Thursday, October 29, 2015

Pay to get more Facebook 'likes', more 'followers' on Twitter: Unfair practices on social media?

Social media giants Facebook & Twitter have lately come up with similar plans for users who want 'greater clout' or 'more audience'.

If you pay money, you have the option to get more Facebook 'likes' and more Twitter 'followers'.

But is it fair? Content is not the king anymore.

Someone who has extra dollars or rupees, to spend, can use it for branding and get thousands of 'real or unreal' followers on Twitter.

Similar is the case with Facebook. Here, a person can 'buy' the 'likes' for his/her page. Where's the level-playing field on social media?

That's the fundamental question.

I don't feel it is fair. These companies initially had no such schemes but once they reached a level where they are opinion makers and dominate our lives, they have come up with these schemes.

Personally, I don't like it. It's like, you can't earn numbers or grades, so just pay for it. Is it fair? 

Take for example, movie personalities, TV persons, sport stars or anybody who came late on these platforms, and have less followers.

Or those who don't have anything interesting to share but feel upset that others have more likes or followers, can avail these schemes.

They can just pay money and get past the people who genuinely earned the following.

If you pay, Twitter shows your profile to many more people as 'suggested' in 'Who to Follow' advisory on the top right.

If you pay, your page is displayed to more people who are suggested by Facebook, to like the page.

On Facebook, you get option to target people in particular region or people of a particular age group.

We like it or not, Facebook and Twitter dominate our lives so much, that we have to live with it--their policies. They are here for business, aren't they. And that's what business is!!!

Bajrang Dal engineers riot in Karnataka after Muslim barber refused to shut shop on 'Tuesday'

In a shocking incident, right-wing extremist group Bajrang Dal engineered a communal riot in a town in Mangalore district, after a Muslim man refused to shut his shop on 'Tuesday'.

This riot over' barber's insistence on haircut' took place in Nelliyadi in Mangalore. The barber, Salman, opened his salon but was asked by local Bajrang Dal leader to shut it, 'as Hindus don't get haircut on Tuesday'.

When Salman refused, Bajrang Dal and allied Hindutva groups' members attacked Muslims and ransacked property. Dozens were injured and property worth lakhs was gutted.

Incidentally, Karnataka is ruled by Congress but right-wing extremists' activities have increased in the State, especially, in Mangalore district in recent years.

This report published in Hindustan Times, tells that Bajrang Dal leader Ravi Bally asked Salman to down the shutters in view of 'local sentiments' but he refused. Popular Front of India (PFI) members' names has also come up in this rioting. PFI is a Muslim group active in this region.

This year alone, over 150 communal incidents have occurred in Mangalore. The district was once known for communal harmony, education and openness among members of different religious communities.


INCIDENTS:

*Couple visiting beach handed over to police, boy's mother dies of shock. READ
*WhatsApp picture raises heckles of moral police in Mangalore. READ
*Church in Mangalore vandalized even after PM's appeal for religious tolerance. READ


OLD POST ON THIS BLOG

Communal bug bites Mangalore: Clashes, rioting reaches the 'auspicious town' 

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Caste Terror: Two innocent children burnt alive in India's Haryana

These two children have closed their eyes for ever.

They were sacrificed at the altar of casteist hostility. Despite police protection, a Dalit family was set afire.

The children were burnt alive. These innocent kids died. Their parents are critical and battling for life in hospital.

This happened in Faridabad in Haryana, which is notorious for casteist terror. Go to hell with your caste, religion.

Three year old Vaibhav and nine-month-old Divya, are seen in this photograph. Their mother Rekha suffered critical burns while father Jitendra's condition is improving. The assailants, belonging to Rajput community, came at night, put petrol and set house on fire.

Indian Express reports that it was an act of vengeance. What vengeance against kids? Aren't we one of the most barbaric, violent nations in the world. All talk of 'ahimsa' is absolute nonsense. This is an immoral, unjust society.

READ: Isn't Indian society one of the most violent, discriminating and unjust societies in the world?

Cops, courts, none is able to provide security, basic dignity and respect.

Burn yourself, kill each other but at least spare the kids. Why did you kill these innocents.

* Will the monsters who committed the act, be arrested and sentenced to death?
* Will Haryana chief minister ML Khattar send casteist terrorists to Pakistan?

Where is humanity?
Cry, this country.

