Bengaluru: The Karnataka Police said on Saturday that it would initiate legal action against the news portal for spreading false news regarding the stabbing incident of a Muslim youth in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka.The news portal had reported that an 18-year-old Muslim youth was attacked with sword by a man returning after watching 'The Kashmir Files' movie. The news went viral on social media and was shared widely by various handles. However, the story was found to be completely false and mischievous, stated Praveen Sood, Director General and Inspector General of Police of Karnataka.The report claimed that the youth was attacked with a sword by a 30-year-old Hindutva activist in Teragaon village in Haliyal town of Uttara Kannada district. The Gulbarga News Express portal claimed that Hindutva activist Honnappa attacked Amanulla Irfan with a sword after watching the controversial movie 'The Kashmir Files'.It also stated that Haliyal police registered an FIR and arrested Honnappa. "Anupam Kher starrer 'Kashmir Files'' deals with the story of violence against Kashmiri Pandits. Scholars and critics of Hindutva ideology have flagged the film for installing hatred towards Muslims. This film has been widely endorsed by Hindu nationalist groups. The movie is given tax -free run in BJP-run states of Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Goa and Tripura," the report said. The report further stated that, "meanwhile, genocidal slogans and anti-Muslim chants were raised by Hindutva groups at Kashmir Files screening across the country."However, the official release by the police stated that true facts verified by the Karnataka State Police Fact Check team indicate that "the accused Honnappa Bovi and victim Amanulla Irfan are neighbours. As the victim was constantly abusing the mother of the accused, he had assaulted the boy in front of his house with a pocket knife.""The accused is secured, thoroughly interrogated and his confession revealed the same. He was sent to judicial custody. It is nowhere related to 'The Kashmir Files' movie nor was it communally triggered. Victim is out of danger," the police said.Further FIR was registered on the incident in Haliyal police station under IPC Sections 324, 307 and 504. Though the incident of assault is true, the motive for the same is not 'The Kashmir Files' movie as alleged. It has happened purely due to personal reasons. However, the incident has been twisted to depict as it as a hate crime, the police said. "Action was being initiated against the news portal for publishing such false and baseless story without proper verification," the police stated.—IANS

The Karnataka Police said on Saturday that it would initiate legal action against the news portal for spreading false news regarding the stabbing incident of a Muslim youth in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka.

Muslim Youth 'Stab' Case: News Portal Faces Action For Spreading False News

New Delhi: The Kerala high court on Tuesday declined to interfere with the decision of a Christian woman to marry a Muslim leader of the Democratic Youth Federation of India, a decision which stirred a political storm in the state after her relatives alleged "love jihad", as she categorically told the court that she has not been illegally detained and she was not interested in speaking to her family at present.A bench of Justices V G Arun and C S Sudha, after interacting with the woman, Jyotsna Mary Joseph, said, "She has categorically stated she has decided to marry Shejin out of her own free will and not under any compulsion."She has also stated that as of now she was not interested in interacting with her parents or family and will do so at a later stage," the court noted in its order.It also told the woman's family that she has said she intended to visit them after her marriage, for which an application under the Special Marriage Act has been moved and is pending consideration, and not before that.The bench told the family that while it understands their concerns, their daughter was a 26-year-old woman, who was a nurse in Saudi Arabia, and capable of making her own decisions."She has taken a decision and she is not deviating from it. It is her will and pleasure. She is not willing to speak to her parents now, so how can we compel her to do so," it said.The woman's father, Joseph, had moved a habeas corpus plea alleging that his daughter had been illegally detained and seeking directions to the police to produce her before him.He had also told news channels that since the day his daughter left her home, she has not spoken to any of them and therefore, he believed that she was being restrained against her will by the DYFI leader.Joseph had also said that he lacked faith in the Kerala police to look into the matter and wanted an agency from outside the state, like the CBI or NIA, to investigate what had happened.The interfaith relationship stirred up a political storm after the woman's relatives alleged "love jihad", with a senior Left party leader supporting the charge, only to retract his statement later.The CPI-M, thereafter, made it clear that there was nothing unnatural in interfaith marriages and the campaign of 'love jihad' was a creation of RSS and Sangh Parivar. 'Love jihad' is a term used by right-wing outfits to claim that Muslim men lure women from other faiths to convert them into Islam. The couple had denied the allegations of her family.—PTI

The Kerala high court on Tuesday declined to interfere with the decision of a Christian woman to marry a Muslim leader of the Democratic Youth Federation of India, a decision which stirred a political storm in the state after her relatives alleged "love jihad", as she categorically told the court that she has not been illegally detained and she was not interested in speaking to her family at present.

