Month: February 2025

All India Imam Association (AIIA) President Moulana Sajid Rashidi on Thursday said that Muslims can claim their rights and raise questions against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) if they choose to vote for the party.

“If Muslims vote for the BJP – we can claim our rights, and we can raise questions against the BJP if they do something against us. Otherwise, parties say that if you don’t vote for us, why would we talk about you,” Rashidi told ANI.

The AIIA chief said that he voted for the BJP to put an end to fears being instilled among Muslims that their rights will be snatched if the BJP comes to power. Rashidi said that fear remains “because of the statements made by some BJP leaders, but more than it was the opposition parties that are trying to scare Muslims.”

“I have voted for the BJP (in Delhi elections) and made my video viral as fear is induced in Muslims in the name of BJP. It is planted in the minds of the Muslims that defeat the BJP otherwise, if they come to power – the rights of Muslims will be snatched. I voted (for the BJP) to remove that fear from the minds of the Muslims,” Rashidi said.

Rashidi says that the fear Muslims have is that BJP will oust them from the country, which is impossible. He said that he has been receiving threats but his only intention was to remove such fears from the minds of Muslims.

“I have neither joined the BJP nor I have surrendered before them. There are cases against me. I still talk against the Modi government’s policies. I want to put an end to the fear that Muslims have, which is that the BJP will oust Muslims from the country. To oust crores of people from the country is impossible. My only intention is to remove that fear from the hearts and minds of Muslims,” Rashidi said.

Exit poll predictions varied on the margin of BJP’s victory. One poll predicted the BJP could win 51-60 out of 70 assembly seats, while two polls forecast an AAP victory. The exit polls were released after the conclusion of voting on Wednesday.

Delhi recorded a voter turnout of 60.42 per cent in the high-stakes assembly elections on Wednesday, according to data from the Election Commission of India.

The polls, which saw intense competition, concluded with active participation of voters across all 70 constituencies.

As per the ECI data, among the eleven districts, North East recorded the highest voter turnout at 66.25 per cent, while South East had the lowest at 56.16 per cent.

Other districts’ turnout percentages were – Central district (59.09 per cent), East district (62. 37 per cent), New Delhi district (57.13 per cent), North district (59.55 per cent), North West district (60.07 per cent), Shahdara district (63. 94 per cent), South district (58.16 per cent) South-West district (61. 07 per cent) and West district (60. 76 per cent).

The Election Commission is set to declare the final results on February 8. (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday targeted Congress in his reply to the motion of thanks to the President’s Address in the Rajya Sabha and said that expecting ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ from Congress will be a huge mistake.

The Prime Minister said the President’s speech was inspirational, effective and “showed the way forward to us all”.

He said a lot had been said about ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ and he can’t understand what can be problem with this.

“Expecting ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ from Congress will be a huge mistake. It is beyond their thinking and it also doesn’t suit their roadmap because the whole party is dedicated only to one family,” he said.

PM Modi alleged that Congress’ model of politics is “lies, corruption, family and appeasement.

“In Congress model, the first thing is Family First”. Their energy was spent on this,” he said.

“Today, attempts are being made to spread caste poison in the society…For many years, OBC MPs from all parties had been demanding constitutional status for the OBC Panel. But their demand was rejected, as it might not have suited their (Congress) politics. But we gave constitutional status to this panel,” he added.

The Prime Minister said after 2014, India got an alternate model of governance which is not “focused on appeasement, but on satisfaction.”

Over 70 members took part in the debate on the motion of thanks on the President’s Address in Rajya Sabha.

PM Modi replied to the debate on the motion of thanks in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. (ANI)

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday assured that the government closely monitors the welfare of Indian students, particularly in regions affected by tensions or violence.

Jaishankar further stressed that the welfare of students is a top priority, saying that the “welfare of students is something very close to the government’s heart.”

On the question of monitoring of Indian students abroad post-conflict escalation, Jaishankar in Rajya Sabha said, “The government carefully monitors welfare of Indian students and alerts them in case of possibility of violence. If needed, the government remains prepared to run flights.”

