situation Shiv Sena-NCP alliance (& Congress) seems to be the sure winner in the 2022 BMC Elections. Even if Shiv Sena goes alone, they will successfully pull the count they need. In this entire equation, BJP has to really juggle various factors. Internally the party is divided into various groups. Devendra is almost overpowered and shadowed by leaders like Chandrakant Dada Patil and old players of BJP. Those who can influence civic polls for the party have their own ego issues.
The Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) led by Advocate Prakash Ambedkar too jumped in Mumbai civic polls. The party is planning to contest from 80-90 seats in the BMC election and will hold a press conference on Monday to announce its alliance. The VBA plans to contest seats that have a substantial number of Dalit and Muslim populations where VBA claims to have worked at ground level. Whereas neither Ambedkar nor his party ever contributed anything to Mumbaikar’s life or the city’s development for that matter. In civic polls people really don’t care for the party, they vote for a candidate. They don’t see who is Dalit or Brahmin, if the corporator has given his/her best in the respective constituency no one can really discredit them.
This is the time even local people support the candidate who stands for them, who is providing water, sanitation and road issues. If you visit Mumbai you will find, the inner road works, toilet building and pipeline work for water supply are in full swing, some corporators went beyond water meter and gutter, they are arranging vaccination camps, supply of grains and educational aid. What people want is attention and timely help from their local leaders. In my constituency, our corporator has donated some garden chairs for senior citizens. He goes to every society and talks to people. He is building that friendly rapport with people.
Some corporators approach bhajan mandali, Satsang and yoga groups, providing them aids and support. Tree plantation camps to donate blood are on. Hence, I believe it is too difficult to win a seat for those political parties who have not made any contribution to people’s life. Some political parties may not win many seats but they can create a negative impact or any kind of political damage on the bigger parties in the civic elections. It is about which party or candidate has done good work in a particular ward. Aam Aadmi Party is another dark horse, they are slowly gaining momentum. But to sum up, I can say, it’s only Shiv Sena that would get a huge mandate.
Prakash Ambedkar and his party never contributed to Mumbai local issues
Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi to contest 80-90 seats in the BMC election 9
Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi is planning to contest from 80-90 seats in the BMC election and will hold a press conference on Monday to announce its alliance. The VBA plans to contest 80-90 seats in the upcoming civic polls in February 2022. The VBA plans to contest seats that have a substantial number of Dalit and Muslim populations where VBA claims to have worked at ground level. Political experts and analysts, feel that even if Ambedkar commands respect and influence among urban Dalit masses, it is questionable how much of it will translate into votes for them.
Ramdas Athawale, president of the Republican Party of India (RPI-A) said, “There is no significant work done by the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi in Mumbai. We have a stronghold in Mumbai. As in 1992 Congress and RPI coalition and the 20-22 years long Sena and BJP’s alliance was stirred. The majority is with us, with the RPI. Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi can’t give a strong fight. BJP and RPI have Brahmins, North Indians, Dalits, Christians, etc along with them. That’s why Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi’s presence will not affect anyone for that matter. Some Dalit votes might be gained by them, but nothing major.”
Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) does not have a strong network in Mumbai, at least not strong enough to win a seat. As they have no exclusive contribution here. The party does not have that much strong influence in the city for the civic elections. Ahead of the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) led by Advocate Prakash Ambedkar announced the party’s coalition partner.
Aam Aadmi Party’s Dhananjay Shinde said, “Looking at Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi’s role in 2019 Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha elections, their unity has disseminated. Many of their leaders have left their party and joined others. The power of influence they had in 2019 has now completely disappeared. Their existence is negligible. If it was 100 per cent at that time, today it has reduced to 10 per cent in my opinion. So, there will be no major effect of their presence over the current elections. Even in the Dalit community, the belief in this political party is extinct.”
Waris Pathan, Spokesperson, AIMIM said, “Whatever number of seats they want to contest is their matter of concern. We will contest the elections with full spirit. And our president has said that in winter session in Nagpur, if they give five per cent reservation, then we won’t contest elections. If they don’t then we will have to fight. And we believe that the public will stand with us and support us. Our matters of concern are different. Our issues are regarding development, the apathy of roads, etc. The Mumbai Corporation has a budget of over 30000 crores, which is more than the budget of some states. But still, the condition is not good. One day’s rainfall damaged Mumbai Road completely. Many cases against the contractors have also been filed. So, if something good is to be done for Mumbai, we will do it. Last time we won 2 seats, this time our corporators will win even more.”