HC Refuses To Intervene In Christian-Muslim Marriage

Saharanpur: The Samajwadi Party, on Wednesday, suffered yet another jolt when senior leader Sikandar Ali resigned from the party and all posts, accusing party chief Akhilesh Yadav of turning a blind eye towards Muslims.Ali told reporters, "Atrocities are being heaped on Muslim leaders in SP, but the party president is maintaining a studied silence. The situation within the party has become stifling."He said that the SP had won 111 seats on the strength of Muslim votes, but Akhilesh had refused to utter a word on action being taken against leaders like Nahid Hasan and Shazil Islam."If Akhilesh Yadav cannot stand up for a senior leader and MLA, how can he be expected to stand up for ordinary members of our community?" he asked.He further alleged that Akhilesh was surrounded by a coterie and is completely disconnected with party workers at the ground level.Sikandar Ali is not the first Muslim leader in the Samajwadi Party who has raised a voice against Akhilesh. Earlier, SP MP Shafiqur Rehman Barq had claimed that Akhilesh Yadav had stopped working for Muslims.Samajwadi Party leader, Salman Javed Raeen then tendered his resignation from the party in protest against the alleged apathy of the party leadership towards the Muslim community. The SP leader from Sultanpur further added that if a "coward leader" could not raise the voice in support of his party men, how could he be expected to raise people's issues. The SP leader from Rampur, Naveen Sharma, has also quit the SP in support of Azam Khan. —IANS

The Samajwadi Party, on Wednesday, suffered yet another jolt when senior leader Sikandar Ali resigned from the party and all posts, accusing party chief Akhilesh Yadav of turning a blind eye towards Muslims. Ali told reporters, "Atrocities are being heaped on Muslim leaders in SP, but the party president is maintaining a studied silence. The situation within the party has become stifling."

Jolt To SP, Another Muslim Leader Quits Party

The Samajwadi Party, on Wednesday, suffered yet another jolt when senior leader Sikandar Ali resigned from the party and all posts, accusing party chief Akhilesh Yadav of turning a blind eye towards Muslims.
Ali told reporters, "Atrocities are being heaped on Muslim leaders in SP, but the party president is maintaining a studied silence. The situation within the party has become stifling."




New Delhi: The Delhi high court on Monday sought the Centre's stand on a PIL to declare that bigamy or polygamy by a Muslim husband in the absence of prior written consent of the existing wife or wives and arrangements for her accommodation and maintenance is unconstitutional and illegal.A bench of Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Navin Chawla directed the respondents to file their response and issued notice on the petition that sought a direction to the authorities to regulate bigamy and polygamy by Muslim husbands by providing for prior permission of existing wife, a certificate from a judicial officer to certify that he has the capacity to provide equal treatment to all wives, declaration of marital history before nikah, etc.The petitioner also sought the framing of laws for compulsory registration of Muslim marriages. The petitioner Reshma, whose husband is stated to be ”planning to divorce” her and solemnise another marriage without her consent or making arrangements for her and their child's maintenance, claimed that bigamy or polygamy by a Muslim husband is permitted under Shariat laws only in exceptional circumstances and ought to be regulated to curb the plight of Muslim women.She contended that bigamy or polygamy without the consent of the existing wife and securing her well-being is ”unconstitutional, anti-Shariat, illegal, arbitrary, harsh, inhuman, and barbaric” and contrary to Articles 14, 15, 21, and 25 of the Constitution.”Even in countries governed by Shariah (Islamic) law, the second marriage is permitted under special circumstances, such as an illness of the first wife or her inability to bear children. In these cases, with the first wife's consent, a man may marry again and this is referred to as polygamy, a subset of polygamous marriages,” said the petition filed through lawyer Bajrang Vats.”The Holy Quran permits a Muslim man to marry more than one woman at a time (up to a maximum of four) but does not encourage such behaviour. Polygamy is only permitted in certain circumstances, such as when the death of another man has left his wife with no other means of support,” it added.The petitioner has further stated that polygamy is neither mandatory nor encouraged but is merely permitted as a part of social duty and for charitable motives and that the Holy Quran provides that those men who choose to take multiple wives are under an obligation to treat them equally."It is unfortunate that regressive practices derogatory to women, who constitute one half of the Indian population, are being followed, propagated, and encouraged in the name of religion. Such practice, regressive to rights of women and which directly come into conflict with the Constitutional and Fundamental Rights of citizens cannot be encouraged,” the petition has said. The matter would be heard next on August 23.—PTI&nbsp;

The Delhi high court on Monday sought the Centre's stand on a PIL to declare that bigamy or polygamy by a Muslim husband in the absence of prior written consent of the existing wife or wives and arrangements for her accommodation and maintenance is unconstitutional and illegal.

Muslim Wife Files Pil Against 'Illegal' Polygamy

The Delhi high court on Monday sought the Centre's stand on a PIL to declare that bigamy or polygamy by a Muslim husband in the absence of prior written consent of the existing wife or wives and arrangements for her accommodation and maintenance is unconstitutional and illegal.






Kochi: A week after he was arrested and released on bail for making controversial remarks against the Muslim community, another case was registered against senior politician P C George by the police on Tuesday, on charges of hate speech.Palarivattom police here booked the former MLA over his objectionable remarks during a speech, which he delivered in connection with a temple festival at Vennala here on May 8.The case was registered under IPC 153 (promoting enmity between different groups) and 295 A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), a police officer said."The further proceedings in the case will be finalised after examining the details and bail conditions regarding the earlier case registered at Thiruvananthapuram," he told PTI.Seventy year-old George, who was the chief whip while Congress-led UDF was in power, had sparked off a controversy by asking non-Muslims in Kerala to avoid restaurants run by the community.Addressing a programme organised as part of the Ananthapuri Hindu Maha Sammelan here late last month, the former Kerala Congress leader had alleged that tea laced with "drops causing impotence" were sold in Muslim-run restaurants to turn people "infertile" in a bid to "seize control" of the country.As the remarks triggered a widespread political controversy, a case was registered and he was arrested on May 1.However, within a few hours of his arrest, George secured bail from a Magisterial court. George, who represented the Poonjar constituency in the state Assembly for 33 years, had lost his bastion to the Left Democratic Front candidate in the 2021 Assembly polls in a triangular fight.—PTI

A week after he was arrested and released on bail for making controversial remarks against the Muslim community, another case was registered against senior politician P C George by the police on Tuesday, on charges of hate speech.