He added, “The government carefully monitors the numbers of students in all foreign countries. We also carefully monitor their welfare. Wherever there is a situation of tension or likelihood of violence, we alert students as we have done in Ukraine. Where there is a requirement for us to take any further steps, like running a flight for rescue, we are prepared, we always have contingency plans.”

The External Affairs Minister further said that all embassies and ambassadors are instructed to take special care and ensure students’ safety.

“Depending on the situation, we have been very sympathetic, very responsive, all embassies and all ambassadors have been told to take a special interest in the welfare of the students… I want to assure that the welfare of students is something very close to the government’s heart. Every embassy today is very proactive in that regard,” Jaishankar said.

Notably, the Israel-Palestine conflict in West Asia has escalated tensions in the region, with violent clashes and political instability affecting several countries. On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump announced that the United States will take over the Gaza Strip, dismantle dangerous weapons, get rid of the destroyed buildings and work for economic development of the area.

On the other hand, the Russia-Ukraine war has also escalated tensions, with the conflict entering its third year. The Russia-Ukraine war began on February 24, 2022. (ANI)

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Thursday said that he had instructed the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to prepare a plan allowing any resident of Gaza who wishes to leave the region, with options to exit via land, sea, or air.

He criticised Hamas for using Gaza’s residents as “human shields” and extorting money through the humanitarian aid system, while preventing their departure.

Sharing a post on X, Katz wrote, “I have instructed the IDF to prepare a plan that will allow any resident of Gaza who wishes to leave to do so, to any country willing to receive them. Hamas has used the residents of Gaza as human shields, built its terror infrastructure in the heart of the civilian population, and now holds them hostage–extorting money from them through the humanitarian aid system and preventing their departure from Gaza.”

“The plan will include exit options via land crossings, as well as special arrangements for departure by sea and air. Countries such as Spain, Ireland, Norway, and others, which have falsely accused Israel over its actions in Gaza, are legally obligated to allow Gazans to enter their territory. Their hypocrisy will be exposed if they refuse. Meanwhile, countries like Canada, which has a structured immigration program, have previously expressed willingness to take in residents from Gaza,” the post added.

He further said that the people of Gaza should have the right to freedom of movement and migration, as is customary everywhere in the world.

Katz also welcomed the “bold initiative” by US President Donald Trump to create opportunities for “long-term reconstruction” in Gaza.

“I welcome President @realDonaldTrump bold initiative, which can create extensive opportunities for those in Gaza who wish to leave, assist them in resettling in host countries, and support long-term reconstruction efforts in a demilitarized, threat-free Gaza after Hamas–an effort that will take many years,” he further said.

Notably, Trump had said that the United States will take over the Gaza Strip, dismantle dangerous weapons, get rid of the destroyed buildings and work for economic development of the area.

Trump, while addressing a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on February 4, also affirmed that the ongoing ceasefire-hostage deal between Israel and Hamas will be the beginning of a larger and more enduring peace.

“The US will take over the Gaza Strip and we will do a job with it. We’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site and getting rid of the destroyed buildings. Create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area,” Trump said at the press conference.

“I’m hopeful that this ceasefire could be the beginning of a larger and more enduring peace that will end the bloodshed and killing once and for all. With the same goal in mind, my administration has been moving quickly to restore trust in the alliance and rebuild American strength throughout the region,” he added. (ANI)

Amid an uproar over the deportation of Indian nationals who were allegedly illegally living in the US, AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi said according to a report there are still 6,75,000 Indian immigrants in the United States and 18,000 people are on the final list.

“According to the Pew Research 2022 report, there are still 6,75,000 undocumented Indian immigrants in the USA, and 18,000 people are still on the final list. When all these people return, it will impact remittances as well. The government must also address what it will do for them,” Owaisi told media.

“BJP leaders keep saying that Modi ji has elevated India’s name and made it a superpower, but what is happening now? Why are they being brought back in such a disrespectful manner?” he questioned further.

The AIMIM Chief also pointed out that the incident has reflected the level of unemployment among the youth in India.

“This reflects the level of unemployment among the youth in India. 45 per cent of the youth are unemployed. This is why these people are lured by agents, endure hardships, and cross 8-10 countries to reach their destination. The government will have to answer why there is so much unemployment,” Asaduddin Owaisi said.