Avdhut Wagh a BJP spokesperson said, “Corporation’s elections are not fought this way. They are fought on the basis of local civic issues. The base of Bahujan Vanchit Aghadi is religion and caste, and not related to local citizens’ basic issues like ‘gutter, meter and water’. So, they won’t be able to make any impact. Their Impact level is literally zero. They can’t even form a coalition with anyone. Because their ego is so huge. The MVA is united. Congress wants to go independently. BJP has already declared to go by themselves. No one knows with whom Shiv Sena will collaborate. They have many corporators. There are many questions. BJP, Congress and Shiv Sena have their dedicated pockets. But since 2002, the Nationalist Congress hasn’t had any pockets. NCP has their limited 8-10 seats for which they will contest. NCP could have the maximum benefit if it goes along with Shiv Sena. Congress needs to make sure that Shiv Sena cannot win the election on its own. They need to make a situation that with their help only a new Mayor will be elected. Congress has its pockets in Dharavi, Malwani, Mumbadevi, etc. They will be elected for sure. In all of these scenarios, Vanchit Bahujan has no role to play. There will be no representative of theirs who will be elected. No matter they fight for 90 or 227. They will contest, but won’t win. The fight everywhere will be between BJP vs Shiv Sena, Congress vs Shivsena, BJP vs NCP. Everywhere BJP will win seats. It is a neck-to-neck fight. This is a corporation’s election. People here vote for their candidates.”
Vijayan attacks Rahul Gandhi's "soft Hindutva" politics, bats for secular regional alternative against BJP 11
Attacking Rahul Gandhi’s Jaipur speech calling for establishing a ”rule of Hindus” in India after ousting ”Hindutva” government, Kerala Chief Minister and senior CPI(M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday alleged that the Congress leader was putting forward an idea of a ”soft Hindutva” alternative against the BJP at the Centre and it will further weaken the Congress.
Stating that the Congress could not provide a credible alternative against the BJP at the Centre, Vijayan, a senior member of the CPI(M) politburo, also said it is now clear that a secular alternative of the regional parties will emerge at the national level and the Left could provide a direction to it.
He said the upcoming Party Congress of the CPI(M) will deliberate the issue. Referring to Rahul Gandhi’s speech at the recent Congress rally in Jaipur, the Kerala Chief Minister said the Congress leader’s endorsement of politics based on religion was undermining secularism and that the only way to fight the BJP’s ”communal politics” was to form an alliance of regional parties in which the Left has a key role.
”Rahul Gandhi’s statement is part of the soft Hindutva stand adopted by the Congress party long ago. He has only re-emphasised that policy in Jaipur,” Vijayan said, inaugurating the CPI(M) Ernakulam district conference here.
Addressing the rally against inflation in Jaipur on Sunday, Rahul Gandhi had said India is a country of Hindus and not Hindutvadis who want to be in power at any cost. ”I am Hindu and not Hindutvadi,” he had said, adding that the Hindutvadis have to be ”ousted” once again and the ”rule of Hindus” have to be brought in the country.
Lashing out at Gandhi, Vijayan today said because of this kind of ”soft Hindutva” policy of the Congress party, many of its leaders have now become the leaders of the BJP.
”People have lost faith in the Congress. The followers of that party have lost faith in it. In such a scenario, the Congress could not be seen as an alternative against the BJP,” the Chief Minister said.
Claiming that there are no differences in the economic policy of the Congress and the BJP, the Communist leader said the regional parties with secular outlook are very strong in many states and the Left should work to rally them against the BJP government at the Centre. ”Obviously, a secular alternative will emerge at the national level,” Vijayan said.
Speaking about the political situation in Kerala, the Chief Minister alleged that the BJP and the Congress-led UDF were trying to put hurdles in the path of the functioning of the Left government, which was re-elected to power in April this year.