P C George booked again for hate speech

Malappuram: A video, which purportedly showed a Muslim scholar reprimanding the organisers of an event in Malappuram district, for inviting a girl on stage has gone viral, sparking protests on the social media.In the video clip aired by news channels, MT Abdulla Musaliyar, a senior functionary of Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama, a body of Muslim scholars, is seen chiding one of the organisers for calling a class 10 girl student on the dais to receive an award.The incident occurred during the inauguration of a 'madrassa' building in the district, where students were felicitated recently.The memento was handed over to the girl by Indian Union Muslim League leader Panakkad Sayed Abbas Ali Shihab Thangal.Soon after the award was handed over, Musaliyar questioned the organisers as to why the girl was invited on stage."Who invited a Class 10 girl to the stage… If you do this again… Don't call such girls here… Don't you know the rules of Samastha? Were you the one who called her?… Ask her parents to come to the stage to collect the award. Don't do such things while we are sitting here. This will appear in photos and be telecast," a visibly angry Musaliyar was seen telling the organisers, while Thangal was standing next to him.The person who announced the name of the girl was seen apologising to Musaliyar.Reacting to the incident, Fathima Thahiliya, former national vice president of the Muslim Students Federation took to Facebook and said removing girls from stages and insulting them will have far-reaching consequences in the society."The leadership should ensure that the girls with talents are held close to the religion and are encouraged. We should be able to use their abilities for the betterment of society and religion. Keeping them away from the stage and insulting them would result in far-reaching consequences in the society. Those who endure such insults may later hate the religion and its leaders," Thahiliya said.Meanwhile, PK Navas, the state President of MSF came out in support of Musaliyar and blamed certain communal elements for the attack on him."The (online) lynching of honourable MT Usthad is not an innocent one. Such contents in the guise of Islamophobic manner are being spread by certain communal elements. Those who are trying to distort the image of Musaliyar must be isolated," Navas said in his Facebook page.Cine actor Hareesh Peradi criticised the incident and sought to know if the LDF and the UDF will condemn the issue and proclaim that they don't want the vote of Samastha in the upcoming Thrikkakara bypoll.The social media is filled with trolls and criticism against the Samastha leadership.—PTI

A video, which purportedly showed a Muslim scholar reprimanding the organisers of an event in Malappuram district, for inviting a girl on stage has gone viral, sparking protests on the social media.

Kerala Muslim scholar draws flak for remark against inviting girl on dais

Thiruvananthapuram: A day after slamming a Muslim scholar who allegedly reprimanded organisers of an event in Malappuram for inviting a girl on stage to receive a reward, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Thursday said he was 'disappointed' by the silence of the political, social and economic leadership of the country on the issue.He also said he was sad at the silence of the leadership in Kerala."I am so deeply disappointed that the whole political leadership is silent about it. And not just the political leadership, even the others are silent about it. I appeal to the national leadership of every party to come forward and protect the honour and dignity of our daughters," Khan said while speaking to reporters in Thiruvananthapuram."I believe I have said much more (than them)," he said of the silence of the leadership in the state.When a reporter pointed out that the person in question was a leader of Samastha which has around 10,000 madrasas in Kerala, Khan responded that their numbers did not matter in a democracy or rule of law and it was not going to make him suppress his conscience."They might be having a hundred thousand madrasas. But because of their strength, I am not going to keep my conscience suppressed. They might be very powerful, but they have no right to humiliate, to insult and to offend the modesty of a young talented girl."They might have any number, these numbers do not matter. You are in a democracy, in a rule of law. Be you ever so high, the law is above you. This is not merely a violation of the clear cut commands of the Qur'an. It is clear cut violations of the provisions of the fundamental rights guaranteed in the Constitution," Khan said.The incident occurred during the inauguration of a 'madrassa' building in Malappuram district, where students were felicitated recently.The memento was handed over to the girl by Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader Panakkad Sayed Abbas Ali Shihab Thangal.Soon after the award was handed over, Muslim scholar M T Abdullah Musaliyar questioned the organisers as to why the girl was invited on stage."Who invited a Class 10 girl to the stage? If you do this again... Don't call such girls here. Don't you know the rules of Samastha? Were you the one who called her? Ask her parents to come to the stage to collect the award. Don't do such things while we are sitting here. This will appear in photos and be telecast," a visibly angry Musaliyar was seen telling the organisers, while Thangal was standing next to him.The person who announced the name of the girl was seen apologising to Musaliyar.Taking to Twitter to express his displeasure, Khan on Wednesday had tweeted, 'Sad to know that a young talented girl was humiliated on stage in Malappuram district while receiving a well deserved award simply because she was born into a Muslim family.''This is yet another example of how Muslim clerics continue to push hard Muslim women into seclusion and suppress their personality in total defiance of Qur'anic commands and provisions of the Constitution,' he had said.—PTI

A day after slamming a Muslim scholar who allegedly reprimanded organisers of an event in Malappuram for inviting a girl on stage to receive a reward, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Thursday said he was 'disappointed' by the silence of the political, social and economic leadership of the country on the issue.

