The legislators suggested that the state government needs to roll out schemes with hefty financial allocation to help the Maratha, Dalit and Muslim communities apart from allaying their fears about the change in the Constitution…reports Asian Lite News
NCP legislators at a meeting chaired by party chief Ajit Pawar on Thursday were told to step up outreach with the Muslim and Dalit communities and also increase communication with the politically influential Maratha community in the run-up to the state Assembly elections.
The instructions came following the party’s debacle in the just concluded Lok Sabha elections.
The legislators were also asked to take the farming community into confidence on the issues relating to onion, soybean, and cotton, which impacted the poll prospects of the MahaYuti (the BJP-NCP-Sena alliance) in the general elections. The NCP won one seat while the MahaYuti bagged 17 seats against the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA)’s 30.
A senior party functionary said, “The legislators shared the factors that went against NCP nominees and also against the MahaYuti candidates. The anti-incumbency against sitting MPs and also against the Central government was one of the major factors. This apart, the MahaYuti nominees were hit badly due to the narrative set by the Opposition that the Constitution will be changed if BJP voted to power for the third time. Muslims, Dalits and tribals voted against the NCP and the MahaYuti in general. The protests over Maratha and OBC reservations created a divide between the two which went against the MahaYuti. The legislators pressed the need for corrective steps to avoid further damage in the Assembly polls.”
The legislators suggested that the state government needs to roll out schemes with hefty financial allocation to help the Maratha, Dalit and Muslim communities apart from allaying their fears about the change in the Constitution.
Meanwhile, at least six MLAs were absent from the meeting. However, the party claimed that all MLAs had informed the leadership about the reasons for their absence from the meeting.
The meeting was held amid speculations that a set of MLAs planning to switch to Sharad Pawar’s NCP. The meeting lasted for more than three hours as all MLAs were asked to explain their experiences of the recently held Lok Sabha elections and plans for the upcoming Assembly elections.
MLAs who were absent from the meeting include Sunil Tingre, Rajendra Shingne, Anna Bansode, Babandada Shinde, Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal and Minister Dharmarao Atram.
According to party spokesperson Umesh Patil, Shinde and Atram were ill while Shingne and Bansode had conveyed their inability to attend the meeting due to prior commitments. Zirwal is presently in Russia on an official tour. Tingre, who chose to not come in front of the media, was discussed during the Pune hit-and-run case.
Students' Federation of India (SFI) members stage a protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, at Ambedkar University in New Delhi on Thursday. (ANI Photo/Jitender Gupta)
CAA has been a topic of intense debate and contention. The controversy around CAA revolves around its religious selectivity, potential violation of secular principles, and the broader implications for India’s social fabric. Because the CAA excludes Muslims, who form a majority in these countries, it is accused of applying selective religious criteria for fastrack citizenship. Critics argue that this religious exclusion violates the secular ethos of India and undermines the principle of equality, that the act singles out Muslims, leading to concerns about discrimination… writes Kamalesh Kumar
On March 11 the ministry of Home Affairs implemented the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) across India. The CAA was passed by the Parliament on December 11, 2019, and was notified on December 12 of the same year, however the rules under this law are only now being implemented. After over four years of amending the act, the union government has recently notified the rules for the CAA, indicating its commitment to implementing the law.
It is unfortunate to see how the matter of protecting minorities from neighbouring countries has has become politicised. Before understanding the modalities and inherent justice of the CAA, it is important to understand what the act is trying to achieve and why it the ongoing national discourse surrounding it.
Refugees from Pakistan and Afghanistan stage a protest against Congress over their alleged anti-CAA remarks, near AICC headquarters in New Delhi. (ANI Photo/Amit Sharma)
The Citizenship Amendment Act aims to protect individuals who have sought refuge in India due to religious persecution. It offers them a shield against illegal migration proceedings. To be eligible for citizenship, applicants must have entered India on or before December 31, 2014. CAA provides a path to Indian citizenship for Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jains, and Parsis who migrated from neighbouring Muslim-majority countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan before December 31, 2014. It specifically targets individuals who were forced or compelled to seek shelter in India due to persecution on the ground of religion. The 39-page Rules notified in the e-gazette recently has prescribed the modalities and procedure for eligible individuals to apply for Indian citizenship. The Rules specify what documents and paperwork are required for putting forward and considering a claim of citizenship.
