Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation on Tuesday, 29 October, sending Dhanteras and Diwali wishes to all Indians. He said that this year’s Diwali is significant as it will be the first time in 500 years that Lord Ram will celebrate Diwali in the newly constructed grand Ayodhya temple.

“I extend my heartfelt greetings to all the citizens on Dhanteras. In just two days, we will also celebrate Diwali, and this year's Diwali is particularly special. After 500 years, Lord Ram is seated in his grand temple in Ayodhya, and this will be the first Diwali celebrated with him in his magnificent temple. We are all very fortunate to witness such a special and grand Diwali,” PM Modi said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-tourism-unfazed-in-kashmir-even-as-areas-near-gulmarg-sonmarg-face-terror-attacks-771711">India: Tourism unfazed in Kashmir even as areas near Gulmarg, Sonmarg face terror attacks</a>

The 2019 Supreme Court judgement approved the construction of the Ram temple, settling the long-standing dispute. The court also allotted a large plot of land for the construction of a mosque in Ayodhya.

Since the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya in January&nbsp;this year, it will be the first Diwali celebration at the temple.&nbsp;

PM Modi also congratulated youth who attained job appointment letters under the Rozgar Mela.

“In this festive atmosphere, today on this auspicious day, appointment letters for government jobs are being given to 51,000 youth in the employment fair. I extend my heartiest congratulations and best wishes to all of you. The process of providing permanent government jobs to lakhs of youth of the country in the Government of India is continuing. Appointment letters have been given to lakhs of youth even in BJP and NDA-ruled states,” the Prime Minister said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/diwali-celebrations-feature-muslim-poets-reciting-urdu-version-of-ramayana-in-bikaner-771628">Diwali celebrations feature Muslim poets reciting Urdu version of Ramayana in Bikaner</a>

Congratulating the youth who received Haryana government job appointment letters, PM Modi said, “Our government has a special identity in Haryana. The government there does provide jobs, but it does so without any expenditure and any slip. Today, I especially congratulate the youth who have received appointment letters from the Haryana Government. Furthermore, it's noteworthy that the newly formed government in Haryana has made an exemplary start by providing employment opportunities to around 26,000 youths,” PM Modi said.

(With inputs from agencies)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation on Tuesday, 29 October, sending Dhanteras and Diwali wishes to all Indians. He said that this year’s Diwali is significant as it will be the first time in 500 years that Lord Ram will celebrate Diwali in the newly constructed grand Ayodhya temple.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation on Tuesday, 29 October, sending Dhanteras and Diwali wishes to all Indians. He said that this year’s Diwali is significant as it will be the first time in 500 years that Lord Ram will celebrate Diwali in the newly constructed grand Ayodhya temple. “I extend my heartfelt greetings to all the citizens on Dhanteras. In just two days, we will also celebrate Diwali, and this year's Diwali is particularly special. After 500 years, Lord Ram is seated in his grand temple in Ayodhya, and this will be the first Diwali celebrated with him in his magnificent temple. We are all very fortunate to witness such a special and grand Diwali,” PM Modi said. Also read | India: Tourism unfazed in Kashmir even as areas near Gulmarg, Sonmarg face terror attacks The 2019 Supreme Court judgement approved the construction of the Ram temple, settling the long-standing dispute. The court also allotted a large plot of land for the construction of a mosque in Ayodhya. Since the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya in January this year, it will be the first Diwali celebration at the temple. PM Modi also congratulated youth who attained job appointment letters under the Rozgar Mela. “In this festive atmosphere, today on this auspicious day, appointment letters for government jobs are being given to 51,000 youth in the employment fair. I extend my heartiest congratulations and best wishes to all of you. The process of providing permanent government jobs to lakhs of youth of the country in the Government of India is continuing. Appointment letters have been given to lakhs of youth even in BJP and NDA-ruled states,” the Prime Minister said. Also read | Diwali celebrations feature Muslim poets reciting Urdu version of Ramayana in Bikaner Congratulating the youth who received Haryana government job appointment letters, PM Modi said, “Our government has a special identity in Haryana. The government there does provide jobs, but it does so without any expenditure and any slip. Today, I especially congratulate the youth who have received appointment letters from the Haryana Government. Furthermore, it's noteworthy that the newly formed government in Haryana has made an exemplary start by providing employment opportunities to around 26,000 youths,” PM Modi said. (With inputs from agencies)

In Dhanteras greeting, PM Modi mentions ‘particularly special’ Diwali in Ayodhya

Indian PM Narendra Modi has inaugurated a new campus of Nalanda University in Bihar's Rajgir. The new campus is near the ancient ruins of Nalanda University. Watch this video for all details.