Kerala guv flays silence over insult to Muslim girl

Thiruvananthapuram: A sessions court in Kerala on Monday sentenced to life 25 people, all workers of the Indian Union Muslim League, for the murder of two brothers in Palakkad district of the state in 2013. Additional district and sessions judge Rajitha TH had on May 12 held the 25 accused guilty of the murder of Nooruddin and Hamsa, who were members of the AP Sunni party, a supporter of the Left front. On Monday, the sessions court sentenced each one of them to life imprisonment under Section 302 (murder) read with Section 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object) of the IPC' "The injuries were inflicted on Nooruddin and Hamsa and prosecution witness-1 (Kunju Muhammed) by the people accused of unlawful assembly in prosecution of their common object," the court said and added that it was clear from the nature of the weapons used and injuries inflicted that the object of the unlawful assembly was the death of the brothers. "Hence, the act of the accused people, who were the members of the assembly, in inflicting injuries on the two people and which resulted in their death is punishable under section 302 of IPC," it said. The court further said that since the acts were done in pursuance of the common objective of the unlawful assembly, all of the accused were liable to be held guilty of the offence under section 302 by virtue of Section 149 of the IPC. The accused were also sentenced to three years imprisonment under Section 307 (attempt to murder) of IPC for the attack on the victims' brother Kunju Muhammed. The court imposed also a fine of Rs 1.15 lakh on each of the accused and the total amount has to be paid to the victims' family. Special public prosecutor TC Krishna Narayanan had sought death penalty for the accused by contending that the case fell in the rarest of rare category. The court, however, said that it was not a fit case for awarding capital sentence. SPP Narayanan said there were initially 27 accused in the case, of whom one was a juvenile and another had died during the course of the trial. One of the motives for the incident, according to the prosecution, was a "stay obtained by Hamsa from the Waqf Board/ court against the collection of funds by the Muslim League's EK faction under the banner of 'thanal'."The other reasons were -- firstly, formation of a new unit of the Democratic Youth Federation of India at Kallamkuzhi (a known Muslim League party village) by one Ansari and Nooruddin with the support of Kunju Muhammed and secondly, assistance rendered by Hamsa to Ansari for filing a complaint against Muslim League supporters including some of the accused in the present case who had assaulted Ansari two days before the murder.Kunju Muhammed survived the attack and was the key witness in the case along with six other eye witnesses of the incident.—PTI

A sessions court in Kerala on Monday sentenced to life 25 people, all workers of the Indian Union Muslim League, for the murder of two brothers in Palakkad district of the state in 2013.

25 Muslim League workers sentenced to life in Kerala's double murder case

Varanasi: The All India Muslim Personal Law Board has asked the Centre and the state governments to clarify their stand on the alleged targeting of places of worship of Muslims in the country. The board has also decided to provide legal aid to the Intezamiya Masajid Committee and its lawyers in the Gyanvapi Masjid case and launch a nationwide agitation, if necessary, to apprise the public about the "real intention" of creating disputes over the places of worship.An emergency virtual meeting of the board's Working Committee was held late on Tuesday night in which many important decisions were taken, AIMPLB executive member Qasim Rasool Ilyas told PTI on Wednesday. The AIMPLB, a leading organisation of Muslims in the country, is a non-government body constituted in 1973 to adopt suitable strategies for the protection and continued applicability of Muslim Personal Law in India, most importantly the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act of 1937. Referring to the issues of Gyanvapi Masjid in Varanasi and the Shahi Masjid Idgah in Mathura, Ilyas said, "It was regretted during the meeting that the places of worship of Muslims in the country are being targeted and Religious Places Act of 1991, which was enacted in Parliament with the consent of all, is being openly flouted.” “It is a matter of great regret that the central government and the state governments are silent on this. Apart from this, the political parties who call themselves secular parties are also keeping silent,” he said, The board has demanded from all of them to clarify their stand on this, Ilyas said. He said the board also discussed that the manner in which the lower courts are making decisions regarding the places of worship is regrettable. The courts should not dishearten the people that might end the hope of last justice, he added. Ilays said it has been decided in the meeting that the legal committee of the AIMPLB will assist the maintenance body of the mosque -- Anjuman Intezamiya Masajid Committee -- and its lawyers in connection with the Gyanvapi Masjid case in the Supreme Court.He said the board has appealed to Muslims to maintain peace, stand with courage and fight the legal battle to the best of their ability. "The board has decided to bring the real intention behind all the disputes being raised regarding mosques before the people so that they cannot be misled. If needed, we can also launch agitation in the country in this connection. The truth is that whatever is happening is being done to damage the unity and integrity of the country," he said.Ilyas said the board has also decided that different religious communities, religious leaders, civil society and social organisations in the country should be contacted and told about the “truth” because this is not a matter of any one community but of the entire country.—PTI

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board has asked the Centre and the state governments to clarify their stand on the alleged targeting of places of worship of Muslims in the country.