He accused the UDF and the BJP of trying for a communal polarisation in the state and said the social media platform was being misused for that purpose.
Vijayan also attacked the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), alleging that the key UDF partner was forging an alliance with outfits like Jamaat-e-Islami to target his government.
Referring to the recent IUML rally held in Kozhikode against the state government’s Waqf Board policy, the Chief Minister said the slogans raised in the rally were an indication that the Congress ally was influenced by the ideologies of radical religious outfits.
Shiv Sena’s Hindutva, Congress’s Secularism and NCP’s Marathi Asmita combination worked in Maharashtra. On the other hand, BJP was waiting for the right time to capture power in Maharashtra because there were speculations that the Sena-INC-NCP led coalition government called Maha Vikas Aghadi won’t last for long. Meanwhile, BMC elections are going to be important for all the Parties. Eyeing on BMC election state politics colludes with various conspiracies and attacks.
BJP has tried its best to provoke Shiv Sainiks by making sensitive statements or evoking Balasaheb Thackeray sentiments. This time it was Uddhav’s Shiv Sena and he beautifully controlled his cadres. Well, there are possibilities of them getting re-elected in 2024 as the Shiv Sena has the strong support of the people of Maharashtra especially in Mumbai and its surrounding areas. They can get re-elected if the Maha Vikas Aghadi government completes its five-year term and if the three major parties, Shiv Sena, NCP and the Congress fight the elections together. Shiv Sena would be widely supported by the urban areas of Maharashtra. The NCP also has a large support base in the state. The Congress, though they have become weak, by 2024 will also probably retain their support within the people of Maharashtra.
Shiv Sena should avoid making mistakes like regional parties in other states. They lost their ground because of their arrogance. In Karnataka Deve Gowda who took over power from Ramakrishna Hegde in 1994, became too aggressive and arrogant. The party started diminishing. Now even the top leaders of the party are unable to win an election. Similar is the case in respect of Samajwadi Party, BSP, RJD, RLD, INLD, TDP, CPIM, etc. TMC, and Congress, too are following them in letter and spirit. Shiv Sena needs to shed their arrogance, open doors for people, meeting Uddhav Thackeray is really a tough task whereas Devendra was always available for the public.
BJP leaders might be cunning but they know how to woo their voters. Shiv Sena is losing grip on Shakhas. Shakhas were the main source of connection with the common public. Shiv Sena of Balasaheb era needs an hour. The MLA and MP count might rise in Shiv Sena but on the ground they are hollow. Uddhav needs to have the right approach and availability for the people.
In the meantime, BJP should avoid challenging the Sena-NCP-Congress coalition government using central investigating agencies against them. Somewhere people are losing faith in these agencies and whosoever raided for genuine reasons are also getting benefit as political vendetta. These days such raids are treated as celebrity status. Using frequent pressure tactics may not favour BJP for long.
Leaders of both, the BJP and the Shiv Sena, have made it amply clear that there might be differences between the two parties but they are not enemies. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut has said that they are not like India-Pakistan. We are like Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao. We may have parted ways but our friendship is intact. But these days they are exactly behaving like India and Pakistan. The recurring attacks on each other have curdled the political scenario in the state.
A series of decisions by the Bharatiya Janata Party central leadership in recent days has left former Devendra Fadnavis looking isolated and weakened in a party that once projected him as Maharashtra’s fresh-face, savvy, Gen Next Hindutva leader, with potential for elevation to the national stage. The promotion of Vinod Tawde as BJP general secretary from the position of national secretary, and the nomination of Chandrashekhar Bawankule for the Maharashtra Legislative Council polls, both dislikes of Fadnavis, are being seen as sure signs that the central leadership is clipping the wings of its former poster boy, making his future as the face of the party going into the 2024 elections uncertain. During his term in office, Fadnavis had side-lined Tawde.
Similarly, Bawankule, the former power minister and an OBC strongman in Nagpur, seen as a protégé of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, was also not given a ticket, reportedly costing the BJP at least six seats in the Vidarbha region.
