Month: June 2022

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) condemned the cold-blooded murder of a tailor in Udaipur saying that “taking law into your own hands is highly condemnable, regrettable and un-Islamic”.

In a media statement, Hazrat Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani, General Secretary of AIMPLB said, “It is a grave crime to defame and slander any religious personality. The derogatory words spoken by (former) BJP spokesperson, Nupur Sharma against Prophet Muhammad are very painful for the Muslim community. The inaction of the government against this crime is nothing but rubbing salts on our wounds. But in spite of this, nobody can be allowed to take the law into their hands and declaring someone a criminal and then murdering them is a highly condemnable act.”
He further stated, “Neither the law nor the Islamic Sharia allow it. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board strongly condemns the incident of brutal killing in Udaipur.”

The board also appealed to the Muslim community to act patiently and to not take law into their own hands and not indulge in any such action that might disturb the communal harmony and social cohesion of the country.

“In this matter, the Board has not only been consistently appealing to the Muslim community to be patient and take recourse to only legal avenues but has also been appealing to the government that this issue is very sentimental for Muslims and therefore the government must enact a law against blasphemy for the religious personalities of all religions,” the AIMPLB statement read.

Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind had on Tuesday condemned the Udaipur killing incident and called it against Islam and the law of the land.

“Maulana Halceemuddin Qasmi, General Secretary of the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, has condemned the incident of brutal killing in Udaipur apparently on the pretext of the insult to the Prophet (PBUH) and called it against the law of land and against the religion of Islam,” reads the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind statement.

“Has said whoever has perpetrated this incident cannot be justified in any way, it is against the law of the land and our religion. In our country, there is a system of law, no one has the right to take the law into his own hands. Maulana Hakeemuddin Qasmi appealed to all the citizens of the country to restrain their emotions and maintain peace in the country,” it added.

After the horrific murder of a tailor in Udaipur sparked outrage in the entire state, the Rajasthan government on Tuesday announced the imposition of section 144 of CrPC in all the districts for the next one month.

The state government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter. The SIT includes the Additional Director General of Police (ADG), Special Operation Group Ashok Kumar Rathore, Inspector General of Police (IG), Anti Terror Squad (ATS), Prafulla Kumar and a Superintendant of Police (SP) rank officer and an Additional SP rank officer.

Internet services were suspended in the entire state on Tuesday.

Udaipur Divisional Commissioner Rajendra Bhatt appealed to the people to maintain peace.

“We appeal to the people of Udaipur to maintain peace. The (victim Kanhaiya Lal’s) dependents have been assured of recruitment through placement service in UIT, and the family will be given compensation of Rs 5 lakh,” said Bhatt.

Police are on high alert in every district of Rajasthan.

“In view of the prevailing situation, Section 144 has been imposed in the entire district as well as the state. Shanti March has been cancelled by the organizers. We appeal to the people to maintain peace. Leaves of police personnel have been cancelled and they have been asked to report back. They are being deployed in law and order duty. We will ensure peace is maintained and take strict action against those attempting to disrupt it,” Ajmer SP Vikas Sharma told ANI.

As per government sources, an NIA team is likely to file a case under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act after visiting the spot of the crime.

The incident took place in Udaipur’s Maldas area. Soon after committing the crime, two accused posted a video on social media boasting about the beheading and threatened Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s life as well, police said. The two accused were arrested within hours of the incident.

One of the assailants, who was identified as Riyaz Akhtar, attacked Kanhaiya Lal with a sharp-edged weapon while the other, Ghos Mohammad, recorded the crime on his mobile phone, police said.

The victim, a tailor, reportedly had recently shared a social media post in support of Nupur Sharma– former BJP spokesperson who had made controversial remarks against Prophet Mohammad.

Following the murder, local markets in the area were shut as the traders demanded justice for the victim.

“Both the accused have been detained and the law and order situation is under control. Some people were attempting to come out of the bylanes but were controlled. Curfew imposed in the nearby areas,” Manoj Kumar, SP, Udaipur said.

A statewide alert has also been issued to all Superintendents of Police and Inspector Generals to increase the mobility of forces and to maintain officers on the ground. (ANI)

Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has asked the Uddhav Thackeray government in the state to prove his majority on the floor of the House on June 30 citing that the “present political scenario” unfolding in the state paints a “very disturbing picture.”

The Governor has written to the state Assembly secretary to convene a special session of the State Assembly tomorrow with the only agenda of a trust vote against CM Thackeray.
According to the notification, the session will commence at 11 am which will also be telecast live.