AIMPLB asks Centre to clarify stand on Muslims' places of worship

Thiruvananthapuram: A magisterial court in Kerala on Wednesday cancelled the bail granted to senior politician PC George in a case accusing him of making a hate speech against Muslims in the state on April 29. The court allowed the plea moved by the police to cancel the relief granted to George on May 1. The police, in its plea, had contended that the veteran politician violated the bail conditions and, therefore, the bail was liable to be cancelled.The court allowed the plea of the police, George's lawyer -- advocate Ajith Kumar -- be confirmed.The lawyer said the senior politician has been asked to appear before the Palarivattom police station in Ernakulam district of the state in connection with another case of hate speech and he was on his way there. Subsequently, when he arrived at the police station, workers of Peoples Democratic Party protested there seeking his arrest, according to visuals shown on TV channels.The PDP workers were removed from there and soon thereafter, a large number of Bharatiya Janata Party workers and State president of the party K Surendran, and its candidate in the Thrikkakara by-election AN Radhakrishnan, arrived at the police station.Surendran said the action taken against Geoge indicates the double standards of the LDF government as it did not take such steps against others who had in the recent past made communally charged remarks in public.He said George would have the support of his party.After he was questioned for some time at the Palarivattom police station, TV visuals showed him exiting the station along with his son and other BJP leaders including Surendran.He was, thereafter, shifted to the Ernakulam AR camp where he is awaiting arrival of a police team from Thiruvananthapuram, a senior official said.George has been granted anticipatory bail by the Kerala high court in the case lodged at Palarivattom police station.On being asked whether he would appeal against the cancellation of his bail, advocate Ajith Kumar said his client would first obey the law and then decide what to do next.The police had sought cancellation of his bail alleging that soon after he was granted the relief, George addressed the visual media in front of the judicial officer's quarters, Vanchiyoor, and said he was sticking to what he had stated in the speech and was justifying the same, which amounts to repetition of the same crime and spread of communal hatred further.The police had pointed out that the Magisterial court, while granting bail, had directed the accused not to make and propagate controversial statements which may hurt the religious sentiments of others while on bail.The police had arrested George on May 1 after registering a case against him under Indian Penal Code Sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion) and 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) at Fort police station for allegedly making a communal speech against Muslims while addressing 'Ananthapuri Hindu Maha Sammelanam' on April 29.The 70-year-old former MLA had sparked off a controversy by asking non-Muslims in Kerala to avoid eating at restaurants run by the community.Subsequently, on May 10, another case was registered against him on charges of hate speech.The Palarivattom police booked the former legislator over his objectionable remarks during a speech that he delivered in connection with a temple festival at Vennala in Ernakulam district on May 8.—PTI

A magisterial court in Kerala on Wednesday cancelled the bail granted to senior politician PC George in a case accusing him of making a hate speech against Muslims in the state on April 29.

Kerala ex-chief whip George's bail cancelled in hate speech case

New Delhi: Union Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s sole Muslim representative in the Union Cabinet, does not figure in the party's list of nominees for the Rajya Sabha biennial election scheduled for June 10.Tuesday was the last day for filing nominations. Naqvi retires from the Upper House on July 7, 2022. Sources informed ANI that the BJP has fixed a maximum of three terms in the Rajya Sabha for all its party leaders, and Naqvi is currently finishing his third term in the Upper House.The sources further added that Naqvi, who hails from Rampur in Uttar Pradesh, may be fielded as a candidate by the BJP for the ensuing bypoll to the Lok Sabha seat vacated by Azam Khan. The Rampur bypoll is scheduled to take place on June 23 this year.There is also speculation that the minority affairs minister will be made a governor as several states have gubernatorial vacancies for some time now. With the BJP denying a renomination to Naqvi to the Upper House, and no Rajya Sabha renomination either for Sayyed Zafar Islam or MJ Akbar -- both of whom are also completing their tenures soon -- the party now has no Muslim member of Parliament from either House. Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, who started his career as a student leader, went to jail during the 1975 Emergency and has been associated with the BJP since its Jan Sangh days. After an unsuccessful stint in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections in 1980, Naqvi won a Lok Sabha seat in 1998 and went on to become the minister for information and broadcasting in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. Naqvi has been the minority affairs minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Cabinet since 2014.—ANI

Union Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s sole Muslim representative in the Union Cabinet, does not figure in the party's list of nominees for the Rajya Sabha biennial election scheduled for June 10.

