Media Report Version 1
Biggest ever pro-Israel rally in recent times
In the back-drop of rockets raining down over Israel and after the discovery of many terror tunnels, Israel was forced to launch an offensive against Hamas in Gaza. Many groups around the world have organized rallies in support of Israel. One such group in India, Hindu Samhati, a non-political organization led by Mr. Tapan Ghosh organized a mammoth rally in the city of Kolkata, India on the 16th of August, 2014, . The rally was held in memory of Mr. Gopal Mukhopadhyay, a local hero who saved many innocent lives during the ‘Great Calcutta Killing’ in 1946.
This rally witnessed the biggest ever show of solidarity in support of Israel in India and also anywhere in the world where more than 20 thousand people raised their voices against the continuous rocket attacks on Israel by Hamas and against international terrorism at large. The city of Kolkata which had so far, seen protest marches by only those against Israel, saw a new chapter in history being made through this rally. Founder & President of Hindu Samhati, Mr. Tapan Ghosh, who is also known to be a crusader for atrocities against women, said that Israel has every right to defend her territory and ensure the safety of her citizens. Mr. Ghosh also talked about India and Israel, both being surrounded by very tough neighbors, being united in peace. “The destiny of both India and Israel as thriving democracies are intertwined. We both share the same values”, he said. Israel helped India during last two wars, while 70000 Indian Jews live in Israel under the shadow of daily rocket attacks by Hamas and threats of terror tunnels. Apart from Hindus, people of other faiths also attended the rally. The Sikh community was represented by Mr. Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga and who spoke as a special guest on the occasion. Representatives of the persecuted Buddhist community in Bangladesh also attended the rally.
The success of the rally shows that Israel has huge support from previously unheard regions. This is all set to add more momentum in Indo-Israeli relationship.
Media Report Version 2
Biggest ever pro-Israel rally in recent times
The Israeli nation and the Jewish people worldwide have felt let down by successive Indian governments during discussions on Gaza in the United Nation. The governments may have its own compulsions, but these actions have always received support in the eastern state of India, West Bengal and a few other states in India. The governments in these states often encourage anti-Israel groups in order to appease the large Muslim population for electoral gains. India has one of the largest Muslim population in the world. Some within this population are very hostile to the Jewish state. This population also includes citizens from neighboring Bangladesh who reside illegally in India.
The actions of these governments create an environment of a psychological seize. Majority voices of a billion plus people in India and millions those in the state of West Bengal who strongly support Israel are regularly drowned out. To give voice to the majority of Indians who support Israel and oppose terrorist organizations like Hamas, ISIS, LeT , Huji and Boko Haram, on the 16th of August, 2014, Hindu Samhati, a non-political organization led by Mr. Tapan Ghosh organized a mammoth rally in the city of Kolkata, India. The rally was held in memory of the ‘Great Calcutta Killing’. On this day in 1946, more than 5000 thousand innocent Hindus were massacred in Kolkata, under the Muslim League government led by Suhrawardi who was in power at that time. However one local hero, Mr. Gopal Mukhopadhyay and his team under the guidance of Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukhopadhyay, leader of Hindu Mahasabha built a resistance against the attack on Hindus and saved the community. They also helped to keep Kolkata, the present day capital city of West Bengal, to remain part of India.
This rally also witnessed the biggest ever show of solidarity in support of Israel in India and also anywhere in the world where more than 20 thousand people raised their voices against the continuous rocket attacks on Israel by Hamas and against international terrorism at large. The city of Kolkata which had so far, seen protest marches only by those against Israel, saw a new chapter in history being made through this rally. Founder & President of Hindu Samhati, Mr. Tapan Ghosh, who is also known to be a crusader for atrocities against women, said that Israel has every right to defend her territory and ensure the safety of her citizens. His comment was hugely cheered by the crowd holding placards with slogans like “Hindus and Jews have a right to exist” or “Hindus and Jews – united against terrorism” written on them. Mr. Ghosh also talked about India and Israel, both being surrounded by very tough neighbors being united in peace. “The destiny of both India and Israel as thriving democracies are intertwined. We both share the same values”, he said. Israel helped India during last two wars, while 70000 Indian Jews live in Israel under the shadow of daily rocket attacks by Hamas and threats of terror tunnels. Apart from Hindus, people of other faiths also attended the rally. The Sikh community was represented by Mr. Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga and who spoke as a special guest on the occasion. Representatives of the persecuted Buddhist community in Bangladesh also attended the rally.
This is all set to become the beginning of a new era in the international relationship. Forever marginalized Hindus in the state of West Bengal, under pressure from mounting Islamic extremism, seemed to have found a new platform in Hindu Samhati to express their voice. If this trend is continued, it is very much poised to unsettle the political arithmetic of the state in the coming state legislative election which is due in less than 2 years.