Meanwhile, both the houses faced adjournment on Thursday after Opposition held a protest demanding a discussion on the deportation of Indian nationals who were allegedly illegally living in the US.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is set to make a statement in Rajya Sabha at 2 pm over the issue.

Congress MPs Manickram Tagore, Gaurav Gogoi and KC Venugopal had moved adjournment notices to discuss the deportations of over 100 Indian nationals by the United States government.

The matter pertains to the deportation of over 100 Indian nationals. A US Air Force plane carrying Indian citizens who allegedly illegally migrated to the US arrived in Punjab’s Amritsar on Wednesday. (ANI)

Opposition MPs on Thursday protested demading a discussion in Parlament over the recent deportation of over 100 Indian nationals from the United States with several members inculding Amritsar MP Gurujit Singh Aujla seen joining the protest sporting handcuffs on their hands.

Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla also voiced his concerns, saying, “The way they were brought in was wrong. They were humiliated. Their hands and feet were chained. When our government already knew that they were going to be deported, then they should have sent a commercial flight to bring them back.”

Aujla further stated, “They went there illegally, but they did not commit any huge crime after going there… We have given a notice to the Speaker and there may be a discussion on this.”

Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal, Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav, and a few other leaders were also seen sporting handcuffs to mark their protest outside the main door of the Parliament alleging that Indian citizens were subjected to inhuman treatment while being deported from the US. Placards held by the members read “humans, not prisoners.”

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said, “Those who were showing the dream of making India Vishwaguru, why are they silent now? Indian citizens are deported to India by being handcuffed like slaves and in inhumane conditions. What the external affairs ministry is doing? What did the govt do to protect children and women from this disrespect? We want the government to reply to this and allow the opposition to discuss the issue in parliament…”

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, “A lot of things were said that President Trump and PM Modi are very good friends. Why did PM Modi let this happen? Couldn’t we have sent our own aircraft to bring them back? Is this how humans are behaved with? That they are sent back handcuffed and shackled?…EAM and PM should answer.”

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi meanwhile said, “I am very disappointed with this conduct of the American government. America and India share good relations, but the manner in which they have sent back more than 100 Indian nationals handcuffed and their feet shackled in a military plane is absolutely inhumane. I am surprised that the PM is silent. Why is MEA silent?… I think MEA and PM should make a statement about this.”

Congress today submitted an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha, calling for a discussion on the deportation of the Indian nationals from the US.

The Motion read, “This House must urgently address the issue to prevent further dehumanisation of our people and to uphold the dignity of every Indian, both at home and abroad.”

The Lok Sabha was adjourned until 2 pm over ruckus on the issue. Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated that he will address the Rajya Sabha at 2 pm on the issue.

Speaking to ANI earlier, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said,”It’s not the first time we’ve had people deported. It’s just that the media has suddenly woken up to this story because Mr. Trump has done it a bit quicker than people expected. But last year, under the Biden Administration, over 1,100 Indians were deported back.”

“If you are in the US illegally, the US has the right to deport you, and if your identity as an Indian is confirmed, then India has an obligation to accept you. So, in both cases, there really isn’t much debate. However, it wasn’t good to hear that they were brought back forcibly in a military plane, handcuffed, and so on. That was quite unnecessary. It should have been enough to put them on a commercial aircraft or civilian plane and send them back. If you want to do a mass deportation, do it on civilian charters. That would have been the more humane thing to do. They may have broken your laws by entering your country, but by and large, they have no bad intentions” Tharoor said.

“They are not criminals, and they are not convicted of anything else. They are there to make a better life for themselves, which they attempted by violating your laws. So, you can send them out. But handcuffing them, putting them on a military aircraft, and sending them this way- I think India should say that this is not entirely advisable,” he said.

Tharoor in a tweet on X said, “There were 1100 Indians deported in the previous fiscal year (ending September 2024), under Biden, not Trump. 2. As of 2022, there were 725,000 undocumented Indian immigrants in the US – the third-largest group, outnumbered only by nationals of Mexico and El Salvador. 3. Since October 2020, US Customs and Border Protection officials have detained nearly 170,000 Indian migrants attempting to cross the border illegally from either Canada or Mexico. They are all subject to deportation.”