Notably, this comes after Leader of Opposition and former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis visited the Governor on Tuesday night after returning from Delhi, and submitted a letter to him demanding an immediate floor test.

“The present political scenario unfolding in the State of Maharashtra paints a very disturbing picture. There has been extensive coverage in the electronic and print media that 39 MLAs of the Shiv Sena Legislature Party have expressed their sincere desire and decision to exit the Maha Vikas Aghadi Government,” said the notification by the Governor.

“The Leader of Opposition, Maharashtra Legislative Assembly personally visited me at Raj Bhavan on June 28, 2022. I was briefed about the political situation in the State and thereafter the Leader of Opposition submitted a letter stating that Chief Minister has lost the majority in Vidhan Sabha. The letter submitted by the Leader of Opposition has further requested for a floor test to be conducted at the earliest so as to avoid any political bargaining by undemocratic means in the State of Maharashtra,”it added.

According to the sources, a few independent MLAs had also sent an email to the registered email address of the Maharashtra Governor demanding an immediate floor test.

“In this backdrop, an email dated June 28, 2022, was received by Raj Bhavan, Mumbai by 7 independent MLAs. The said letter states that the Chief Minister of Maharashtra has lost the confidence of the majority on the floor of the House thereby, making it imperative to conduct a floor test at the earliest,” the notification stated.

“As the constitutional head of the State. I must ensure that the Government functions with the support and confidence of the House. Thus, I have issued a communication to the Chief Minister calling upon to prove his majority on the Floor of the House on June 30, 2022,” it further stated.

Earlier this morning Eknath Shinde, visited the famed Kamakhya temple in Guwahati, where he is camping in a hotel along with other rebel Shiv Sena MLAs. Shinde said that he is ready for the floor test and will return to Mumbai tomorrow.

“I will return to Mumbai tomorrow. I prayed for the welfare of the people of Maharashtra here at the temple,” Shinde said after visiting the temple in Guawahati.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Wednesday said holding of the floor test amounted to contempt of the Supreme Court proceedings as the apex court is hearing the relating to the disqualification of 16 MLAs of the breakway camp of the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde.

“How can a floor test be asked for when the disqualification of 16 MLA has deferred by the Supreme Court till 11th July? How can these MLAs participate in the floor test till their disqualification status not decided and the other matters for which notice sent is subjudice?” she tweeted.

“This would be contempt of court proceedings if floor test conducted despite the matter not getting final hearing in the SC,” Chaturvedi added in her tweet.

In a jolt to the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra, senior Shiv Sena Minister Eknath Shinde and other rebel MLAs revolted against the party on June 20 and camped in Gujarat’s Surat. Later, the rebel MLAs shifted base to a hotel in Guwahati.

On Monday, a separate plea was filed by Shinde in Supreme Court court regarding the safety of the legislators who have challenged party chief and Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and JB Pardiwala heard the pleas on Monday.

“This is the win of the Hindutva of Balasaheb Thackeray and the ideas of Anand Dighe,” Eknath Shinde tweeted after the Supreme Court deferred the disqualification proceedings of rebel MLAs till July 11. (ANI)

After the horrific murder of a tailor in Udaipur sparked outrage in the entire state, the Rajasthan government on Tuesday announced the imposition of section 144 of CrPC in all the districts for the next one month.

The state government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter. The SIT includes the Additional Director General of Police (ADG), Special Operation Group Ashok Kumar Rathore, Inspector General of Police (IG), Anti Terror Squad (ATS), Prafulla Kumar and a Superintendant of Police (SP) rank officer and an Additional SP rank officer.
Internet services have been suspended in the entire state on Tuesday.

Udaipur Divisional Commissioner Rajendra Bhatt appealed to the people to maintain peace.

“We appeal to the people of Udaipur to maintain peace. The (victim Kanhaiya Lal’s) dependents have been assured of recruitment through placement service in UIT, and the family will be given compensation of Rs 5 lakhs,” said Bhatt.

Police are on high alert in every district of Rajasthan.

“In view of the prevailing situation, Section 144 has been imposed in the entire district as well as the state. Shanti March has been cancelled by the organizers. We appeal to the people to maintain peace. Leaves of police personnel have been cancelled and they have been asked to report back. They are being deployed in law and order duty. We will ensure peace is maintained and take strict action against those attempting to disrupt it,” Ajmer SP Vikas Sharma told ANI.