The mistake Fadnavis made was to depend on outsiders for important issues. He relied on one Neeraj Gunde as a mediator to mend the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance. Praveen Darekar, from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, was made Opposition leader in the state council. Prasad Lad who joined BJP from NCP became Fadnavis’s confidante and an all-powerful advisor. A section within the BJP blames these two “outsiders” for “misleading” Fadnavis after the 2019 polls, leading to the collapse of the pre-election alliance with Shiv Sena when the results were announced, and the formation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition that denied BJP and Fadnavis another term. The next elections are in 2024, still, three more years to go, if BJP retrospect and Shiv Sena tame their attitude, then the state can see much more changing.
The death threat letter to Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar has stormed state politics. The Mayor has been provided with security after she received a death threat letter from an anonymous sender on Friday.
Maharashtra home minister Dilip Walse Patil told Afternoon Voice, “The search operation is on after Kishori Tai the Mumbai Mayor received a threat letter; we have provided her security. Whosoever is found to be the offender would be punished severely.”
Taking a jibe at Maha Vikas Aghadi, BJP MLA Ram Kadam said, “Providing Police security to Mayor in the Shiv Sena administration is a warning to the law-and-order situation in the state. By seeking security Mumbai Mayor silently accepts the shrunken law and order situation in the state. In this case, proper investigation is needed, the home department should speed up an inquiry and bring out the truth rather than playing politics.”
The letter, which also threatened to kill her family members, Kishori Pednekar, who is a leader of the ruling Shiv Sena, filed a complaint with Byculla Police station on Friday. The Mumbai mayor said the letter was full of vulgar language. A first information report (FIR) has been registered against an unidentified person under sections 506 (2) and 509 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and teams have been sent to Uran, Kharghar and Panvel in Navi Mumbai and Raigad as part of the probe.
Earlier on Wednesday, Pednekar approached the Mumbai police alleging harassment by a BJP leader Ashish Shelar. Pednekar lodged her complaint against Shelar at the Marine Drive police alleging that Shelar used objectionable language. Shelar last week criticized the mayor for her alleged delayed response in reaching out to the victims of a cylinder blast in Worli. Shelar targeted her saying whether Pednekar had been “sleeping for 72 hours”. His use of the word “sleeping” drew a sharp rebuke from the ruling parties.
Ashish Shelar told Afternoon Voice, “First of all I have not attributed my expressions to any individual. My question was to the government, are they sleeping? Means why the government is inactive and closed its eyes on people’s problems? Ruling party leaders twisted my statements to create political unrest.”
Veteran Journalist Rajiv Bajaj said, “In all my years in Mumbai, from 1993 as Editor of The Daily, later President of “In Time news” Mumbai, Editor in Chief of Sahara Samay. I have never heard of anyone daring to threaten a Shiv Sena Mayor (even a Minister or leader). If this is true it shows the time, we live in. A Mayor of Shiv Sena to receive a threat letter is a reflection of how Balasaheb’s party seems to have changed. And that is something Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray needs to introspect on.”
We spoke to Yamini Jadhav, MLA from Byculla constituency, “Law and Order of the state are in place. If the letter would have been ignored by the police officials, then we could have said that the law and order are displaced in the state. We could also blame the postal services for this. Since the letter was delivered by them. No one should dare do this again and that’s the reason the Mayor has come in front of the media. She is the mayor of Mumbai, Be it a common woman or even a prostitute for that matter. Nobody has the right to comment or write something like.”
“Some people have a problematic mindset and we can’t go about finding and fixing them all. We should not pay heed to such things. Kishori Tai as well as the women’s front is not affected by this. We still stand strong. We all stand with her. And this is nothing by which she will be afraid,” Jadhav further said.
Sheetal Mhatre, a Shiv Sena corporator from Dahisar said, “If their ministers are speaking such language about the Mayor, then there’s nothing new in it if their corporators also speak such things about her. This must be their culture and they are just following it. The ministers of other parties are speaking such language, then if their corporators will send such letters, then it will be nothing amusing for us. The opposition parties need to know their levels. They can’t do anything. They should understand what language to use for a woman. Opposition was always present, and arguments were always made in a respectful manner. No female leader was disrespected ever. The quality of politics is degrading and surely some measures will have to be taken. Even if Balasaheb is not present, his blessings are always with us. And we will properly handle and answer the concerned person.”