Earlier on Tuesday, a US Embassy spokesperson said that while specific details cannot be shared, the United States is vigorously enforcing its border and immigration laws. The spokesperson emphasised that the actions taken, send a “clear message that illegal migration is not worth the risk.”

“I have received a number of inquiries on the report of a deportation flight to India. I can’t share any details on those inquiries, but I can share, on the record, that the United States is vigorously enforcing its border, tightening immigration laws, and removing illegal migrants. These actions send a clear message: illegal migration is not worth the risk,” a US Embassy spokesperson said. (ANI)

England captain Jos Buttler won the toss and put India to bowl in the first ODI at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium on Thursday.

After an enthralling T20I series ended with a thumping 4-1 for the hosts, India and England will now shift their action to ODIs. The series will be the perfect opportunity for both sides to finalise their winning combination for the upcoming Champions Trophy.

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Harshit Rana received their maiden caps before the toss, marking their ODI debuts for India.

India will be missing the presence of Virat Kohli, who had a knee problem last night.

Along with this, Rishabh Pant is also missing from the playing XI and in his absence KL Rahul will keep the wickets.

On the other hand, England’s squad is quite similar to the one that featured in the T20I series. The most notable change came with the inclusion of Joe Root in place of Jamie Overton.

England captain Jos Buttler said after winning the toss, “We will bat first today. Nice thing going in the dressing room, looking forward to these ODIs and we’re happy to welcome back Joe Root. The morale has been good, everyone’s good and the Baz has looked after us well. We’re playing against a top side in their conditions, a tough test ahead of the CT. We’re playing 3 spacers and an extra spin-bowling all-rounder.”

India captain Rohit Sharma said during the time of toss, “We wanted to bowl first, but it doesn’t matter a lot. Need to be aggressive with the ball at the start and then need to do well later. Nice to get some time off, it’s a fresh start and this is a great chance to do well. It’s very important to get some game time, and try and maximize whatever opportunity we have. Jaiswal and Harshit are making his debut, unfortunately, Virat isn’t playing, he had a knee problem last night.”

England (Playing XI): Ben Duckett, Phil Salt, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (C), Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood.

India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami. (ANI)

The pre-wedding festivities of Priyanka Chopra’s brother Siddharth Chopra and his fiancee Neelam Upadhyaya have captivated the media and fans alike.

As the celebrations unfold, Priyanka, currently in Mumbai for her brother’s wedding, has been the center of attention during the ongoing events.

On Wednesday night, the mehendi and haldi functions took place, and Priyanka was seen enjoying and dancing her heart out during the occasion.

Priyanka Chopra looked ethereal as ever during the mehendi celebrations, donning an ivory dress that featured a sleeveless corset-style choli paired with a lehenga skirt.

The outfit was adorned with intricate multicoloured embroidery, lending it a traditional yet fresh appeal.

Priyanka kept her makeup natural with a dewy finish and chose to style her hair in soft, wavy curls that cascaded down her shoulders.

She accessorized the look with a stunning diamond and pink pear-drops necklace, matching stud earrings, rings, and a bracelet, elevating her graceful appearance.

Accompanying Priyanka at the event were her in-laws, Paul Kevin Jonas, Sr. and Denise Miller-Jonas.

Priyanka also posed with her father-in-law and mother-in-law for the photographers.

Kevin Jonas, Priyanka’s father-in-law, looked dashing in a traditional sherwani, while Denise radiated elegance in a coral-colored saree. Her hairstyle was beautifully adorned with white flowers, adding a charming touch to her look.

Priyanka’s brother, Siddharth, also joined the celebrations dressed in a sherwani. He posed alongside his cousin sisters for the paparazzi.

Among the other attendees, Priyanka’s cousin, Mannara Chopra, also posed for the cameras by showing off her mehendi on her hand.

However, it was Priyanka’s father-in-law, Paul Kevin Jonas, who won the hearts of fans and the media alike with his warm and thoughtful gesture.

After arriving at the venue with his wife, Denise, and daughter-in-law Priyanka, the Jonas family spent some time posing for the paparazzi outside the venue.

