From Amazon to Asset Monetisation, Policy Contradictions are Inherent in the Hindu Nationalist Ecosystem of Modi Government
If Amazon, with barely 2% of the retail market, can be called “East India Company 2.0”, how would one describe inviting foreign capital to buy into hitherto government monopolies?This piece was first published on The India Cable – a premium newsletter from The Wire & Galileo Ideas – and has been updated and republished here. To subscribe to The India Cable, click here. After accusing Infosys of working against Indian interests, the RSS-affiliated publication Panchjanya has described Amazon as “East India Company 2.0”, seeking a monopoly in Indian retail with “initiatives for seizing the economic, political and personal freedom of Indian citizens.” There are accusations that Amazon has spent $1.2 billion in legal fees or allegedly underhand payments to expand its Indian operations. The US authorities are ostensibly investigating. The Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM), affiliated to the RSS, has also argued that e-commerce giants like Amazon will hurt small traders and kirana stores in India. But the Reliance group and the Tatas are also in the same space (Jio Mart and Big Basket). The Tatas are tying up with Walmart to build a bigger e-commerce platform in India. If Amazon harms small kirana stores, so will Jio Mart, Big Basket and the
Indian police probe Christian wedding over conversion claims
Hindu activists disrupt the ceremony after claiming the Hindu bride was converted to ChristianityPolice have launched an investigation into the marriage of a Protestant couple after Hindu activists claimed the bride was a Hindu converted to Christianity in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Hindu extremists barged into the marriage reception in Indore town on Sept. 29 evening and disrupted the function. Even though the families of both bride and groom denied the allegations, the ruckus led to the police being summoned.“The couple and their family members were taken to the police station. The allegations of the Hindu activists were found to be false and they were let off,” Pastor Patras Savil, who is based in Indore, told UCA News on Sept. 30. “The newly wedded couple are Christians and their marriage reception was disturbed based on a false allegation of religious conversion.” No one from either family spoke to the media about the incident, apparently out of shock and fear. Police have started a probe into the marriage based on a complaint from an office bearer of Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajarang Dal, right-wing Hindu organizations opposed to Christians and their charitable work. “It is very sad that Christians are simply targeted for their
Another Pentecostal pastor arrested in Himachal Pradesh
Police arrested Rev Charlie John on charges of forced conversion aggravated by monetary inducement. For the president of the Global Council of Indian Christians, the “persecution of minority Christians must stop.” New Delhi (AsiaNews) – Last Tuesday evening, police in Rampur, a city of Himachal Pradesh (northern India), arrested a Pentecostal clergyman, Rev Charlie John, on charges of forced conversion using money to induce people to convert. The pastor was reportedly handing out Gospel booklets and Bibles in the village of Lalas when a group of extremists went up to him, ordering him to stop. In addition to Rev John, two brothers, Vishal and Keval Ram were also arrested on charges of forced conversion. When questioned, they rejected the accusations, reiterating their innocence. “I only offered the Bible, and I gave it to those who freely accept the Good News,” Rev John said. “If anyone refused, I didn't insist. We did not convert anyone; I'm even willing to offer the Bible, which is God's Word, even to the police. “What we do is share the Good News with people, tell them about Jesus, without forcing anyone to convert. The accusations made against me are totally false; I have never offered money for the conversion of