LINK: READ INDIAN EXPRESS REPORT ABOUT FARIDABAD KILLINGS

Saturday, October 17, 2015

'Love Jihad' was right-wing extremists' conspiracy to demonise Muslims, split inter-religious couples: Hindutva project in India

For the last couple of years, the term 'Love Jihad' had gained currency in the media.

Hindutva groups, especially, Bajrang Dal and VHP, used it publicly on a regular basis, targeting Muslims.

1. Any inter-religious relationship in which the groom was Muslim and the bride was Hindu, was termed 'Love Jihad'.

2. The term was used so often that many people started to believe the theory that Muslim youths were 'trapping' Hindu girls.

3. A sting operation by Cobrapost revealed that it was a conspiracy to defame Muslims, split inter-religious couples, fan communalism, spread hatred against Muslims and polarise society on religious lines.

4. This sting operation was conducted over a period of several months and the Cobrapost reporters caught BJP, VHP leaders on camera, that how this nefarious conspiracy was hatched and was going on, across the country.

5. The videos were made available along with other evidence at the press conference. However, the media didn't give proper attention to this shocking expose. Perhaps, the reason was that the BJP government is at the helm at the Centre.

6. But, imagine, how serious is the expose, that members of the party that rules the world's biggest democracy, were involved in the false 'Love Jihad' project, which was apparently planned to corner, defame and demonise Muslims.

7. Doesn't this case require a high-level investigation? But the problem is that probe agencies work under the Centre, and their disinterest in probing other cases in which right-wing or Sangh Parivar elements are involved, suggests what will happen even if an investigation is launched.

8. After the expose, courts needed to have been approached for action against these conspirators. But nothing happened. There was absolute silence. Newspapers, TV channels, mostly ignored the story. Was it too explosive?

Across the length and breadth of India, the right-wing extremists were propounding the Love Jihad theory.

9. When they found an inter-religious couple, they put pressure on girl, her family, used their influence in police and like-minded lawyers, to file cases.

10. The strategy was that the girl was blackmailed, pressurised, even drugged, to quit the relationship [marriage]. The youth was implicated in abduction case and other cases were also slapped on him to ruin his life.

11. Such organised plot at the national level? And yet, there is no seriousness about it? This was a nationwide project to de-stabilise the communal harmony of the country. It was also used to defame 200 million Muslims of India.

And, it is just one of the projects. Muslims don't slaughter cows but they are being blamed and demonised in systematic campaign. Such campaigns continue through out the year. This is hurting not just Muslims, but also Hindus and the entire country.

12. Azam Khan recently said that he would approach United Nations (UN) over atrocities on Muslims. He was mocked it. May be, Khan, was reckless. You may not agree with him. But what do you do, when organised groups that are now part of government, plot such crimes?

This is systematic persecution, a hate-campaign. This must be known across the country and the world. And, organisations involved in it, should be brought to books. Cobrapost-Gulail deserve a salute for exposing the nefarious plans of the Sangh Parivar's allied organisations.

LINK

*Cobrapost investigation, read, watch videos: Busting the bogey of Love Jihad

Wednesday, October 07, 2015

Sakshi Mahraj should start his cow protection campaign with India's biggest meat exporting companies

Sakshi Maharaj, the Saffron-robed leader of Bharatiya  Janata Party (BJP), has said that he is prepared to go to any extent to protect cows.

It is admirable that the BJP leader, who is also a member of parliament (MP), has such a strong conviction, and love for cow.

Even if, his statement, that he is ready to 'kill or get killed' is not proper as per constitution, [we oppose any act of violence or inciting violence], we must be able to go beyond this and admire his passion.

I am sure, he will follow it up with actions in near future.

I hope that he would remain sincere to the cause and the top meat exporters who supply beef, would now figure on his radar. Sakshi Maharaj must be aware that India is among the leading countries as far beef export is concerned.

And, he must be aware of the names of all the top beef exporting companies in India.

The leading firm is Al Kabeer, which is owned by Sabarwals--Atul and Satish. He muts also be aware of the other leading exporters, the companies owned by the Kapoors, the Madans, the Bindras, and many others.

If not action, at least, he would speak against them--this is the least we expect from him. One hopes that an 'ascetic' would not fear the moneyed and would at least speak truth and stay true to the cause, at least, when we are talking about an issue as important as cow protection.

1. Sakshi Maharaj says, 'ready to kill, get killed'. See link
2. India tops the world in exporting beef. See link
3. Al Kabeer, India's leading beef exporter, is owned by Hindus. See link & link
4. Four biggest companies that top the list of meat, beef exporters. See link