India, the world’s largest democracy, prepares to kick off its election season in just a matter of weeks. But activists and experts worry that the government is cracking down on platforms and internet service providers to silence critical voices, and tighten its grip on the information ecosystem.

On January 16, Raqib Hameed Naik, an Indian journalist and founder of the website Hindutva Watch, received a notice from X, formerly Twitter, that the website’s account had been blocked, by order of the Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). “I received frantic messages from people in India saying they cannot access the Hindutva Watch Twitter,” says Naik

Hindutva Watch, along with its sister site, the India Hate Lab, tracks incidents of religiously motivated violence perpetrated by supporters of the country’s right-wing government, helmed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Press freedom declined under Modi, leaving fewer spaces for those reporting critically of the government and the impact of its policies on the country’s minorities. In the lead up to elections, where Naik predicts a “surge in hate crimes,” Hindutva Watch’s information may be more critical than ever.

  • TxzK@lemmy.zip
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    9 months ago

    And guess where that temple was! In a controversial place where once a mosque was. It was attacked and destroyed. Then the Supreme Cock Suckers aka the Supreme Court decided it should be given to the Hindus for temple construction. What a load of bs.

    It’s a real shame. There are many things about India, it’s history, culture and linguistics that I really love. I’d love to visit one day, but that’s not happening when it’s run by a scums like that.

      • TxzK@lemmy.zip
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        9 months ago

        The mosque was named Babri Masjid and was in Ayodhya, India. It was built in 1528–29 and destroyed in 1992 by Hindu nationalists, claiming it was the birthplace of Rama, a major deity of Hinduism. According to Hindu nationalists, there once was a fort there known as Ramkot which was allegedly destroyed during the construction of the Mosque. Subsequently, there was a short excavation on that site, only lasting 15 days. Quoting Wikipedia:

        “The report of the excavation concluded that there were the ruins of “a massive structure” beneath the ruins of the mosque which was “indicative of remains which are distinctive features found associated with the temples of north India”, but found no evidence that the structure was specifically demolished for the construction of the Babri Masjid. The report received both praise and criticism, with some other archaeologists contesting the results of the report.”

        There was another excavation later in 2003, by Archaeological Survey of India. The report indicated what appears to be the presence of a 10th-century shrine under the mosque. Again, quoting Wikipedia:

        “a short-lived structure of nearly 50 metres with north–south orientation was constructed. On the remains of this structure, another massive structure was constructed: this structure had at least three structural phases and three successive floors attached with it. The report concluded that it was over this construction that the disputed structure was constructed during the early 16th century”

        Then it also goes on to say

        “Muslim groups immediately disputed the ASI findings. The Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust (Sahmat) criticised the report saying that it said that “presence of animal bones throughout as well as of the use of ‘surkhi’ and lime mortar” that was found by ASI are all characteristic of Muslim presence “that rule out the possibility of a Hindu temple having been there beneath the mosque.” The report claimed otherwise on the basis of ‘pillar bases’ was contested since no pillars were found, and the alleged existence of ‘pillar bases’ has been debated by archaeologists. Syed Rabe Hasan Nadvi, chairman of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) alleged that ASI failed to mention any evidence of a temple in its interim reports and only revealed it in the final report which was submitted during a time of national tension, making the report highly suspect.”

        So yeah, it’s complicated. But the thing is, the evidence of a temple isn’t entirely conclusive. And the “birthplace of Rama” is not even probable, as deities as far as we no do not exist irl. Anyway, even if there was a temple there, there’s no evidence that it was destroyed during the construction of the mosque. But whatever, because in 2010, Allahabad High Court originally gave one third of the land to Muslims to rebuilt the mosque, one third for constructing a temple and one third to a Hindu denomination which wanted to construct a temple very close to the site long before the destruction of the mosque but was denied by the court because it could potentially “threat” to public order. That was a really good solution in my opinion. All party were given something. There were compromises for both parties, but also their share.

        But then came Modi and Supreme Court decided fuck it, the entire thing belongs to Hindus for temple construction, even though they concluded that no evidence was found that the structure was specifically demolished for the construction of the Babri Masjid.

        So yeah, take it how you want to. But I take it as nationalists suppressing other groups of people. Either way, religions fucking suck and nationalism and ethnocracy sucks even more.

        • Midnight1938@reddthat.com
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          9 months ago

          I just find it hard to belive that people who desecrated hundreds of not thousands of temples over the years couldn’t have done the same in that area. That too in a city with history like Ayodhya.

          And to clarify, i belive youre mistaken to belive lord rama was a diety, as it clearly states in the books that he was a king.

          • TxzK@lemmy.zip
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            9 months ago

            Quoting Wikipedia:

            “It has been claimed to have been built upon the site of Ram Janmabhoomi, the legendary birthplace of Rama, a principal deity of Hinduism”

            And

            “Rama (/ˈrɑːmə/; Sanskrit: राम, IAST: Rāma, Sanskrit: [ˈraːmɐ]) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is the seventh and one of the most popular avatars of Vishnu. In Rama-centric traditions of Hinduism, he is considered the Supreme Being.”

            Seems pretty deity to to me. Whichever books you’re refering to, I don’t know. Maybe he was king in some legends or myths, but he’s also a deity worshipped by many.

            Also, yes it’s possible that they did destroy the temple at Ayodhya tho (assuming the structure was indeed a temple), there’s no denying. But at the same it, there’s no concrete evidence either. And without any concrete evidence, destroying that mosque was no different than destroying any temple. Both equally bullshit.