CAA has been a topic of intense debate and contention. The controversy around CAA revolves around its religious selectivity, potential violation of secular principles, and the broader implications for India’s social fabric. Because the CAA excludes Muslims, who form a majority in these countries, it is accused of applying selective religious criteria for fastrack citizenship. Critics argue that this religious exclusion violates the secular ethos of India and undermines the principle of equality, that the act singles out Muslims, leading to concerns about discrimination.
The United Nations, US government and several other countries have expressed concerns about the alleged discriminatory nature of the CAA. Defending the CAA against its international criticism by certain countries, External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar has stated that it is unfair for Western nations to criticize it when they had implemented similar immigration policies in the past. Refering to riteria followed by USA and various European countries he asked, “Show me a country in the world which says everyone in the world is welcome.”
Defence minister Rajnath Singh has strongly backed the CAA pitching that it protects the rights of migrants, reduces the number of stateless people and does not discriminate against minorities. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has asserted that no one can stop the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act as it is the law of the land, that the government’s commitment to implement the CAA. Some state government like the TMC led by Mamata Banerjee has been opposing the CAA. Mr. Shah launched a scathing attack on Ms. Banerjee for misleading people on the issue of CAA, “At times, she tries to mislead the people, the refugees, whether CAA will be at all implemented in the country or not. I want to say this clearly that CAA is the law of the land and no one can stop its implementation. This is the commitment of our party.”
It is crucial to illuminate the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 through the constitution and human rights jurisprudence perspective. There are important humanitarian reasons why immigrants of certain religious communities from neighbouring countries should not be treated as illegal and should be given speedier access to citizenship. They have suffered persecution and require these protections. The CAA provides a legal pathway to citizenship for persecuted minorities from specific countries, aiming to address their plight and protect their rights in India.The 2019 amendment to the CAA further relaxed the residence requirement for naturalisation, reducing it from twelve years to just six years.
In the Indian Constitution, the jurisprudence on “equal protection” in Article 14 characterises this as being at best a case of “under inclusion”. To draw an analogy, if the government wants to solve a problem like malnutrition, it can take some steps without eliminating hunger entirely. Similarly, if it wants to protect migrants from religious persecution, it can do so by protecting some migrants and not all of them.
Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (CPI-ML) supporters protest march against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, in Patna. (ANI Photo)
Before criticsing CAA on the constitutional merits, it must be noted that Article 15 does not apply to non-citizens. Article 15 prohibits discrimination on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth. While, under Article 14, laws can rationally differentiate between people on the basis of whether they pay taxes or breach contracts, they can’t differentiate between them merely on the basis of Article 15 characteristics.
If a law is providing for affirmative action why cannot it take into account historic discrimination? The additional protection provided by provisions like Article 15 forms a key part of equality law around the world, be it through the “protected characteristics” under UK’s Equality Act, 2010 or through the USA’s constitutional safeguards for “suspect classifications”. These structures operate in areas of historic discrimination and ensure that people don’t have to suffer for inherent traits that they did not choose. Thus it is valid to ask if there can be concern about historic discrimination within the country, why can’t the concern extend to a history of persecution in another country?
To draw a reference, in the case of caste, Indian constitutional law shows that valid identification of backward castes has always been backed by evidence. This is similar to the US jurisprudence on suspect classifications – these aren’t entirely prohibited, but the government is placed under “strict scrutiny” by courts and has to show that no less discriminatory alternative is available, or that the job cannot be done in a more equal way. If evidentiary burdens tend to determine legal outcomes, then the petitions challenging the CAA’s constitutionality are no exception!
Referring to the unnecessary discourse surrounding CAA External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar believes that it is a battle of narratives and Anglosphere papers played a prominent part in it, “Take this whole scaremongering that millions of people are going to lose citizenship — you tell people, saying look this was said — one year has passed, two years have passed, where are these people? After all, we are supposed to have a cataclysm in 2020. Even citizenship, when you start reasoning people, ask them–tell me do you not have criteria of citizenship; do you not use language– some people use religion, language, education; some even use income, ethnicity.”