Shital Kardekar a Senior Journalist said, “Shiv Sena is in Power in state and city. If they take to the streets, that’s the wrong use of power. The situation will be nothing different than Bengal. Shiv Sena is doing responsible governance. The police have registered FIR and started investigating. Had Shiv Sena been in the opposition we all know how aggressive the reaction would be. To give a threat of life to a lady; the First Citizen of Mumbai is not right anyway. This is ill and internal politics within BJP. Some leaders are targeting Adv Ashish Shelar.”
Rupal Mistry said, “I am a proud Mumbaikar and feel very safe even today. Do not underestimate Shiv Sena or CM of Maharashtra, this is a dangerous trend started by BJP. They thought one letter to the mayor can indulge Shiv Sena in violence and somehow create unrest and demand for presidential rule, but that is not going to happen. Uddhav is responsible CM and he has to act vice.”
Radha Shere, a social activist says, “What kind of double standards are these? Shiv Sena leader calling a woman HaramKhor has not offended any MVA leader including Kishori Pednekar, who also called her rakshas (demon), today crying foul.” Shiv Sena leaders are accused of Murders and abetting suicide but no offence to womanhood?
Navya Singh, a Transgender model said, “When Balasaheb was alive, Mumbaikar used to feel safe. The crime rate was low and people were guarded on the shakha level. Look at the present time under his Son’s leadership Shiv Sena’s Mayor who is supposed to be the first citizen of Mumbai feeling threatened and living with police security.”
These days politics and religion are playing a big role, religious vote banks are a fate changer for many. When a Hindu gets converted to Christianity or Islam there is huge outrage and accusation but when a Muslim gets converted to Hinduism for whatever reason, they become stalwarts. You will see them in every news space. Panellists in prime-time debates, to add more to it, their sins are forgiven and they become political tools too.
We all have the right to choose our religion, we all are born not knowing anything about any God or any Religion. They don’t have any beliefs or any meaningful thoughts for that matter. As we grow up, we become religious by following the family we were born in, language to learn, what nationality to have, where to live, and with whom to live for the rest of our life. For the first few years or so of our lives, we have zero authority over that decision. Well, most of us love where we belong and many don’t find solace and they change their beliefs once they grow up to make that decision.
Nevertheless, people can decide to remain religious or to shun religion later on but if you can’t be loyal to one belief, how can you remain loyal to the one you adopted is a big question. In the recent past many Muslim men got converted to Hinduism for their own reasons, one common factor was that they all were abusing their earlier beliefs they lived for ages. India has a history of Muslims getting converted to Hinduism but none of them slammed Islamic practises or randomly abused the Prophet. They just moved dignifiedly.
Muslim scholar Hassan Palakkode, Aashish Khan, the son of sarod maestro Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, Nafisa Ali, former Miss India and leading social activist, Nargis Dutt (Fatima Rashid), famous Bollywood actress, Annapurna Devi (Roshanara Khan), famous musician, Revathi Masoosai, Muslim born Malaysian convert, Haridas Thakura – Prominent Vaishnavite saint born in 1450, instrumental in the early appearance and spread of Hare Krishna movement. He used to chant “Hare Krishna” 300,000 times daily! His Muslim name remains unknown to this day. Khushboo Sundar (born Khushboo Khan)- Tamil movie actress, Asha Gawli (born Aisha)- Wife of Arun Gawli, notorious gangster (dada) turned politician from Mumbai. Harilal Mohandas Gandhi – He was the son of Mahatma Gandhi (father of India) and converted to Islam. He was in Islam for a few months, before reverting back to Hinduism. Mohammad Umer – Bhopal born man whose marriage and conversion to Hinduism was upheld by an Indian High Court. More than 8,000 Muslims in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh converted to Hinduism from July 2014 – December 2014 under the Ghar Wapsi programme. The number of people converting from Islam to Hinduism is rising rapidly but none of them hit the headlines for the wrong reasons.