India: PM Modi inaugurates new campus of Nalanda University in Bihar

India will not have to wait too long for a&nbsp;Boeing&nbsp;aircraft that is designed and manufactured in the subcontinent, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at the inauguration of the planemaker's engineering centre in Bengaluru on Friday.

The&nbsp;Boeing&nbsp;India Engineering &amp; Technology Center (BIETC) in the capital city of the southern Indian state of Karnataka is the company's largest facility outside of the United States and will focus on research and development.

The company said it had invested $200 million in the campus, which is spread across 43 acres, but did not provide details on the number of people the facility will employ.&nbsp; Boeing&nbsp;currently employs more than 6,000 people in India across its various centres.

At the event, which was also attended by senior&nbsp;Boeing&nbsp;executives including Chief Operating Officer Stephanie Pope, PM Modi stressed the need to build an aircraft manufacturing ecosystem in India.

"Given that there is so much potential in India, we need to rapidly build an aircraft manufacturing ecosystem in the country," Modi said.

Boeing&nbsp;has witnessed a surge in interest for its jets in India, currently the world's fastest-growing aviation market, with travel demand outstripping the supply of planes.

On Thursday, the aircraft manufacturer received orders for 150 737 MAX narrowbody jets from Akasa Air, India's youngest carrier.

In an exclusive interview with Reuters last year, India's civil aviation minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia, said it was time for&nbsp;Boeing&nbsp;and rival Airbus to consider setting up jetliner assembly in the country.

Boeing&nbsp;has an alliance with India's Tata Group to produce AH-64 Apache helicopter fuselages and 737 aircraft vertical fin structures.

India will not have to wait too long for a Boeing aircraft that is designed and manufactured in the subcontinent, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at the inauguration of the planemaker's engineering centre in Bengaluru on Friday.

India will not have to wait too long for a Boeing aircraft that is designed and manufactured in the subcontinent, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at the inauguration of the planemaker's engineering centre in Bengaluru on Friday. The Boeing India Engineering & Technology Center (BIETC) in the capital city of the southern Indian state of Karnataka is the company's largest facility outside of the United States and will focus on research and development. The company said it had invested $200 million in the campus, which is spread across 43 acres, but did not provide details on the number of people the facility will employ. Boeing currently employs more than 6,000 people in India across its various centres. At the event, which was also attended by senior Boeing executives including Chief Operating Officer Stephanie Pope, PM Modi stressed the need to build an aircraft manufacturing ecosystem in India. "Given that there is so much potential in India, we need to rapidly build an aircraft manufacturing ecosystem in the country," Modi said. Boeing has witnessed a surge in interest for its jets in India, currently the world's fastest-growing aviation market, with travel demand outstripping the supply of planes. On Thursday, the aircraft manufacturer received orders for 150 737 MAX narrowbody jets from Akasa Air, India's youngest carrier. In an exclusive interview with Reuters last year, India's civil aviation minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia, said it was time for Boeing and rival Airbus to consider setting up jetliner assembly in the country. Boeing has an alliance with India's Tata Group to produce AH-64 Apache helicopter fuselages and 737 aircraft vertical fin structures.

India PM Modi says won’t be long before Boeing makes aircraft in India

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a historic visit to the United States as the Biden administration pulls out all stops to host the leader of the world’s largest democracy.

PM Modi will start his first formal state visit on June 21. Biden will host a state banquet on June 22, and the Indian premier&nbsp;will later address the US Congress.

Before arriving in Washington, Modi will head to New York where he will participate in International Yoga Day at the United Nations, signifying New Delhi’s growing soft power.

But before the state banquet, President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden are expected to host an intimate private dinner for Modi on June 21.&nbsp;

The state banquet the next day,&nbsp;according to the US president himself, is now the hottest ticket in America, with the rich, powerful, and famous badgering the White House for an invitation.

"You’re causing me a real problem. Everyone in the whole country wants to come. I have run out of tickets,” Biden told&nbsp;Modi on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Hiroshima last month.