Sikh refugees from Pakistan stage a protest outside the residence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over his remarks on CAA, in New Delhi. (ANI Photo)
According to sources, there will be over 30,000 immediate beneficiaries from the CAA once the rules are fully implemented. Critics fail to see that the CAA benefits members of some religions without actually harming anyone else. Every country including USA and in Europe have different citizenship criteria based on context and social criteria. Infact the word ‘minorities’ is not used in the CAA because if other countries change the definition of their minorities in future, India would not be able to give them citizenship based on religious persecution. The CAA does nothing to anyone’s detriment and is thus not against anyone at all.
evotees offer prayers (Namaz) on Jumu'atul-Wida, the last Friday in the month of Ramzan before Eid-ul-Fitr, in the Old City of Hyderabad on Friday. (ANI Photo)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday greeted the country on the occasion of Eid-al-Fitr and prayed for the health and well-being of the people.
In a tweet, PM Modi said, “Greetings on Eid-ul-Fitr. May the spirit of harmony and compassion be furthered in our society. I also pray for everyone’s wonderful health and well-being. Eid Mubarak!” Meanwhile, the beautiful glimpses of people offering namaz nationwide emit positivity.
Greetings on Eid-ul-Fitr. May the spirit of harmony and compassion be furthered in our society. I also pray for everyone’s wonderful health and well-being. Eid Mubarak!
Muslims across India as well as different parts of the world on Saturday are celebrating the festival of Eid-al-Fitr by offering namaz. The festival marks the end of the holy month of Ramzan.
In Delhi, people hugged each other after offering namaz at Delhi’s Jama Masjid on the occasion of Eid-Al-Fitr.
Devotees greet each other as they offer prayers (Namaz) on Jumu’atul-Wida, the last Friday in the month of Ramzan before Eid-ul-Fitr, in Nagpur on Friday. (ANI Photo)
While talking to ANI, a man who came to offer namaz said, “I extend my wishes to the entire country on the occasion of Eid. This is a very important occasion after the 30 days of fasting. We are happy right now and special arrangements are made for the morning namaz. Delicious food items will be made in our houses today.”
“Eid-Al-Fitr sends the message of peace, brotherhood, humanity and love. I wish all evils are removed from the country and happiness spreads everywhere. I wish the nation keeps moving forward and keeps prospering,” he added.
“The nation comes first. We are known by our country. We are ‘Hindustani’ first,” he further added.
Another man, G R Siddique from Ghaziabad said, “Today is a very happy day. Namaz is being offered everywhere in India with love.”
“My only message is that Hindus and Muslims in the country maintain the spirit of brotherhood and spread this message all across the globe,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Police were fully prepared to ensure the security of those offering namaz.
Devotees offer prayers (Namaz) on Jumu’atul-Wida, the last Friday in the month of Ramzan before Eid-ul-Fitr, at johri bazar Jama Masjid, in Jaipur on Friday. (ANI Photo)
While talking to ANI, Special Commissioner of Police Dependra Pathak said, “This is a time of joy and festivities. Delhi Police has professional excellence in crowd management, especially when it comes to festivals or celebrations. Strategic deployment, communication with people and community policing is done every year. Forces do come from outside, across Delhi.”
“Thousands of Police personnel deployed in the Central District – both in uniform and civil clothes. The local population also cooperates in creating an orderly atmosphere,” he added.
Muslims in Mumbai offered namaz on the occassion of Eid at Mahim Dargah.
Eid Al-Fitr in Madhya Pradesh’s Bhopal was celebrated on a grand scale as people gathered at Eidgah in Bhopal to offer greetings.
Devotees offer prayers (Namaz) on Jumu’atul-Wida, the last Friday in the month of Ramzan before Eid-ul-Fitr, at Leisure Valley ground, in Gurugram on Friday. (ANI Photo)
Eid al-Fitr is celebrated on the first day of Shawwal, the 10th month of the Islamic lunar calendar. The festival is of great significance due to the moon sighting which has been part of Islamic culture for a long time. It is believed that Prophet Muhammad used to wait for news of sightings of the crescent moon as it narrated the beginning of a new month.
Ending the holy month of Ramzan and starting a new spiritual journey also marks the beginning of a new Islamic year.
Eid-al-Fitr marks the month-long Ramzan fasting and the beginning of Shawwal which is the tenth month per the Islamic calendar. Since the observance of the moon is essential for ending Ramzan month and celebrating Eid, it is celebrated in different parts on different days usually with a one-day difference. (ANI)
The committee is also rallying the Muslims to be prepared for elections as it feels general elections in the UK are round the corner…reports Rahul Kumar
Rishi Sunak’s rise to the top in British politics has come with its share of ‘shock and awe’.