No RS Seat For Naqvi, Maybe Fielded For Rampur Bypoll

Thane: A section of activists and experts on Monday questioned the "silence"' of Muslim nations on China's treatment of minorities and alleged violation of human rights there after some of these countries lodged a protest with India over the remarks of two Bharatiya Janata Party functionaries on Prophet Mohammad. The row over the alleged derogatory remarks against Prophet Mohammad escalated on Sunday with protests from countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Iran, prompting the BJP to take action against its functionaries and assert that it respects all religions.But after the reaction of the Islamic countries, questions are being asked in some quarters on whether these nations will raise similar objections against China, which has been accused by many human rights groups of targeting Muslims and other minorities.Bejing has been denying these allegations. Brahma Chellaney, Professor Emeritus of strategic studies at the Centre for Policy Research, said, "Some Muslim states that have been mute on China's assault on Islam, including incarcerating over a million Muslims and confiscating Korans, have played up the anti-Muslim remarks of two Indians now expelled from the ruling party."Is it because they perceive India as a soft state?" Kasturi Shankar, an activist and lawyer, also took to Twitter echoing similar sentiments."Nations that claim to stand for the sentiments of the world's two billion Muslims do nothing for Muslims in Afghanistan, Syria, China or Burma."We can do nothing against ISIS or China or Taliban, so let's pick on a lone woman in a TV debate instead," Shankar said.Former Rajya Sabha MP and BJP member Balbir Punj took to Twitter saying, "World knows how China treats its minorities- specifically Muslims &amp; Tibetan Buddhists. China violates all human rights, international conventions while dealing with Islam &amp; Muslims in Xinjiang. None in the world even squeaks about it. Why? Why? (sic)".He alleged that the Congress, the communists and "jihadis" were celebrating as their "'relentless campaign on manufactured intolerance against Modi &amp; India has worked for now"."'We have to work harder to expose the real character of this lot &amp; neutralise them to save plural India," he said.Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iran and Kuwait expressed their condemnation of the controversial remarks against the Prophet by former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and former Delhi media head Naveen Kumar Jindal, and called for "respect for beliefs and religions." Indian ambassadors were summoned and handed over protest notes.As the row intensified domestically and abroad, the BJP on Sunday suspended Nupur Sharma and expelled Jindal.Sharma's comments, made in a TV debate nearly 10 days ago, and Jindal's now-deleted tweets also sparked a Twitter trend calling for a boycott of Indian products in some countries."I condemn hate speech of any kind. I condemn hate speech by anyone. What piques me is the selective outrage and double standards. The world needs to put humanity before religion," Shankar said."Nupur Sharma was way out of line. I cannot imagine the party had any other option but to expel her. That said, I don't hear any of these countries condemn the manchester massacre, Charlie Hebdo or Islamic terrorist acts," she said in a series of tweets.Divya Kumar Soti, security affairs analyst and columnist, also raised the issue of Uighurs and restrictions on Muslims imposed by the Chinese regime."China sent millions of Uighur Muslims to reeducation camps, banned hijab and beard, restricted namaz and Ramzan. Did any Arab country ever dare summon a Chinese ambassador?" Soti said.Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit also took a swipe at the Arab countries over their reaction."So Arab countries will now decide who should be a member of @BJP4India &amp; what should be the basic principles on which the party should function," he tweeted.Shankar said those who issue statements on behalf of all the Muslims of the world "should logically take responsibility for all the crimes by any and all Muslims too".Several other Twitter users echoed the same sentiments."Kuwait and Qatar never bothered about the actual torture of Uighur Muslims by China. But a TV debate on an Indian channel where the opponent was also insulting Hindus left right center rattled them," said Monica Verma.Vishwas Mehta, another user, tweeted, "As an Indian, my respect to China on this matter because no Muslim country dares to say a word to the Chinese government for making concentration camps, atrocities on Muslims. They just make it look so simple and peaceful".Pakistan, which has often drawn flak over the treatment meted out to minorities on its soil, had also summoned the Indian charge d'affaires over the remarks by the two BJP leaders.—PTI

A section of activists and experts on Monday questioned the "silence"' of Muslim nations on China's treatment of minorities and alleged violation of human rights there after some of these countries lodged a protest with India over the remarks of two Bharatiya Janata Party functionaries on Prophet Mohammad.

'Why are Muslim countries silent on China?'

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held wide-ranging talks with his visiting Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Wednesday against the backdrop of widespread anger in West Asia over controversial remarks on Prophet Mohammed made by two former Bharatiya Janata Party spokespersons. Abdollahian is on a three-day visit to India with the aim to further enhance bilateral ties as well as to discuss key regional and global developments, including the situation in Afghanistan. It is the first visit to India by a senior minister of a member nation of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation after the controversial remarks triggered anguish in the Arab World."Welcoming FM @Amirabdolahian to New Delhi. Our discussions today will reflect our close and friendly relations," Jaishankar said in a tweet ahead of the talks. Ministry of external affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the visit by the Iranian foreign minister will further "boost the deep historical ties and partnership" between the two countries.Abdollahian's visit to India comes days after Iran joined Kuwait and Qatar in summoning the Indian ambassadors over the remarks against the Prophet by Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal.Since then, several countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Jordan, Bahrain, the Maldives, Malaysia, Oman, Iraq and Libya, have denounced the comments.The MEA on Monday categorically rejected the criticism of India by the OIC following the comments on the Prophet.According to the MEA, Abdollahian will travel to Mumbai and Hyderabad after concluding his engagements in New Delhi.Iran has been a key country for India in the Gulf region.The two sides have been jointly focussing on improving connectivity between South East Asia and Central Asia.At a connectivity conference in Tashkent in July last year, Jaishankar had projected Iran's Chabahar port as a key regional transit hub, including Afghanistan.Located in Sistan-Balochistan province on energy-rich Iran's southern coast, the Chabahar port is being developed by India, Iran and Afghanistan to boost connectivity and trade ties. India has been in touch with Iran over the developments in Afghanistan following its takeover by the Taliban on August 15 last year.The Iranian national security advisor had attended a regional conclave hosted by India on the Afghan crisis in November last year.The conclave was also attended by the NSAs of Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.—PTI

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held wide-ranging talks with his visiting Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Wednesday against the backdrop of widespread anger in West Asia over controversial remarks on Prophet Mohammed made by two former Bharatiya Janata Party spokespersons.

Iranian foreign minister holds talks with Jaishankar in backdrop of Muslim world ire

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held wide-ranging talks with his visiting Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Wednesday against the backdrop of widespread anger in West Asia over controversial remarks on Prophet Mohammed made by two former Bharatiya Janata Party spokespersons.