<h2>How many times has Modi visited the US?</h2>

PM Modi has visited the US multiple times during his tenure, averaging about one trip per year since he became the prime minister in 2014. But, none of his earlier visits were categorised as a state visit, which is the highest-ranked visit according to diplomatic protocol.

Before Modi, his predecessor Manmohan Singh was accorded state honours during the Obama administration.

However, Modi’s visit this time marks a departure from the earlier visits as this comes in the backdrop of India-US deepening their ties in an increasingly delicate global landscape.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indias-pm-narendra-modi-to-visit-us-on-june-21-meets-us-nsa-jake-sullivan-604184/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The White House has described this upcoming visit as a reaffirmation of the "deep and close partnership" between the two nations, underscoring their shared commitment to a "free, open, prosperous, and secure Indo-Pacific."

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-1994-visit-to-unga-2021-heres-a-look-at-modis-us-visits-415717/#us-congress-415711">From 1994 visit to UNGA 2021, here's a look at Modi's US visits</a>

On June 12, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken described Modi’s state visit to the US as “historic”, saying that it will solidify the “defining relationship&nbsp;of the 21st century".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-family-to-host-pm-modi-over-intimate-dinner-on-june-21-prior-to-official-state-dinner-604693">Biden's to host PM Modi over intimate dinner on June 21, prior to official state dinner</a>

&nbsp;“We’re here almost literally, on the eve of what we believe will be a historic state visit by Prime Minister Modi – one that will further solidify what President Biden has called a ‘defining relationship’ of the 21st century," Blinken said.

<h2>Modi’s tight schedule </h2>

Modi is expected to reach New York on June 20 and mark International Yoga Day on June 21 by leading a yoga session at the UN Secretariat.

He is also expected to meet top CEOs of US companies such as Adobe Systems, Visa, Mastercard, Accenture, and Coca-Cola, and also address the Indian diaspora.

The following day, he will head to Washington for a scheduled bilateral meeting with Biden during which some key defence agreements may be signed.

Following the meeting, Modi is scheduled to address a joint session of the US Congress, for the second time. His earlier address was in 2016.

The Bidens will also host a state dinner for Modi on June 22 while the following day, a lunch will be hosted by US Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the State Department.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a historic visit to the United States as the Biden administration pulls out all stops to host the leader of the world’s largest democracy.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a historic visit to the United States as the Biden administration pulls out all stops to host the leader of the world’s largest democracy. PM Modi will start his first formal state visit on June 21. Biden will host a state banquet on June 22, and the Indian premier will later address the US Congress. Before arriving in Washington, Modi will head to New York where he will participate in International Yoga Day at the United Nations, signifying New Delhi’s growing soft power. But before the state banquet, President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden are expected to host an intimate private dinner for Modi on June 21. The state banquet the next day, according to the US president himself, is now the hottest ticket in America, with the rich, powerful, and famous badgering the White House for an invitation. "You’re causing me a real problem. Everyone in the whole country wants to come. I have run out of tickets,” Biden told Modi on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Hiroshima last month. How many times has Modi visited the US? PM Modi has visited the US multiple times during his tenure, averaging about one trip per year since he became the prime minister in 2014. But, none of his earlier visits were categorised as a state visit, which is the highest-ranked visit according to diplomatic protocol. Before Modi, his predecessor Manmohan Singh was accorded state honours during the Obama administration. However, Modi’s visit this time marks a departure from the earlier visits as this comes in the backdrop of India-US deepening their ties in an increasingly delicate global landscape. The White House has described this upcoming visit as a reaffirmation of the "deep and close partnership" between the two nations, underscoring their shared commitment to a "free, open, prosperous, and secure Indo-Pacific." Also see | From 1994 visit to UNGA 2021, here's a look at Modi's US visits On June 12, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken described Modi’s state visit to the US as “historic”, saying that it will solidify the “defining relationship of the 21st century". Also read | Biden's to host PM Modi over intimate dinner on June 21, prior to official state dinner “We’re here almost literally, on the eve of what we believe will be a historic state visit by Prime Minister Modi – one that will further solidify what President Biden has called a ‘defining relationship’ of the 21st century," Blinken said. Modi’s tight schedule Modi is expected to reach New York on June 20 and mark International Yoga Day on June 21 by leading a yoga session at the UN Secretariat. He is also expected to meet top CEOs of US companies such as Adobe Systems, Visa, Mastercard, Accenture, and Coca-Cola, and also address the Indian diaspora. The following day, he will head to Washington for a scheduled bilateral meeting with Biden during which some key defence agreements may be signed. Following the meeting, Modi is scheduled to address a joint session of the US Congress, for the second time. His earlier address was in 2016. The Bidens will also host a state dinner for Modi on June 22 while the following day, a lunch will be hosted by US Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the State Department. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Indian PM Modi has gone to US almost every year, but this year it’s special