The NIA team includes a Deputy Inspector General (DIG)-rank officer, a source told ANI on anonymity, adding the move comes following an order issued from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

As per government sources, the NIA team is likely to file a case under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act after visiting the crime spot.

The incident took place in Udaipur’s Maldas area. Soon after committing the crime, the two accused posted a video on social media boasting about the beheading and threatened Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s life as well, police said. The two accused were arrested within hours of the incident.

One of the assailants, who was identified as Riyaz Akhtar, attacked Kanhaiya Lal with a sharp-edged weapon while the other, Ghos Mohammad, recorded the crime on his mobile phone, police said.

The victim, a tailor, reportedly had recently shared a social media post in support of Nupur Sharma– former BJP spokesperson who had made controversial remarks against Prophet Mohammad. Following the murder, local markets in the area were shut as the traders demanded justice for the victim.

“Both the accused have been detained and the law and order situation is under control. Some people were attempting to come out of the bylanes but were controlled. Curfew imposed in the nearby areas,” Manoj Kumar, SP, Udaipur said.

A statewide alert has also been issued to all Superintendents of Police and Inspector Generals to increase the mobility of forces and to maintain officers on the ground. (ANI)

The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Tuesday airlifted a total of 517 tons of relief material over the past six days, informed the officials.

“Relief Operations by IAF continue unabated day and night. Over the past six days, a total of 517 Tons of relief material has been airlifted across various flood affected regions of Assam and Meghalaya,” tweeted the IAF.
Earlier, the Indian Airforce deployed seven types of fixed and rotary-wing aircraft in various flood-affected areas, informed the officials on Sunday.

The IAF deployed these aircraft with the aim to transport 77 tonnes of relief material.

“Till now IAF has flown more than 130 humanitarian assurance missions and dropped 700 tons of load in the last five days for Assam floods,” said IAF officials.

The overall flood situation in Assam has improved but over 33.03 lakh people in 28 districts continue to remain affected due to the natural calamity in the state, the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) informed on Saturday.

According to ASDMA, a total of 117 people have lost their lives so far in the flood and landslides in the state this year; of which 100 people died in flood alone, while the remaining 17 died due to landslides.

As per the reports, at least 10 people, including four children died after drowning in the flood water in the last 24 hours.

The report also stated that 8.76 lakh people have been affected in Barpeta district alone, followed by 5.08 lakh people in Nagaon, 4.01 lakh in Kamrup, 2.76 lakh people in Cachar, 2.16 in Karimganj, 1.84 lakh in Dhubri, and 1.70 lakh people have been affected in the Darrang district of Assam.

Notably, 3,510 villages under 93 revenue circles of the state and nearly 91,700 hectares of cropland is still reeling under the flood water.

2,65,788 people affected by flood water are still lodged in 717 relief camps set up by the administration of 22 districts in the state, ASDMA reported.

Two drones have been deployed in Silchar of Cachar district for carrying out the flood inundation mapping as well as to provide the relief materials in the inaccessible areas.

85.2 MT of GR items including packaged drinking water, rice, etc. have been air transported from Guwahati and Jorhat to Silchar.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel along with SDRF, Fire and Emergency personnel, Police Force and AAPDA MITRA Volunteers are helping the district administrations in the rescue operation and relief distributions.

However, the ASDMA earlier reported that many areas under the Raha revenue circle in the Nagaon district are still under flood waters.

Nearly 1.42 lakh people of 155 villages under the Raha revenue circle have been affected by the current wave of floods.

In the Nagaon district, children have participated in preschool activities in the relief camp itself. “We’re making children participate in preschool activities in relief camp (Nagaon) itself, with morning prayers, physical exercises, drawings. Union Min Sarbananda Sonowal visited this camp earlier,” NP Doley, Integrated Child Development Services supervisor told ANI.

The flood situation in Kampur area in Assam’s Nagaon district has slightly improved, but many areas under Kampur revenue circle are still under flood waters.

The devastating flood damaged many houses, roads, bridges, and embankments in Kampur revenue circle areas. (ANI)

Even as several Shiv Sena leaders have attacked the party rebels accusing them of betrayal, party leader and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday made an appeal to them to return from Guwahati and discuss their issues.

Striking a conciliatory note, Uddhav Thackeray said rebel MLAs were “still in Shiv Sena at heart” and family members of some legislators had contacted him.
“Many of you are in touch with us, you’re still in Shiv Sena at heart; family members of some MLAs have also contacted me & conveyed their sentiments to me…” he said.

