High on Hatred they Sought to set Sringeri on Fire
The forces that succeeded in setting fire on Bengaluru by posting inflammatory comments on social media tried to repeat it in Sringeri only to get their fingers burnt. This incident has revealed the Sangh Parivar’s systematic conspiracy to disturb peace and social harmony. It is clear again that the Sangh Parivar and its forces can go to any extent and unleash heinous crimes as part of their agenda to create intolerance, and drive a wedge between people in the name of caste and community. It is now the responsibility of the law enforcement agencies to unravel the networks of these anti-social elements.
Last Wednesday, some miscreants threw a green colour banner on Shankaracharya’s idol in Sringeri. As the colour of the banner was green and the idol belonged to Hindu religion, Sangha Parivar leaders declared that this act has been performed by members of a specific community even before the police could conduct an investigation. Sringeri suddenly became tense. A group of Sangha Parivar members raided the house of an innocent person and assaulted another. In addition to all of this, a sudden protest under the leadership of former minister D. N. Jeevaraj was held in front of the town police station. Anyone with basic education would understand that the banner does not belong to any community or party. But the former legislator did not have the patience to examine this. Instead, by issuing repeated inflammatory statements, he tried to set Sringeri on fire. For him, the need to trigger tension in Sringeri was more important than finding out whether the idol of Shankaracharya was really desecrated. The most dangerous element of his behavior was that during the protest, he referred to the derogatory statements made against Prophet Mohammad and defended it. This shows that the former legislator, maliciously, wanted to trigger in Sringeri the same kind of unrest that some localities in Bengaluru witnessed earlier this week. Though he made the statements right in front of the police station, the police have not yet acted against him. Instead, buckling under the pressure of the Sangh Parivar, they detained an innocent person who had nothing to do with the incident for an entire day.
Though the law is blind, the CCTV in the local mosque was alert and captured the footage of the alleged ‘anti-national, extremist, terrorist’. It showed that a person named Milind Pujari who has links with the Sangh Parivar entered the mosque, took the banner, and threw it on the idol of Shankaracharya. The next morning, citing a headache, he got himself admitted to a hospital. When the CCTV footage revealed the truth, the Sangh Parivar leaders immediately tucked their tails and withdrew into their burrows. At the same time, the police declared that ‘it was an act of a drunkard’ and announced that there is no role of any ‘Sangha’ or party. Let us assume that this was an act of a drunkard. However, in the absence of the CCTV in the mosque, wouldn’t the act have been portrayed as that of a ‘Muslim extremist’? If the real accused was not found, a gang of outlaws would have attacked Sringeri. Innocent people of a specific community would have lost their lives in the riots. The former minister’s statements had dropped such hints.
On a closer examination, it doesn’t appear that the entire episode does not appear to be an act committed by a drunkard. The accused Milind is already facing several cases and has a criminal history. He is not only facing two cases of theft but his links with Sangh Parivar leaders have now come into the open. The drunkard was very well aware that he was entering the mosque. Besides, the act of throwing the banner on the idol of Shankaracharya is not accidental. The fact that he admitted himself into the hospital the next day further strengthens the doubts over the nature of the incident. What then do the din raised by the Sangh Parivar including the former minister indicate? Was the former minister’s group also intoxicated? Was he under the influence of alcohol when he defended the abuse against the Prophet in the presence of police? The police should issue a clarification on this as well.
There is no doubt that the accused Milind Poojari, former minister Jeevaraj, and his team were intoxicated with communal hatred and wanted to create trouble in Sringeri. Therefore, not only Milind Poojari but the former minister who tried to hatch a conspiracy of triggering violence and unrest is also the main accused in the incident. The police must file a case against him as well. At the same time, investigation must be conducted into the links between those responsible for the recent violence in Bengaluru by making derogatory statements against Prophet Mohammad and those in this incident. Otherwise, these evil forces would reign supreme again.
At the same time, it is the duty of the people to be restrained during communally tense situations. The main objective of miscreants is to spread hatred and divide society, and these forces use social media websites and the media extensively to achieve their designs. Therefore, people should show patience when they hear rumours. Attempts aimed at instigating people through inflammatory statements on social media should be handled legally and in democratic ways, thus defeating the designs of these anti-social elements. We need to learn from the incidents in Bengaluru and Sringeri that it is now time for people who want to build a peaceful society to come together in the midst of those who want to destroy it.
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GST Council clarifies on popcorn taxation
Jaisalmer, Dec 21: The GST Council on Saturday agreed to issue a clarification on the taxation of popcorn, stating that pre-packed and labelled ready-to-eat snacks will attract a 12% tax, while an 18% GST will be levied if the popcorn is caramelised.
There is no change in the tax rate for popcorn, and the GST Council has decided that the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) will issue a circular clarifying the current taxation regime for popcorn.
"Ready-to-eat popcorn," which is mixed with salt and spices and has the essential character of namkeens, currently attracts a 5% GST if it is not pre-packaged and labelled.
If it is supplied as pre-packaged and labelled, a 12% GST is levied.
However, when popcorn is mixed with sugar (caramel popcorn), its essential character changes to that of a sugar confectionery, and it would therefore be classified under HS 1704 90 90, attracting an 18% GST, as per the clarification.