Launching a slew of development projects and schemes on Thursday in election-bound Jharkhand, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/terrorism-is-now-global-threat-has-deep-roots-in-pakistan-pm-modi-249021">Prime Minister Narendra Modi</a> on Thursday said the government will take more substantial steps in the coming days saying "picture abhi baaki hai" (more is to come).

"My government has launched a slew of development projects in the first 100 days. However, a lot still needs to be done. Picture abhi baaki hai," he said addressing a public meeting.

At the function, he launched the 'Pradhan Mantri Laghu Vyaparik Mandhan Yojana'&nbsp;and 'Swarojgar'&nbsp;pension schemes, inaugurated the new building of the Jharkhand Assembly and a multi-modal terminal at Sahibganj in the afternoon today.

"All-round development is not only our priority but also our commitment. Development is our promise and intention too. The country has never seen such rapid pace of development that it is witnessing now," he further stated.

The Prime Minister also announced that the Centre will soon inaugurate a major project for the uplift of tribal children and added that several Eklavya model residential schools will be set up across the country.

It should be noted that these schools will provide upper primary, secondary, and senior secondary level education to Scheduled Tribe students in tribal-dominated areas.

"Today for the development and education of tribal children and youth, we are starting a very big project. We are setting up 462 Eklavya model residential schools across the country," he said.

The Prime Minister also talked about the work undertaken by the government for improving the connectivity of the region, "Even in terms of connectivity, a lot of work is being done in Jharkhand. Now, the roads are being built in areas where people never walked during the night."

"Our government is working towards providing social security to each and every Indian," the Prime Minister added.

He promised to make India corruption-free and said that the guilty will be shown their place.

"A massive crackdown on corruption has begun. Those people who will try to loot the public will be shown their right places."

Launching a slew of development projects and schemes on Thursday in election-bound Jharkhand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the government will take more substantial steps in the coming days saying "picture abhi baaki hai" (more is to come).

Launching a slew of development projects and schemes on Thursday in election-bound Jharkhand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the government will take more substantial steps in the coming days saying "picture abhi baaki hai" (more is to come). "My government has launched a slew of development projects in the first 100 days. However, a lot still needs to be done. Picture abhi baaki hai," he said addressing a public meeting. At the function, he launched the 'Pradhan Mantri Laghu Vyaparik Mandhan Yojana' and 'Swarojgar' pension schemes, inaugurated the new building of the Jharkhand Assembly and a multi-modal terminal at Sahibganj in the afternoon today. "All-round development is not only our priority but also our commitment. Development is our promise and intention too. The country has never seen such rapid pace of development that it is witnessing now," he further stated. The Prime Minister also announced that the Centre will soon inaugurate a major project for the uplift of tribal children and added that several Eklavya model residential schools will be set up across the country. It should be noted that these schools will provide upper primary, secondary, and senior secondary level education to Scheduled Tribe students in tribal-dominated areas. "Today for the development and education of tribal children and youth, we are starting a very big project. We are setting up 462 Eklavya model residential schools across the country," he said. The Prime Minister also talked about the work undertaken by the government for improving the connectivity of the region, "Even in terms of connectivity, a lot of work is being done in Jharkhand. Now, the roads are being built in areas where people never walked during the night." "Our government is working towards providing social security to each and every Indian," the Prime Minister added. He promised to make India corruption-free and said that the guilty will be shown their place. "A massive crackdown on corruption has begun. Those people who will try to loot the public will be shown their right places."

Government launched slew of development projects in first 100 days, a lot still needs to be done: PM Modi

Two miles down the road from the white marble walls of the fabled Taj Mahal, a heavyset man crouches in the dirt of a cow shed and explains how the future of India belongs to him. 
 
