India is country of immigrants, even Dravidians, Aryans were immigrant: Justice Markandey Katju
Says Akbar was first father of nation; Lauds Tipu for sending grants to temples
Bhatkal: Former Judge of the Supreme Court of India Markande Katju on Sunday stated that India was a country of immigrants and a majority of people living in the country were from immigrant lineage.
The former judge who is known for his outspoken nature also went on to add even Dravidians and Aryans were immigrants and not natives of India.
He was speaking at the valedictory event of the Centenary Celebrations of Anjuman Hami-e-Muslimeen Bhatkal. He further added that over 90% of the people in the country are from immigrant lineage.
“India was a land that everyone wanted to come to. So people from all regions, religions, and cultures kept coming to India and that is where India diversified. That’s why we have so many languages, so many cultures, and such a diverse and vibrant population.” He said.
He also went on to add that Mughal Emperor Akbar was the original architect of modern India and was the first father of the nation.
Katju then said misinformation was being spread against Tiger of Mysore Tippu Sultan to hinder his image as a just and prolific ruler.
"Tippu Sultan sent grants to 156 Hindu temples in his kingdom, and today people are saying he was a tyrant and bigot to spoil his image. These attempts to hinder his image must be foiled.” Katju said.
He also condemned the incident from UP wherein a 10-year-old boy was thrashed for refusing to chant “Jai Shri Ram”. Katju said events like this, break the country into pieces.
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'Protecting those in power': Netizens slam ANI for deleting tweet showing rats in UP hospital
New Delhi: News Agency Asian News International (ANI) reportedly removed a video from its official X (formerly Twitter) handle that showed rats roaming freely inside a patient ward of a government hospital in Uttar Pradesh’s Gonda district, triggering criticism from social media users.
The now-deleted video allegedly showed rats moving around inside the orthopaedic ward of Gonda Medical College.
Fact Checker and Journalist, Mohammed Zubair questioned the ANI Editor Smita Prakash on why the tweet was deleted and a clarification of the Superintendent of the hospital was posted instead.
In a post on ‘X,’ he wrote, “Hello @smitaprakash, Why did your News agency delete the tweet showing Rats roaming around inside a patient ward in Govt hospital in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh? You instead shared a clarification by Superintendent of the hospital.” (SIC)
Hello @smitaprakash, Why did your News agency delete the tweet showing Rats roaming around inside a patient ward in Govt hospital in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh?
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) January 14, 2026
You instead shared a clarification by Superintendent of the hospital pic.twitter.com/9rZWSDt7Yc https://t.co/Bc3SarJJ8H
#WATCH | Gonda | On viral video showing rats roaming in hospital, Dr DN Singh, Superintendent, Autonomous State Medical College & Babu Ishwar Sharan hospital, says, "We have constituted a committee, and on the basis of its report, we will take further action. The existing… pic.twitter.com/2JjP1Krc80
— ANI (@ANI) January 14, 2026
Reacting to the development, a user @makhdoom_irfani wrote, “Journalism should question power, not protect it.”
Journalism should question power, not protect it.
— Makhdoom Irfani (@makhdoom_irfani) January 14, 2026
Many other users echoed similar concerns. Reacting to the post, one user commented, “clarification??? In which universe can rats in a hospital be clarified ..???”
“Today's journalism is shame!,” said another.
Another user drew a comparison with the National Medical Commission’s decision to shut down a medical college in Kashmir over an alleged overwhelming number of Muslim students admitted to medical courses. The user wrote, “The Medical Council will not cancel the licence of this college because not many Muslim students are studying here.”
The Medical council will not cancel the license of this college, because not many Muslim students are studying here.
— Zahur (@Zahur82446025) January 15, 2026
“Deleting evidence and posting a “clarification” doesn’t fix the problem. It only raises questions about credibility and selective journalism,” remarked another.
@ANI deleted the tweet showing Rats roaming around inside a patient ward in Govt hospital in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh.
— Sanjay-সঞ্জয় (@BhaiOfTotla) January 15, 2026
pic.twitter.com/1zWwbK1HC8
What is the issue ?
The controversy began after a video showing rats moving freely inside the orthopaedic ward of Gonda Medical College surfaced on social media.
The video reportedly recorded two days before went viral across social media.
Following the circulation of the video, the district magistrate ordered an inquiry into the incident. According to a PTI report, anti-rodent medicines were sprayed across the wards as an immediate measure.
The principal of the medical college, responding to the incident, stated that food brought into hospital wards by attendants attracts rodents.
He added that medicines had been sprayed in all wards and claimed that rats were no longer visible, while assuring that the administration would not tolerate any negligence related to patient safety. A detailed investigation into the matter is currently underway.