Hinduism (Sanatan Dharma) doesn’t require one to hate or undermine people from other faiths. Muslims & Christians are converting back to HINDUISM as they realise the importance of broad-mindedness and tolerance that they can pursue. Similarly, those elite class women and men converting to Islam, have their reasons. The dangerous trend is making these conversions for communal clashes and controversies. Some conversions have laughable reasons such as Furqan Ahmad, an e-rickshaw driver in Noida, an Uttar Pradesh urban sprawl contiguous to Delhi. After failing to secure an arms license from the district administration at Baghpat, where he is from, despite trying for it for six years, Ahmad tonsured his head, kept a choti, applied a tilak to his forehead, and declared before officials that he was now Hindu and that his new name was Phool Singh. The reason, Ahmad believed he has been denied a licence only because he is Muslim, and that the only way to overcome religious discrimination is to embrace Hinduism.
Shahzad Rana, a Muslim man in the Shamli district in Uttar Pradesh, converted to Hinduism along with his family. He claimed that Lord Ram has been appearing in his dreams, asking him to return to Hinduism. Following his conversion, Shahzad adopted the Hindu name Sanju Rana and approached the office of the district magistrate to make his conversion official. As per the claims made by him, his ancestors were Hindus, who were forced to convert to Islam.
Upset over Muslims Celebrating Gen Rawat’s Death on the Internet, Kerala Filmmaker Ali Akbar converted To Hinduism. Same time Rajasthan police arrested 28-year-old Manish Kumar Meena and 25-year-old Jeevanlal Ninama for allegedly posting “offensive” content on the crash. Many Hindu men were arrested from various places, is any Hindu getting converted? When ‘Love Jihad’ has been making headlines, a Muslim man got converted to Hinduism and married a Hindu girl at an Arya Samaj temple. He recited shlokas and took the seven vows walking around the fire as they got married at Bhopal in April 2016.
Well, Indian media and politics have made religion a top topic in the minds of people. I am not sure if the problem is truly as bad as they make it sound. I think Muslims who convert to Hinduism are accepting it because they feel welcomed. Conversion is not wrong if it’s done with an open mind and heart. Just like Shankaracharya who converted all Jains and Buddhists back to Hinduism. He did it in a very peaceful way through shastrarth (debate). Muslims may want to embrace Hinduism if possible.
But these days most of the Hindus who are pro-saffron parties are dishonest. They will defend the conversion saying Hinduism is a tolerant religion and Muslims who have converted to Hinduism have understood its significance and relevance. But when the vice versa happens, that is. Hindus who convert to Islam or Christianity are forcefully converted and rice-bag converts. This suits their propaganda well and helps in the mass mobilisation against Muslims and Christians. Many a time, Muslim girls convert to Hinduism for marriage but that is not highlighted in media. In such cases, we defend saying those Muslim girls willingly converted to Hinduism but when the vice versa will happen, they will say Hindu girls are ALWAYS forcefully converted. Media and politics are highly venomous to invite religious unrest.
Any suggestions, comments or disputes with regards to this article send us at feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com
Dr Vaidehi Taman to receive Honorary PhD in Journalism from The Commonwealth University 16
The Commonwealth University to confer Honorary Doctorate to Dr Vaidehi Taman, the Editor of Afternoon Voice, for her outstanding contribution towards journalism. For distinguishing herself professionally through meritorious service that has impacted journalism neutrally and positively.
The Commonwealth University will confer an honorary doctorate award (Doctor of Journalism – Honoris Causa) to Dr Vaidehi Taman.
Dr Vaidehi is editor of an English daily of Mumbai called Afternoon Voice; she is also the face of the upcoming digital news venture “The Democracy”.
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is a voluntary and non-profit regional accreditation commission. It performs peer evaluation and provides accreditation for higher education institutions.
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is recognized by the US Secretary of Education, as well as by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) to provide regional accreditation.
Dr Vaidehi said, “I am so excited and looking forward to receiving Honoris Causa, such experiences keep me motivated towards further learning. I believe in fair journalism because it is the most powerful weapon to combat life challenges with a high penchant to change the world.”
The event is scheduled to be held on December 18, 2021, in Gurgaon.
The death threat letter to Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar has stormed state politics. The Mayor has been provided with security after she received a death threat letter from an anonymous sender on Friday.