Digvijay Nath Tiwari is commander of a vigilante group that claims 5,000 members in the northern Indian city of Agra, and which cultivates informants, swarms shop owners, ambushes trucks at night and metes out extra-judicial violence, all for one cause: protecting the holy cow, an animal held sacred by Hindu beliefs. 
 
Across the country, hardline Hindu groups have made headlines after being captured on video insulting and beating men they accuse of involvement in cow slaughter. 
 
&quot;Retaliation is important at times,&quot; said Tiwari, as he sat with 17 men squeezed around a straw mat on the shed floor. His cell phone contained photographs of stick-wielding men rushing to the aid of fallen cattle. 
 
Local police say they cannot stop Tiwari&#39;s actions, laying the blame partly on lax laws. 
 
The &quot;gau rakshaks&quot;, or cow protectors, are inflaming tensions among India&#39;s religions and castes. They risk undermining Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s efforts to focus on economic advancement, even as the right-wing Hindu nationalist forces that got him elected promote their own agenda. 
 
The implications reach far beyond the winding alleyways of Agra. Social and religious stability are key to future assumptions of prosperity in India, currently the world&#39;s fastest-expanding major economy. 
 
&quot;India will remain one of the strongest growth stories in the region,&quot; a Goldman Sachs strategist said in April, echoing the sentiment of many foreign investors. 
 
Yet such outlooks built on macro-analysis risk missing a ground truth: if the right-wing groups empowered by Modi&#39;s rise do not stop antagonising minorities, then the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party&#39;s (BJP) plans for nurturing that growth will not easily come to pass. 
 
Cow slaughter is illegal in most of India, an overwhelmingly Hindu nation. However, it had long been tolerated under the Congress party, which ruled the country for most of its independent history and prides itself on protecting Muslims and lower castes who ply the meat and leather trade. 
 
Now the Hindu nationalist BJP is in power, and that is changing as vigilante groups gain prominence. And Modi, while saying he&#39;s concerned, has been either unwilling or unable to halt their more extreme actions. 
 
The prime minister was trained and nurtured by hardline Hindu organisations that were instrumental in his rise from the son of a train station tea seller to leader of the world&#39;s biggest democracy. 
 
Once at the helm, however, he has focussed on more pragmatic and inclusive economic issues: spurring growth and creating enough jobs for a rapidly expanding workforce. 
 
These initiatives could be derailed by a narrower, Hindu nationalist agenda aimed at protecting symbols made sacrosanct by religious texts and countering a perceived threat of foreign influences. 
 
In a speech on Saturday night in New Delhi, Modi lashed out at the cow protectors. 
 
&quot;I feel so angry at times. Some people who are engaged in anti-social activities for the whole night wear the mask of &#39;gau rakshaks&#39; in the day,&quot; he said. 
 
A senior aide to Modi, who is approaching the halfway mark of his five-year tenure, said at the end of July that while the leader is aware of the social and economic implications, &quot;we cannot do much to stop cow protection forces ... cow protection is integral to our core support base.&quot; 
 
The violence of cow vigilante groups this year, some of it caught in disturbing videos on the Internet, has unsettled minority groups. 
 
One clip from the western state of Gujarat shows four men, shirtless, tied to a bumper being whipped with rods. The victims were Dalits, or Indians at the bottom of the caste hierarchy who traditionally take away cow carcasses which can then be used for leather. 
 
In another, from the northern state of Haryana, two people are made to sit on the road and eat a concoction including cow dung. They were reportedly Muslims, and the footage was taken during Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting. 
 
While the BJP does not bank on the support of many Muslims, it does want to secure the votes of the Dalits, a caste formerly known as untouchables. 
 
Together, the two groups account for about 30 per cent of India&#39;s population, a major consideration with important state elections due next year and a national ballot set for 2019. 
 
Chandra Bhan Prasad, a prominent Dalit writer and adviser to the Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, compared the violence to that of Ku Klux Klan racism in the United States. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s like India&#39;s version of KKK &ndash; the past was great so long as these blacks were under our thumb, society was beautiful. So, how to control these Dalits?&quot; 
 
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the nation&#39;s umbrella right-wing Hindu organisation which helped create the BJP, does not appear willing to tackle cow protection forces, blaming outlaws for causing the trouble. 
 
&quot;The cow is not just an animal. We have an emotional and religious attachment to it and we want to make it the centre of our economic activity,&quot; said a senior RSS leader in New Delhi, who asked not to be named so he could speak more frankly. 
 