Gonda: A video, purportedly from a village in Gonda district, has gone viral on the social media in which some local people are seen abusing and harassing three Muslim 'fakirs' (religious men) who were begging for alms.The police said that one of the accused had been arrested.The cellphone video, shot in the Degur village of Gonda area, shows the three men seeking alms being chased by boys, who shout out abuses linked to religion. Some call out 'beat them'."They wear the clothes of sadhus but they will eat biriyani with this money," another youth is heard saying.Then a young man, armed with a large stick, accost the men and demand their identification cards. Hearing that they were not carrying any, he calls them 'jihadis' and 'terrorists'. "Just show us your Aadhaar, or we will thrash the stuffing out of you," he is heard saying. He asks them their names and where they come from and repeatedly questions why they are not carrying Aadhaar. "All of you are terrorists... Carry your Aadhaar at all times," he is heard saying. A man who tries to intervene is pushed away. The police spokesman said that the police officials were apprised of the matter and action was being taken to identify the accused persons in the video. —IANS

A video, purportedly from a village in Gonda district, has gone viral on the social media in which some local people are seen abusing and harassing three Muslim 'fakirs' (religious men) who were begging for alms.

Muslim 'Fakirs' Heckled In UP Village

Saharanpur: Darul Uloom Deoband, one of the largest Islamic seminaries in India, has sought strict legal action against all those who have made objectionable statements against Islam to spread 'hatred' in the country.This statement comes days after the Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind and All India Muslim Personal Law Board made a similar demand.Darul Uloom Vice-Chancellor, Maulana Mufti Abul Qasim Nomani, has issued a statement saying, "I strongly condemn the insulting remarks on our beloved Prophet. Religious sentiments of the followers of any faith cannot be provoked in the name of freedom of expression. Insulting the Prophet will not be tolerated by Muslims, in India or abroad."He urged the government to "frame a law to deal with cases where religious symbols of Muslims are targeted".Nomani further said, "India is a secular country and people here have been living together for centuries. These communal and extremist elements are not only harming the country's social harmony but also disturbing the nation's secular fabric and ethos."Appealing to the government to take immediate cognisance of such cases and strict action against anti-social elements, the Darul Uloom Vice-Chancellor added, "For the past few years, efforts are being made to disturb peace and harmony by inciting religious sentiments in the country. And the overall environment has been deteriorating."The Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, a socio-religious organisation with a large Muslim following across the subcontinent, had said that "insulting the founder of Islam has deeply hurt the feelings of Muslims around the world"."We hope that the law enforcement agencies will take legal action against the perpetrators without further delay," said Jamiat's General Secretary, Maulana Hakimuddin Qasmi.The move follows several Arab and Islamic countries condemning the controversial remarks made against Prophet Muhammad by former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and the party's (now expelled) Delhi unit media head Naveen Jindal. —IANS

Darul Uloom Deoband, one of the largest Islamic seminaries in India, has sought strict legal action against all those who have made objectionable statements against Islam to spread 'hatred' in the country.

Deoband Seeks Legal Action Against Those Spreading Hatred

New Delhi: The All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen has decided to vote in favour of the Congress candidate in fray for the Rajya Sabha polls from Maharashtra being held on Friday. The announcement was made by AIMIM Lok Sabha member from Aurangabad Imtiaz Jaleel hours before the polling slated from 9 am.“Our 2 AIMIM Maharashtra MLAs have been asked to vote for @INCIndia candidate @ShayarImran for Rajya Sabha seat. We extend our best wishes to him! “To defeat BJP, our party @aimim_national has decided to vote for Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in the Rajya Sabha elections in Maharashtra. Our political/ideological differences however will continue with @ShivSena which is a partner in MVA along with @INCIndia and @Maha_speaks_ncp,” Jaleel tweeted. The AIMIM leader said that the party “laid certain conditions related to the development of our MLAs constituencies in Dhulia and Malegaon". It also demanded the state government appoint a minority member to Maharashtra Public Service Commission and “take steps” to increase the income of the Maharashtra Wakf Board.“Also demanded reservations for Muslims,” Jaleel tweeted.Seven candidates are in fray for the six seats from Maharashtra where polling is being held on Friday.After more than two decades, Maharashtra is witnessing a contest in the Rajya Sabha polls as there are seven candidates in the fray for six seats. The polling process will start at 9 am and end at 4 pm. The 288-member Legislative Assembly is the electoral college for the elections.But the total votes have come down to 285 since there is a vacancy due to the death of Shiv Sena MLA Ramesh Latke and a special court on Thursday rejecting the pleas filed by minister Nawab Malik and former minister Anil Deshmukh seeking a day's bail to vote in the elections.—PTI

The All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen has decided to vote in favour of the Congress candidate in fray for the Rajya Sabha polls from Maharashtra being held on Friday.

Owaisi's AIMIM backs MVA candidate in RS poll

New Delhi: Protests erupted outside the Jama Masjid after Friday prayers with hundreds of people demanding the arrest of suspended Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Nupur Sharma for her controversial remarks on Prophet Mohammed, the police said. A large crowd of people could be seen gathering on the steps of the famous mosque, some carrying placards and shouting slogans against Sharma. A senior police officer said that while some of the demonstrators left the site after some time, others continued to protest. The protest was carried out peacefully and lasted for 10-15 minutes.The Delhi police has registered an FIR against 31 people, including AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and controversial priest Yati Narsinghanand, and filed a separate case against former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma for allegedly spreading hate and hurting religious sentiments.The two FIRs were registered on Wednesday after a social media analysis, they had said.Former Delhi BJP media unit head Naveen Kumar Jindal, who was expelled from the party over his alleged remarks against Prophet Mohammed, and journalist Saba Naqvi have also been named in the FIR.—PTI

Protests erupted outside the Jama Masjid after Friday prayers with hundreds of people demanding the arrest of suspended Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Nupur Sharma for her controversial remarks on Prophet Mohammed, the police said.