Sunak became the prime minister of the UK within a month of serious unrest in Leicester — a city of three lakh people known for its inter-community harmony, well, until now.
The Muslim-Hindu unrest in a tranquil city ruffled Royal feathers besides creating news across the world. A number of independent inquiries are in the offing over the communal clashes.
Jubilant reactions among Hindus have been documented in detail by the media not just in the UK and India but across the world. Among British Muslims, while some notable personalities have voiced their support for Sunak, influential sections — some with connections with the Left and the Labour Party — have focused on the Prime Minister’s riches, his so-called pronounced Hinduism, his Tory thought as well as foreign policy disposition towards Palestine and India.
A past interview by Sunak on “grooming gangs” — wherein predominantly Pakistani men have been charged, has been dug out. Sunak is seen promising action on a sensitive race issue which has been buried in the UK due to ‘political correctness’ despite its acute criminality.
Even as Sunak remains under microscopic scrutiny, a Muslim organisation has been running a campaign against him. The Muslim Public Affairs Committee (MPACUK) posted a series of tweets between October 24 to 26 — all criticising Sunak.
It began on October 24 by saying: “Sunak doesn’t have the support of his own Party’s membership, nor most of his colleagues in Parliament, and definitely not of the country. MPACUK demands a General Election NOW!”
By October 25 MPACUK said: “Here’s our reasons for why the Muslim community should be dissatisfied with Sunak as PM and released a video on why Rishi Sunak is bad news for Muslims.”
The committee is also rallying the Muslims to be prepared for elections as it feels general elections in the UK are round the corner.
A day later the MPACUK released another video saying why Rishi Sunak is “bad news” as Prime Minister of the UK.
Among the issues it lists, which it thinks makes Sunak ‘bad news for Muslims’ are his Conservative Party thinking, support to Israel, his wife’s ownership of Infosys and that “Rishi Sunak is not the best for Britain let alone for the Muslims here.”
Despite the MPACUK’s strident anti-Sunak campaign, some constituents have voiced support for Sunak.
Foremost among them is writer and commentator Wasiq Wasiq who has been battling the anti-Sunak sentiment on social media.
He was among the few to have clapped his approval for Sunak even before the Indian-origin leader took on the mantle as the Prime Minister.
Another Muslim figure, researcher and culture writer, Dr Rakib Ehsan has come to Sunak’s defence many a times.
Ehsan has taken a swipe at the powerful Left-Liberal combine for vilifying Sunak’s elitism and wealthy background. He has also stood his ground over communal attacks on Sunak and defended his policies.
That Sunak is a practicing Hindu and has been photographed with cows also led to a social media kerfuffle.
Well known Pakistani writer-in-exile, Ayesha Siddiqa alluded to his Hindu roots while making a confusing comment on his ties with India. Siddiqa said: “He recently went to a cow temple and other signs of support. But there will be pressure on him so not easy to deal with India.”
Siddiqa’s comment obviously drew sharp comments over the term “cow temple” after which she tried to decry Sunak as not only rich but Hindutva.
“We are generally weary of owning our own Hindus unless it is to showcase liberalism so what to speak of Richie Sunak who is not just Tory but Hindutva.”
Sunak’s elevation has caused more than a flutter among the Muslims in Britain.
Large sections are keeping quiet over the UK’s youngest and first Hindu Prime Minister. Many others are watching his policies from an Islamic point of view while some have already announced that a Hindu Prime Minister is just not going to be right for the Muslims.
With inter-faith relations under strain after the Leicester violence, the Palestinian issue always on a boil, grooming gang convictions of Pakistani men that keep popping up frequently and a vocal-visible minority Muslim population with assimilation issues, Sunak will have to tread with caution.
Another local Altaf Ahmad said that they have been living and brought up together in the neighbourhood and it was their duty to participate in Hindu woman’ marriage ceremony…reports Asian Lite News
In yet another example of centuries old tradition and communal harmony, Kashmiri Muslims participated in marriage ceremony of a Kashmiri Pandit woman in Lar village of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.