As the evening drew to a close and the event came to a conclusion, the Chopra family, in a display of appreciation for the media, came out to thank the photographers and videographers who had been covering the event.

The female members of the Chopra family distributed sweet boxes to the paparazzi as a token of gratitude.

Kevin Jonas joined in, personally handing out sweets and food to the photographers. He also took a moment to address the media, saying, “I want to say thank you from Priyanka. We would like to provide you with some food for being so kind.”

The pre-wedding functions were filled with joy and excitement, with Priyanka Chopra herself taking to social media to share glimpses of the festivities.

She posted several pictures from the haldi ceremony, where she danced and celebrated with her family.

Priyanka also shared a few moments from the ‘Mata Ki Chowki’ function, writing “With the blessings of Durga Maa.”

Siddharth Chopra’s wedding to Neelam Upadhyaya is one that has been eagerly anticipated, with the couple having gotten engaged in August 2024, following their Roka ceremony in April 2024.

Apart from her family commitments, Priyanka will next be seen in SS Rajamouli’s tentatively titled ‘SSB29’ alongside Mahesh Babu.

The film is written by Vijayendra Prasad and directed by Rajamouli. Further details about the cast are still under wraps.

Additionally, the ‘Anuja’ movie, which was produced by her, recently made it to the Oscars 2025 nomination list in the ‘Live Action Short’ category. (ANI)

The Defence Ministry is set to sign the Rs 10,200 crore contract for ammunition for the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher weapon system on Thursday with Solar Industries, Nagpur and public sector firm Munitions India Limited (MIL).

The Cabinet Committee on Security had last week cleared the Indian Army proposal to buy the ammunition including the Area Denial Munitions, said Defence officials.

The project would be divided between the rocket manufacturer Solar Industries of Nagpur and the former Ordnance Factory Board company Munitions India Limited (MIL), they said.

Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi in his annual press conference on January 13 had stated that the contract for Pinaka weapon systems munitions including the Rs 5,700 crore for high-explosive ammunition and Rs 4,500 crore area denial munitions were expected to be cleared soon by the government.

The DRDO is already in the advanced stages of making a 120 km strike version of the Pinaka rockets and is expected to carry out its first test in the next financial year.

The rockets cleared today by the CCS have a range of around 45 Kms and can be very effective at both the Pakistan and China border.

One of the biggest success stories among the Indigenous weapon systems, the Army is fully backing it as Chief of Army Staff Gen Dwivedi has already made it clear that as soon as longer-range versions of the Pinaka are ready, the force might drop plans for other alternate weapons.

The Pinaka has already been a major success story in the export sector as it has been bought by Armenia while many European countries including France are showing interest in it. (ANI)

A mob vandalised the residence of Bangladesh’s founding leader, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in Dhaka on Wednesday evening, Dhaka Tribune reported. Visuals showed flames on one of the floors of the house.

The protesters, reportedly demanding a ban on the Awami League, stormed the premises after breaking open the gate, causing widespread destruction, Dhaka Tribune reported, citing UNB.

Local media linked the protest to an online speech by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Social media posts had earlier called for a “Bulldozer Procession” towards Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s residence located at Dhanmondi-32 if Sheikh Hasina delivered a speech, as reported by Dhaka Tribune. By 10.45 pm (local time), an excavator had been brought to demolish the house. Protestors, who arrived in a rally around 8PM, forced their way in, breaking into the main gate before proceeding to vandalise the property.

Many protestors reportedly climbed to the second floor, using hammers, crowbars, and wooden planks to destroy portraits of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and damage sections of the historic house, Dhaka Tribune reported.

Earlier in the day, Hasnat Abdullah, convener of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, posted on Facebook: “Tonight, the land of Bangladesh will be freed from fascism.” Other figures, including Sharif Osman Hadi, the convener of the Inquilab Mancha and a member of the Jatiyo Nagorik Committee, also shared posts warning of the attack, Dhakar Tribune reported.

This was not the first time the Dhanmondi 32 residence has been targeted. Earlier on August 5, demonstrators had previously attacked the house, causing destruction and setting parts of it on fire, Dhakar Tribune reported. (ANI)