Muslims protest outside Delhi's Jama Masjid demanding Nupur Sharma's arrest

Lucknow: The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) on Friday appealed to the Muslim scholars not to participate in the debates of those TV channels whose purpose is only to 'ridicule Islam and make fun of Muslims'.The Muslim Personal Law Board in its statement said, "By participating in the programs, they do not do any service to Islam and Muslims, but indirectly insult and ridicule Islam and Muslims, the purpose of these programs is not to reach any conclusion through constructive discussion. Rather it is to ridicule and defame Islam and Muslims."The board said in its statement that these channels also want to include a Muslim face in the debate to prove their neutrality."Our Ulema and intellectuals become victims of this conspiracy out of ignorance, if we boycott these programs and channels, then it will lead to not only will their TRP be low, but they will also fail miserably in their objective," it said.This statement was made jointly by the President of All India Muslim Personal Law Board Maulana Syed Muhammad Rabea Hasani Nadvi, Vice President Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umri, Maulana Kaka Saeed Ahmed Umri, Maulana Syed Shah Fakhruddin Ashraf, Maulana Syed Arshad Madani, Dr Syed Ali Muhammad Naqvi.The Board's statement comes amid nationwide protests over controversial remarks on Prophet Muhammed made by suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma and expelled party leader Naveen Jindal. —ANI

 The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) on Friday appealed to the Muslim scholars not to participate in the debates of those TV channels whose purpose is only to 'ridicule Islam and make fun of Muslims'.

Don't Go For TV Debates Whose Purpose Is Only To Ridicule Islam: AIMPLB To Muslim Scholars, Ulemas

Bareilly: The Ala Hazrat Dargah in Bareilly has now joined other Muslim organisations in condemning the violent incident in Udaipur where a tailor was slain for supporting BJP leader Nupur Sharma's statement on the Prophet.In a statement issued on Wednesday, Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi said that Tuesday's incident had made the entire community bow its head with shame and remorse. He said that the Prophet had never uttered a word against those who criticised him or even against his enemies. "He always asked his followers not to even think of revenge against those who opposed him. Beheading someone is certainly not what Islam propagates. Islam does not believe in the sword-it believes in love and harmony," he said.The cleric said that it was amply clear that the accused in the Udaipur incident did not believe in what Islam propagated. "I feel an inquiry should be held against them and stern punishment should be given to them under the law for attempting to disturb the peace and harmony in the country and using violence," he said.He also called upon Muslims to make conscious efforts to lessen the severity of the incident with their behaviour and inform the concerned authorities immediately if anyone tries to use Islam to create disharmony.&nbsp;—IANS

The Ala Hazrat Dargah in Bareilly has now joined other Muslim organisations in condemning the violent incident in Udaipur where a tailor was slain for supporting BJP leader Nupur Sharma's statement on the Prophet.

Ala Hazrat Dargah Condemns Udaipur Killing

Hyderabad: A day after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's 'population imbalance' remark, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi said Muslims were the ones using most contraceptives."Are Muslims not natives of India? If we see the reality, natives are only tribals and Dravidian people. In Uttar Pradesh, without any law, desired fertility rate would be achieved by 2026-2030," Owaisi said to ANI today on Adityanath's statement.Owaisi added, "Their own Health Minister said that no law is needed in the country for population control. It's Muslims who're using most contraceptives. The total fertility rate which was 2.6 in 2016 is now 2.3. Country's demographic dividend is the best among all countries."After a report by the United Nations on Monday said India was projected to surpass China as the world's most populous country in 2023, CM Yogi Adityanath said the population control programme must go ahead successfully but at the same time, 'population imbalance' should not be allowed to happen.Adityanath also said, "It should not happen that the speed of population growth or the percentage of some community is high and we stabilise the population of the `moolniwasi' (natives) through awareness or enforcement."He said programmes pertaining to awareness of population stabilisation have been running for the past five decades. On one scale, population is an achievement of the society, but this will remain an achievement only when the society remains healthy and disease-free, he added.According to a report by the World Population Prospects 2022 by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division the world's population is projected to reach eight billion on November 15, 2022. The latest projections by the United Nations suggest that the global population could grow to around 8.5 billion in 2030, 9.7 billion in 2050 and 10.4 billion in 2100.In July 2021, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath unveiled the state's new population policy, which aims to incentivise people to help in population control. The unveiling coincided with World Population Day, which is celebrated on July 11 every year."Increasing population can be a hurdle in way of development. Every community has been taken care of in Population Policy 2021-2030," Adityanath said in July 2021. He had also said that population control is directly connected with awareness among masses and poverty.Jai Pratap Singh, the state's health minister, had said last year that Uttar Pradesh is aiming for stability by 2050. He also said with the new policy, the aim is to reduce population growth rate to 2.1 per cent.&nbsp;—ANI

A day after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's 'population imbalance' remark, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi said Muslims were the ones using most contraceptives.

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