The ‘Malegaon Boys’ button up brand-new shirts, set up their cameras, and strike Shah Rukh Khan poses to 1990s Bollywood songs between grueling loom shifts. Their Reels draw lakhs of views. For the first time, they feel seen.
Special NIA court acquitted 7 for 2008 blast, noting material inconsistencies & contradictions in statements that ‘undermined prosecution case and failed to establish guilt beyond doubt’.
Talking about “saffron terror” in a Hindu-majority democracy had hurt the Congress even in 2008. In today’s scenario, the consequences could be even worse. So, BJP cheers, Congress and Shiv Sena play safe.
Congress Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh told reporters following the verdict, 'There are no Hindu terrorists. Hatred gives birth to terrorism, not Hinduism, Islam or any other religion.'
BJP’s campaign against Congress had echoes of Amit Shah’s words in Lok Sabha a day prior. ‘I can proudly say before everyone today that Hindu can never be a terrorist,’ he’d said.
RSS’s Sunil Ambekar says bid to link entire Hindu community with terrorism stands rejected; VHP’s Surendra Jain adds, ‘false story of saffron terrorism Congress created has been exposed’.
Special judge AK Lahoti said that though 8 May was to be judgment day, the records & evidence in the Malegaon blast case were voluminous & that he required more time.
The movie was to hit theatres on 15 November, but an accused in the Malegaon bomb blast case petitioned Bombay HC against its release until the verdict was delivered.
In an email to Mukul Rohatgi, Nisar Ahmed, whose son died in 2008 Malegaon blast, said his appearance on behalf of accused Lt Col Purohit will create prejudice.
Contrary to naysayers, the RSS practices what it preaches. It is closer to the Gandhian teaching of improving the individual morally and spiritually to change the external environment.
This is the game every nation is now learning to play. Some are finding new allies or seeing value among nations where they’d seen marginal interest. The starkest example is India & Europe.
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