&quot;Vigilantes are instructed to follow the rules and they are a disciplined force. We admire their work.&quot; 
 
Champat Rai, a leader of the Hindu activist Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), or World Hindu Council, a group formed by RSS leadership which oversees cow groups, was more direct. 
 
&quot;I am a cow patriot and want to free cows from the slavery of Muslim butchers,&quot; he said. &quot;It&#39;s better we shed our blood to save the blood of cows.&quot; 
 
In Agra, some 220 km (135 miles) south of New Delhi, there has already been bloodshed&nbsp;and the threat of more to come. 
 
One prominent Dalit businessmen in the city, HK&nbsp;Pippal&nbsp;said recently at his shoe factory that he had a plan should the cow protection gang try to interfere with his operations and the cow leather it uses. 
 
&quot;I am very powerful, my workers could kill them.&quot; 
 
Tiwari, the cow group leader, blames the butchers for much of the problem. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s not just that the butchers get beaten,&quot; he said. &quot;They attack us and threaten to kill us. It is a serious clash.&quot; 
 
Tiwari acknowledged having four criminal cases pending against him&nbsp;but said he was innocent in all of them. 
 
In February this year, the vice president of the VHP in Agra, who was also a senior member of Tiwari&#39;s group, was surrounded by a group of five Muslims while walking from a temple to his furniture shop, according to a police report. 
 
The men had previously been targeted by the cow protectors for allegedly dealing in beef, according to Tiwari. 
 
One of them boasted: &quot;You think that you are a big leader, we&#39;ll teach you a lesson today,&quot; said the police report. 
 
A pistol shot rang out and the VHP official, Arun Mahour, fell dead in one of the oldest and busiest markets of Agra. 
 
A mob of young Hindu men set out for a Muslim quarter, said the police officer in charge of the area, SK Sharma. 
 
Soon, thousands of people were in the streets, Sharma said. &quot;This almost became a riot between the Hindus and Muslims.&quot; 
 
The fallen Hindu leader left behind two sons, aged 12 and 16. Asked about the family&#39;s future, his widow, Rajni Mahour, covered her face with the edge of a white sari and caught her breath for a moment. 
 
The way forward, she said, was clear: &quot;My family says that we should know to lay our life down for religion.&quot; 
 
(Reuters)

The violence of cow vigilante groups this year, some of it caught in disturbing videos on the Internet, has unsettled minority groups