Locals said that the Muslim neighbours participated in the marriage ceremony of Meenu Kumari daughter of Late Pandit Mohan Lal in Lar village.
They said that they participated in every ritual of the marriage ceremony of pandit woman and also eat together, while being with their Pandit brethren for the last four days.
“This is an example of age old tradition and communal harmony under which both Muslim and Pandit families have been living together, even as there have been unfavourable conditions many times,” the locals said.
Meanwhile, talking to reporters, district president Ganderbal Sanatham Dharam Sabha, Badrinath Bhat said that the function was going on for the last four days here and in these four days, Muslim neighbours including men and women participated in every ritual.
He said that Muslim men and women participated in mehandiraat, other rituals including singing and dancing, which gives a clear message that how Muslims and Hindus have been living in their neighbourhood in the Kashmir Valley.
“We have been living together for years now and we have participating in each other’s functions, be it marriage, someone’s death or any other function, we have been together. Recently some of our Muslim brothers went for Haj pilgrimage, we also went to see them off like their Muslim relatives did,” he said.
Meanwhile, another local Altaf Ahmad said that they have been living and brought up together in the neighbourhood and it was their duty to participate in Hindu woman’ marriage ceremony.
He said that this a centuries old bond between Hindus and Muslims here and it will not be broken by any mischievous element. “We have been living together and we will continue to do so and will support and love each other in every thick and thin,” he said.
Muslim women were seeing welcoming the groom and also participated in singing and dancing including “Kashmiri Wanwun” along with Pandit woman during the marriage ceremony—(KNO)
The survey was commissioned by Hyphen, a new magazine that focuses on Muslim issues in Europe…reports Asian Lite News
More than half of British Muslims feel like their lives are improving, citing role models and work opportunities, according to a new poll.
Savanta ComRes surveyed 1,503 British Muslims who said life was improving in Britain on 10 out of 12 measures, but workplace discrimination was getting worse.
Britain’s Muslim population stands at 3.3 million, making up 5 percent of the total population.
More than two-thirds surveyed said they felt that Muslim “participation in society” had risen since 2017, which tied in with 58 percent pointing to a rise in role models for British Muslims.
The survey was commissioned by Hyphen, a new magazine that focuses on Muslim issues in Europe.
Co-founder and journalist Burhan Wazir said major Muslim figures such as actor Riz Ahmed, star baker Nadiya Hussain and London Mayor Sadiq Khan had provided high-profile public role models.
Other high-profile Muslims cited by the survey and magazine include champion footballers Mohamed Salah and Riyad Mahrez, Olympian Mo Farah and boxer Amir Khan, who retired last month, reported Arab News.
But it was not just the rise in role models that attracted significant polling support, with 59 percent agreeing that businesses were creating more products and services tailored to Muslim consumers.
Fifty-three percent said “acceptance of Muslims in the UK” had risen in the last five years, but 19 percent said it had declined.
Access to higher-paying jobs and opportunities to be successful were both seen as more likely by those surveyed, with 53 percent saying “life overall” had improved in the same period.
But despite these perceived improvements in work life, 46 percent said Islamophobia in the workplace had worsened.
Just 21 percent said it had improved, with almost 70 percent reporting an experience of discrimination at work.
Wazir said he was surprised by the high number of Muslims reporting workplace discrimination, adding that there was a lot of “informal” and “off-the-cuff” Islamophobia. “Some companies who do very well in terms of raising the profile of women and looking after some minority groups perhaps don’t do so well on Islamophobia,” he said.
Fifty-seven percent of people agreed that “young Muslims growing up in the UK today will be more successful than their parents,” Wazir added.
“I put that down to the fact that there are now three or four generations of Muslims in this country, so younger generations probably do feel a bit more confident and see other people like them.
“There are more role models for young Muslims and there is some sense of there being better access to jobs.”
Pramod Muthalik, founder of Sri Ram Sena, said on Monday that people should make purchases only from shops owned by Hindus on Akshaya Tritiya…reports Asian Lite News
With Akshaya Tritiya round the corner, Hindu outfits in Karnataka have urged people not to purchase gold from jewellery shops owned by Muslims on the day of the festival.
Akshaya Tritiya is a Hindu festival which is believed to bring good luck, and people believe that buying gold on this day will turn their fortunes. The festival will be celebrated on May 3.