He said rebel MLAs should get rid of their confusion and they will together find a way out of the political crisis facing the party and the MVA government.

He claimed that rebel MLAs are “trapped” in Guwahati.

“Every day new information is coming out about the MLAs trapped in Guwahati for last few days. As Shiv Sena’s family head I respect your sentiments, get rid of confusion… we’ll sit together and find a way out of this… if you come forward and speak, we’ll find a way out,” he said.

His remarks came a day after Uddhav Thackeray reshuffled the departments of ministers and took away portfolios of nine ministers who have joined the Eknath Shinde camp. The remarks were made ahead of the cabinet meeting.

Uddhav Thackeray’s son and Maharashtra Minister Aaditya Thackeray had strongly attacked the rebel MLAs on Monday.

He had accused them of “betraying” the party and said, “the dirt has gone out of Shiv Sena”.

Aaditya Thackeray, who was addressing Shivsainiks in Mumbai said the party rebels were “enjoying” in Guwahati when Assam was dealing with floods in parts of the state.

He also claimed that 15 to 20 MLAs, who are in the Eknath Shinde’s rebel camp were in touch with the Shiv Sena and have urged the party to bring them back to Mumbai from Guwahati.

He said the leader of the rebel group Eknath Shinde was offered the post of Chief Minister in May but “he did drama”.

The battle between groups of Shiv Sena has now reached the Supreme Court which on Monday granted interim relief to Shinde and other MLAs to file their reply to disqualification notices issued to them by the Deputy Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly by July 12.

During the hearing, senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul appearing for Eknath Shinde and others told the Supreme Court that the Deputy Speaker cannot proceed with the disqualification proceedings when the resolution seeking his removal is pending.(ANI)

After the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government presented its first budget in Punjab with the announcement of no new tax and free electricity from July 1, an economic expert believes that this will push the state into a debt trap in near future.

Dr Suvrokamal Dutta, an economic and foreign policy expert, highlighted the budget is well packaged with sugar-coated words in it with loads of thoughts for daydreaming.
“When analysed in-depth the focus seems to be directionless and confusing in the budget. The state has an overall debt of almost Rs 2.85 lakh crores and the government is totally clueless about how to overcome this,” he added.

Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Monday announced providing 300 units of free electricity to households from July 1, setting up 117 Mohalla Clinics and upgrading 100 schools as ‘schools of eminence’ in the state among other proposals.

The Bhagwant Mann-led government also announced setting up cyber-crime control units in all districts of the state while keeping its focus on health, education, agriculture, and police modernisation.

Dutta also criticized the state government’s decision of providing free electricity of 300 units to each household.

“In such a situation when the state is already overburdened with huge financial debt, free electricity will only worsen the situation further. It will further burden the state exchequer and deepen the financial crisis further.”

He also opined that the level of financial debt which the state has cannot be mitigated only through GST collection.

“Already the state government has approached the Government of India for a bailout package to handle the financial crises in the state as such announcement of such freebies is not financially or economically viable.”

Since coming to power, the AAP government has faced criticism due to the deteriorating law and order situation, drug menace and alleged revival of pro-Khalistan activism.

He also listed major challenges for the Punjab government and stated that immediate and urgent long-term solutions are the need of the hour.

“Problem of drugs and drug addiction together with reeling unemployment, depletion of groundwater, soil desertification negative industrial growth are other major challenges, which need urgent long term solutions.”

Dr Suvrokamal Dutta in a nutshell termed the northern state’s budget as a populist budget with no focus or direction in it to handle the challenges.

“This budget will further deepen the challenges and crises faced by Punjab in the long run,” he concluded. (ANI)

The United States has targeted 511 Russian military officers operating in Zaporizhzhia and Mariupol, the mayor of Melitopol and the Federal Security Service in its latest round of sanctions, the State Department said on Tuesday.

“Action to impose visa restrictions on 511 officers of the Russian Federation military, including officers operating in the Zaporizhzhia and Mariupol areas, pursuant to a policy under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act that applies to those who are believed to have supported, been actively complicit in, or been responsible for ordering or otherwise directing or authorizing actions that threaten or violate the sovereignty, territorial integrity, or political independence of Ukraine,” the release said.
The latest move also puts visa restrictions on 18 Russian nationals and Melitopol Mayor Halyna Danylchenko, whom it considers “illegitimate” mayor.