Two miles down the road from the white marble walls of the fabled Taj Mahal, a heavyset man crouches in the dirt of a cow shed and explains how the future of India belongs to him. Digvijay Nath Tiwari is commander of a vigilante group that claims 5,000 members in the northern Indian city of Agra, and which cultivates informants, swarms shop owners, ambushes trucks at night and metes out extra-judicial violence, all for one cause: protecting the holy cow, an animal held sacred by Hindu beliefs. Across the country, hardline Hindu groups have made headlines after being captured on video insulting and beating men they accuse of involvement in cow slaughter. "Retaliation is important at times," said Tiwari, as he sat with 17 men squeezed around a straw mat on the shed floor. His cell phone contained photographs of stick-wielding men rushing to the aid of fallen cattle. Local police say they cannot stop Tiwari's actions, laying the blame partly on lax laws. The "gau rakshaks", or cow protectors, are inflaming tensions among India's religions and castes. They risk undermining Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts to focus on economic advancement, even as the right-wing Hindu nationalist forces that got him elected promote their own agenda. The implications reach far beyond the winding alleyways of Agra. Social and religious stability are key to future assumptions of prosperity in India, currently the world's fastest-expanding major economy. "India will remain one of the strongest growth stories in the region," a Goldman Sachs strategist said in April, echoing the sentiment of many foreign investors. Yet such outlooks built on macro-analysis risk missing a ground truth: if the right-wing groups empowered by Modi's rise do not stop antagonising minorities, then the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) plans for nurturing that growth will not easily come to pass. Cow slaughter is illegal in most of India, an overwhelmingly Hindu nation. However, it had long been tolerated under the Congress party, which ruled the country for most of its independent history and prides itself on protecting Muslims and lower castes who ply the meat and leather trade. Now the Hindu nationalist BJP is in power, and that is changing as vigilante groups gain prominence. And Modi, while saying he's concerned, has been either unwilling or unable to halt their more extreme actions. The prime minister was trained and nurtured by hardline Hindu organisations that were instrumental in his rise from the son of a train station tea seller to leader of the world's biggest democracy. Once at the helm, however, he has focussed on more pragmatic and inclusive economic issues: spurring growth and creating enough jobs for a rapidly expanding workforce. These initiatives could be derailed by a narrower, Hindu nationalist agenda aimed at protecting symbols made sacrosanct by religious texts and countering a perceived threat of foreign influences. In a speech on Saturday night in New Delhi, Modi lashed out at the cow protectors. "I feel so angry at times. Some people who are engaged in anti-social activities for the whole night wear the mask of 'gau rakshaks' in the day," he said. A senior aide to Modi, who is approaching the halfway mark of his five-year tenure, said at the end of July that while the leader is aware of the social and economic implications, "we cannot do much to stop cow protection forces ... cow protection is integral to our core support base." The violence of cow vigilante groups this year, some of it caught in disturbing videos on the Internet, has unsettled minority groups. One clip from the western state of Gujarat shows four men, shirtless, tied to a bumper being whipped with rods. The victims were Dalits, or Indians at the bottom of the caste hierarchy who traditionally take away cow carcasses which can then be used for leather. In another, from the northern state of Haryana, two people are made to sit on the road and eat a concoction including cow dung. They were reportedly Muslims, and the footage was taken during Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting. While the BJP does not bank on the support of many Muslims, it does want to secure the votes of the Dalits, a caste formerly known as untouchables. Together, the two groups account for about 30 per cent of India's population, a major consideration with important state elections due next year and a national ballot set for 2019. Chandra Bhan Prasad, a prominent Dalit writer and adviser to the Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, compared the violence to that of Ku Klux Klan racism in the United States. "It's like India's version of KKK – the past was great so long as these blacks were under our thumb, society was beautiful. So, how to control these Dalits?" The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the nation's umbrella right-wing Hindu organisation which helped create the BJP, does not appear willing to tackle cow protection forces, blaming outlaws for causing the trouble. "The cow is not just an animal. We have an emotional and religious attachment to it and we want to make it the centre of our economic activity," said a senior RSS leader in New Delhi, who asked not to be named so he could speak more frankly. "Vigilantes are instructed to follow the rules and they are a disciplined force. We admire their work." Champat Rai, a leader of the Hindu activist Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), or World Hindu Council, a group formed by RSS leadership which oversees cow groups, was more direct. "I am a cow patriot and want to free cows from the slavery of Muslim butchers," he said. "It's better we shed our blood to save the blood of cows." In Agra, some 220 km (135 miles) south of New Delhi, there has already been bloodshed and the threat of more to come. One prominent Dalit businessmen in the city, HK Pippal said recently at his shoe factory that he had a plan should the cow protection gang try to interfere with his operations and the cow leather it uses. "I am very powerful, my workers could kill them." Tiwari, the cow group leader, blames the butchers for much of the problem. "It's not just that the butchers get beaten," he said. "They attack us and threaten to kill us. It is a serious clash." Tiwari acknowledged having four criminal cases pending against him but said he was innocent in all of them. In February this year, the vice president of the VHP in Agra, who was also a senior member of Tiwari's group, was surrounded by a group of five Muslims while walking from a temple to his furniture shop, according to a police report. The men had previously been targeted by the cow protectors for allegedly dealing in beef, according to Tiwari. One of them boasted: "You think that you are a big leader, we'll teach you a lesson today," said the police report. A pistol shot rang out and the VHP official, Arun Mahour, fell dead in one of the oldest and busiest markets of Agra. A mob of young Hindu men set out for a Muslim quarter, said the police officer in charge of the area, SK Sharma. Soon, thousands of people were in the streets, Sharma said. "This almost became a riot between the Hindus and Muslims." The fallen Hindu leader left behind two sons, aged 12 and 16. Asked about the family's future, his widow, Rajni Mahour, covered her face with the edge of a white sari and caught her breath for a moment. The way forward, she said, was clear: "My family says that we should know to lay our life down for religion." (Reuters)

Holy cows and Hindu crusaders cloud PM Modi's Indian reform drive

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Holy cows and Hindu crusaders cloud PM Modi's Indian reform drive