However, the auspicious occasion has been given a communal tone this time with Hindu outfits urging people not to make any purchase from jewellery shops owned by Muslims. Posts and messages to this effect have gone viral on social media.
Pramod Muthalik, founder of Sri Ram Sena, said on Monday that people should make purchases only from shops owned by Hindus on Akshaya Tritiya.
“The money which you pay for gold jewelleries at Muslim shops will reach organisations working against Hindus. The money will find its way to organisations based out of Kerala, where scores of Hindus have been killed by fundamentalist groups. Your money will help them commit more atrocities on Hindus in Kerala,” he said.
T.A. Sharavana, the President of Karnataka Jewellers Association, said that the statements are being made to create unrest in the society.
“It should be left to the discretion of the customer to make purchase of their choice,” he said.
According to sources, about 30 per cent of gold merchants in Karnataka are Muslims and in Bengaluru, 50 per cent of reputed gold jewellery shops are owned by Muslims. The shops have already started making attractive offers for the upcoming festival.
The state government is yet to react to the development.
Amid the ongoing hijab controversy in Karnataka, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday said that he respects every religion and their rituals of worshipping…reports Asian Lite News
The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation has expressed deep concern over recent public calls for the genocide of Muslims in Haridwar in India’s Uttarakhand state. It also condemned reported incidents of harassment of Muslim women on social media, as well as the banning of female Muslim students wearing the hijab in Karnataka.
The continued attacks on Muslims and their places of worship, the recent trend of anti-Muslim legislation in different states and rising incidents of violence against Muslims are indicative of the growing trend of Islamophobia, the OIC said.
It called upon the international community, especially the UN and Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council, to take necessary measures in this regard.
The OIC urged India to ensure the safety, security and wellbeing of the Muslim community, protect the way of life of its citizens, and bring perpetrators of acts of violence to justice.
Court order can’t curb fundamental rights, say petitioners
The government can’t restrict fundamental rights in the garb of maintaining public order, the counsel for the girl students seeking permission to wear the hijab told the Karnataka High Court on Monday.
Meanwhile, the high court refused to intervene to restrain media from reporting the case hearing, as the advocate defending petitioners submitted that the hijab case will have an impact on voting in states where elections are underway. Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi stated that if at all they can do something, they will have to stop live streaming of the court proceedings. Other than this, they can’t take any measure to restrict media.
During the hearing on Monday, senior advocate Devdatt Kamat told the bench of Chief Justice Awasthi, Justice Krishna S. Dixit and Justice Khaji Jaibunnesa Mohiyuddin that the College Development Committee (CDC) has no legal statutory basis to frame rules on uniforms.
“The government’s decision in this regard shows lack of wisdom and a legislator heading the committee will decide on fundamental rights. It is not legal to restrict the wearing of hijab,” he argued.
Kamat stated that all Central schools run by the Central government are allowing the wearing of hijab and petitioners have been wearing hijab of the same colour as the uniform since long.
“The state has made a fatal error while referring to public order in its circular. There is not even mention of Article 21 in the quoted order by the government on the basis of which the circular restricting hijab is issued,” he said.
He maintained that the state is an outsider when it comes to the point of belief, though it seems regressive to others. Authorising college committees is equal to making mockery of the fundamental rights, he said, while maintaining that maintaining public order is an enshrined responsibility of the state and it can’t deny rights and say because certain acts incites violence, they are restricting students from wearing hijab.
Advocate Kamat pleaded that the bench should permit students to wear hijab of the same color of the uniform.
The bench subsequently adjourned the matter till Tuesday.
The bench had last week given an interim order that no religious symbols are allowed for the students in schools and colleges until the final order of the court, thus barring use of both hijab and saffron shawls in the school and college premises.
However, petitioners moved the Supreme Court challenging the interim order but it had rejected the demand of urgent hearing by petitioners and said that it will only interfere at an appropriate time. The state government has resumed function of schools till Class 10 and is expected to take call on reopening colleges soon.
The hijab row which started last month in Udupi Pre-University College by six girl students, has snowballed into a major crisis in the state and has hit international attention too.
Hijab not an issue inBihar, says Nitish Kumar
Amid the ongoing hijab controversy in Karnataka, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday said that he respects every religion and their rituals of worshipping.