In addition, the Department of State is designating three Russian military units – the 76th Guards Air Assault Division and its subordinate 234th Guards Airborne Assault Regiment, as well as the 64th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade, because “these entities operate or have operated in the defense and related materiel sector of the Russian Federation economy.”

It has also designated Russia’s Federal Security Service. (ANI/Sputnik)

The death toll in the Kurla building collapse rose to 19 on Tuesday evening.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakhs each to the families of those who died in the incident.
Earlier, rebel Shiv Sena MLA Mangesh Kudalkar expressed his grief over the loss of lives in the incident and announced that the family of the deceased will be given Rs 5 lakh each while the injured will get one lakh.

“Rs 5 lakhs to the kin of those who lost their lives in the Mumbai accident, along with Rs 1 lakh to the injured,” Kudalkar said in a tweet.

The four-storeyed building collapsed in Mumbai’s Kurla late on Monday night. The incident took place in the Naik Nagar area.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Potnis said, “In 2016, the building was listed under the C1 category. Later, following an audit, it was reclassified under C2. It should have been repaired, but it wasn’t. I, however, don’t think there has been negligence on part of BMC.”

Earlier, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Additional Commissioner Ashwini Bhide said the collapsed building was dilapidated, since 2013, notices had been first given for its repair, and then for its demolition.

On Monday night, Minister Aaditya Thackeray visited Kurla where the building collapsed and said that such property should be vacated on the notice of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

“Whenever BMC issues notices, (buildings) should be vacated themselves…otherwise, such incidents happen, which is unfortunate…It’s now important to take action on this,” Thackeray said. (ANI)

A team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) was on Tuesday rushed to Rajasthan’s Udaipur after a man was allegedly beheaded by two men in broad daylight in the region, sources said.

The NIA team includes a Deputy Inspector General (DIG)-rank officer, source told ANI on anonymity, adding the move comes following an order issued from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
As per government sources, the NIA team is likely to file a case under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act after visiting the crime spot.

The incident took place in Udaipur’s Maldas area. Soon after committing the crime, the two accused posted a video on social media boasting about the beheading and threatened Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s life as well, police said. The two accused were arrested within hours of the incident.

One of the assailants, who was identified as Riyaz Akhtar, attacked Kanhaiya Lal with a sharp-edged weapon while the other, Ghos Mohammad, recorded the crime on his mobile phone, police said.

The victim, a tailor, reportedly had recently shared a social media post in support of Nupur Sharma– former BJP leader who had made controversial remarks against Prophet Mohammad.

Following the murder, local markets in the area were shut as the traders demanded justice for the victim.

Internet service has been suspended for 24 hours in Udaipur and a curfew has been imposed.

“Both the accused have been detained and The law and order situation is under control. Some people were attempting to come out of the bylanes but were controlled. Curfew imposed in the nearby areas,” Manoj Kumar, SP, Udaipur said.

A statewide alert has also been issued to all Superintendents of Police and Inspector Generals to increase the mobility of forces and to maintain officers on the ground. (ANI)

China on Tuesday asked the United States to strictly abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, and cease any form of official exchanges with Taiwan.

According to Chinese News Agency Xinhua, While responding to a query on the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade in a news briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said, “The United States must abide by the one-China principle and the stipulations of the three China-U.S. joint communiques, halt all forms of official interaction with Taiwan, stop negotiating agreements with implications of sovereignty and of an official nature, and refrain from sending any wrong signals to the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces.”
He said that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, adding “The government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China.”

Zhao further said, “China firmly opposes all forms of official interaction with the Taiwan region by countries having diplomatic ties with China, including negotiating or concluding agreements with implications of sovereignty and of an official nature. This position is consistent and clear.”

“We would also like to make it clear to Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party authorities that they need to give up at once on the idea that they could seek independence with US support because the more ambitious they are, the more bitter their failure will be,” Xinhua quoted Zhao as saying.

Notably, On June 1, Deputy US Trade Representative Sarah Bianchi and Taiwan Minister John Deng met virtually and launched the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade.

The two sides met under the auspices of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO).

The new initiative intends to develop concrete ways to deepen the economic and trade relationship, advance mutual trade priorities based on shared values, and promote innovation and inclusive economic growth.

Earlier, China warned the US against enhancing ties with the democratic island that Beijing regards as its island and threatens to overtake it by force.

China announced a large-scale military exercise around Taiwan, the third such exercise in the past month as tensions continue to rise in the Taiwan Strait. (ANI)