They praised Queen Victoria who killed thousands of patriots!
While the whole nation was remembering Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on January 23, a Hindu Sena outfit held a commemoration programme to pay tribute to British Queen Victoria at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. Many were plagued with the question as to how exactly was Queen Victoria worthy of a commemoration by Sangh Parivar when she was instrumental in wringing India dry of its resources through her regime that lasted for more than 300 years.
According to them, Queen Victoria saved the country from going into splinters from the hands of Moguls. She was instrumental in bringing the country together. Hence she is to be remembered with dignity, says the Hindu Sena. It is possible to believe this argument. No other force could have brought together the country that was torn in different directions. If one can critically imagine the country of that day which was as many segments as possible, at least 70% of the people were engaged in slavery even before the Moguls and British came to India. They were being exploited by their own people by not being allowed to even touch water from the lake, pond etc. They didn’t have any right to education or even to walk freely on the streets.
The British introduced English education thus enabling the Dalits to access education as well. Sati system, child marriage and other evil practices were banned in the country due to the Moguls and the English. But at the same time, the British looted India and took the resources and valuables to their nation. Moguls attacked India too, but they stayed back here and become one among our own. Moguls saves the country from upper caste feudal rulers like Rajput and Thakurs. Whatever they took from this country, they presented it back. They never carried it outside. The whole world saw their contribution to India in the form of music, food, culture, arts and education.
Queen Victoria lived in England who perceived Indians as her slaves. Lakhs of Indians have laid down their lives to obtain freedom from British rule and establish democracy in the country. British won this country for their selfish gains. Queen Victoria wasn’t willing to grant freedom to India. She wasn’t even compassionate towards Indians. If the countrymen didn’t come together to fight her, we wouldn’t even be free today. But Unfortunately, Hindu Mahasabha didn’t participate in the freedom movement. Instead, it joined hands with the British. Leaders like Vinayak Damodar Savarkar wrote appeals after appeals to the British administrators that the former would be the slaves of British till the end of their lives, if they are set free.
When Subhas Chandra Bose built an army against the British, Hindu Mahasabha stood with the British instead of Bose. Savarkar often gave clarion call to Indian youths that they should join the army in bug numbers. Hindu Mahasabha betrayed Bose. Hence, it is quite natural that the Sangh Parivar would remember Queen Victoria. But the Sangh Parivar leaders have to remember something. Who fought against the army of Queen Victoria? Kittur Chennamma, Tipu Sultan, Jhansi Rani, Nana Saheb, Tantya Tope were killed by Victoria’s army.
Not just that, thousands of Indians were killed in Jallian Wala Bagh Massacre and leaders like Bhagat Singh were sent to gallows and Lala Lajapat Roy beaten to death by her men. These people who romanticize Godse who killed Gandhiji, naturally have deep rooted love for Victoria. So far, they couldn’t show it openly. But now by paying tribute to her openly, Sangh has shown who they are inclined to love more. Whether Victoria got some due respect or not is a point apart, Sangh Parivar as humiliated the memory of thousands of patriots starting from Kittur Chennamma to Bhagat Singh. The government has lodged sedition case on Kanhaiyya and others for anti-India sloganeering. No case has been registered yet against these brave men who shouted slogans in support of Queen Victoria on the day prior to Bose’s birth anniversary. To expect a government to initiate suitable action against those who supported a betrayer of freedom fighters, is highly impossible.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Rohit identifies Arshdeep, Hardik as key to India's chances in T20 World Cup
New Delhi (PTI): T20 World Cup-winning captain Rohit Sharma reckons all-rounder Hardik Pandya and left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh will hold the key to India's prospects in the upcoming edition of the tournament.
Defending champions India will enter the T20 showpiece as one of the overwhelming favourites due to their massive depth and quality.
Rohit highlighted Arshdeep's effectiveness with the new ball and at the death.
"It is a big positive to have both Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh together because they always attack for wickets. Arshdeep's biggest strength is swinging the new ball and taking early wickets. He mainly bowls with the new ball and at the death. Starting and finishing are the most important phases, and he is strong in both," Rohit told JioHotstar.
"With the new ball, he swings it to get left-handers caught in the slips and targets the pads of right-handers. He has also started taking the ball away from right-handers. These skills are key for a new-ball bowler. He always tries to take wickets, which is why he bowls the first over."
Rohit added, "In the 2024 T20 World Cup final against South Africa, he did a great job. I still remember he dismissed Quinton de Kock when he was set and batting well. In the 19th over, he gave away just two or three runs, which built pressure on the South Africans.
"That is his game, bowling with the new ball and at the death, and he will play a key role for India in the 2026 T20 World Cup."
India won the last edition of the tournament in the Americas under Rohit's captaincy, after which the dashing opener retired from the T20 format internationally.
Rohit also spoke about how Hardik's dual role as a finisher and multi-phase bowler provides crucial balance to the Indian team.
"Whenever Hardik Pandya is in the team, his role is huge. He bats and bowls very consistently. His batting is crucial when the team is stuck. If we have a score of 160 on the board in 15-16 overs and Hardik is batting, then he's the one who can help the team reach 210-220 from there or if we are 50 for 4, he has to build the innings.
"Batting in the middle order at 5, 6, or 7 is very tough. That is why Hardik's role is critical in any format. We know his bowling. He bowls in key phases, with the new ball, in the middle and in the death as well. His role is very important because he gives the team balance, letting us play six bowlers and keep our batting deep."
Rohit said accommodating both Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy together in the playing XI is going to be a big challenge for the Indian team management.
"The biggest challenge for captain Suryakumar Yadav and coach Gautam Gambhir will be how to play both Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy together. If you want that combination, you can only do it if you play with two seamers, which is a big challenge.
"But honestly, I would be tempted to play both Varun and Kuldeep because they are wicket-takers and batters struggle to read them. I would surely pick them."
The former India skipper added, "Looking at the conditions in India, like in this New Zealand series, there is a lot of dew. In February and March, dew will be heavy across most parts as winter ends.
"Even in Mumbai, which doesn't get cold, there's still dew. I'd say 90-95 percent of grounds in India have dew. That's the challenge. What do the coach and captain think? Are they comfortable with three spinners? Then they can play spin, but there's no fixed rule. It depends on the team leaders' thinking."
Rohit also urged Kuldeep to stop appealing on every ball and to rely on the wicketkeeper's judgment for reviews.
"My one simple advice to Kuldeep is to just bowl quietly and go back to his mark. You can't appeal on every ball. This is basic. I keep saying it, but it still happens often. Even after telling him many times, he appeals at every chance. You have to use your head. Just because it touches the pad, it doesn't mean it's out every time. This isn't gully cricket.
"I get he is enthusiastic, but think of the team first. Each team only gets two DRS reviews. If I was the keeper, I could see where the ball pitched and if it was hitting, I could tell the bowler.
"But from covers or slip, you don't know the angle. You have to listen to what the keeper and bowler say. That's why when there's a review off Kuldeep's bowling, I don't look at him, I look at the keeper to decide."
The T20 World Cup is scheduled to be held in venues across India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8.