“If anyone wears a scarf on the head or sandalwood mark on the forehead, I believe it is not a controversial subject. Every person has a right to wear whatever they want. We have no interference. You never witness any single incident of such controversy in Bihar. It cannot be an issue of discussion,” he said.
After the hijab row rose in Karnataka and saw tension and charged statements, Janata Dal-United’s Parliamentary Board President Upendra Kushwaha termed as “traitor”, Karnataka Minister K.S. Eshwarappa who had said that the saffron flag could become the national flag after 100, 200 or 500 years in the country.
“The leaders of BJP insulting Samrat Ashoka, are now campaigning for demolishing our national flag. How could our country tolerate it?”
Muslim women shout slogans during a protest against banning Muslim girls wearing hijab from attending classes at some schools in Karnataka, in Kolkata, on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022.(Photo: Kuntal Chakrabarty/IANS)
“I am urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister BS Bommai to take appropriate action against traitors like Ishwarappa,” Kushwaha said in a tweet.
RJD President Lalu Prasad Yadav, while reacting to the Hijab controversy, said that the country is heading toward civil war and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling BJP are responsible for it.
“… PM Narendra Modi does not talk on inflation, unemployment, poverty and other issues. He always talks about temple-mosque, riots and religions. The people of the country are tired of the propaganda of BJP and Narendra Modi,” he said.
Another local resident Umer said there are many examples in Jammu and Kashmir where the Muslim community takes care of Hindu temples…reports Asian Lite News
A hearing and speech impaired Muslim father-son duo have been looking after a Shiva temple for years and setting an example of communal harmony in the valley.
The father and Ahmad Alai have been caretakers of Gopi Tirith Temple, a small Shiva temple in Zabarwan hills in Srinagar.
Nisar Ahmad Alai and his father have been taking care of the temple for more than six years.
Nisar cleans the premises, maintains the gardens and grows vegetables in the temple courtyard.
The locals believe that this temple is a sign of Kashmir’s mutual brotherhood.
Firdous, a local resident said “they are working as caretakers for a long time now and are responsible for its upkeep. It is a sign of Kashmir’s brotherhood which is every citizen’s moral responsibility.”
“In case father and son are not able to take care of than other people also keep looking after the temple,” he said.
Another local resident Umer said there are many examples in Jammu and Kashmir where the Muslim community takes care of Hindu temples.
“Our Muslim community boy is taking care of this Shiva temple. This is not a unique case, there are many temples in the valley where the Muslim community takes care of Hindu temples. All the religions live here in harmony and respect each other’s religion,” Umer said. (ANI)
Hasanul Haq expressed apprehensions that terrorists may resort to more sporadic attacks targeting minorities…reports Asian Lite News
Tensions are simmering as unabated targeted attacks are being carried out against Hindus in Bangladesh, attacks that started in Cumilla during Durga Puja have spread to other parts and there are reports of violence, arson and killing from various parts of the country.
Speaking to ANI in a telephonic conversation, former Information Minister of Bangladesh Hasanul Haq, who is also chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on Information and Broadcasting, said these attacks are on the secular Awami League government and there is no communal tension between Hindus and Muslims on the ground.
“There is no tension between Hindus and Muslims on the ground and they are living in harmony. It is an attempt by terrorists and zealots to target the secular government of Sheikh Hasina. Fear lingers that terrorists may do a sporadic attack on temples, monasteries and churches to vitiate the atmosphere and target secular Sheikh Hasina government,” he said.
Hasanul Haq expressed apprehensions that terrorists may resort to more sporadic attacks targeting minorities and asserted that the government will go to the bottom of the matter and a crackdown is being carried out.
“Sheikh Hasina government is following the policy of secularism. It is our constitutional duty to protect minorities, we stand with them. Crackdown against terrorists is going on. Forty persons have been picked up,” he said.
“Finger of suspicion is on terrorists. There is one overground Jamaat-e-Islami and 15 covert terror groups operating in Bangladesh,” he added.
He said 32,000 pandals had been organized during Durga Puja and all Hindus and Muslims were in a festive mood.
“We protected them, 50 came under attack. The government will rebuild houses, temples destroyed in the attacks,” the former minister said.
Hasanul Haq today visited the attack site and spent time with victims in the Rangpur district located in north Bangladesh. He also visited the ISCKON temple. (ANI)
