Union Law Minister slams Mamata Banerjee over Kolkata gang rape case
Kerala has introduced Zumba classes in schools as part of an anti-drug campaign. Muslim groups are protesting, calling it an imposition of vulgarity in the name of fitness. The Education Minister stated, 'This mindset is more communal and more poisonous than drugs in society.' The government remains firm on continuing the classes, which include Zumba, aerobics, and yoga, despite opposition from some teachers and students.
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Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
‘Golden time to remove socialism, secularism from Constitution': Himanta joins debate on Preamble
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said this is a 'golden time' to remove the terms 'socialism' and 'secularism' from the Constitution. He said the Constitution had been 'completely transformed' by the addition of the two terms through the 42nd amendment under then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's leadership. 'Fifty years after the Emergency, be it the RSS or be it several intellectuals in the country, they have said that this is the golden time to remove the words socialism and secularism from the Constitution. We are a mature democracy… We don't need to adopt the terminology of secularism from the British or American constitutions; we will take our secularism from the Bhagwat Gita,' Sarma said. He was speaking at the Assam launch of the book 'The Emergency Diaries — Years that Forged a Leader'. According to the publisher, the book is a compilation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's experiences during the anti-Emergency movement. Sarma said an 'Indian concept' of secularism had already been enshrined in the Constitution with Article 14, which guarantees equality before law to all persons. 'Our Constitution's Article 14, where it says that there cannot be different treatment against anyone in the country by the State, that is the foundation of our secularism. At the time of framing the Constitution, Ambedkar had said that there is no question of mentioning the word secularism in the Constitution. Article 14 clearly says that the State cannot discriminate against anyone. That is the highest level of secularism… After Prime Minister Indira Gandhi introduced the word secularism in the Constitution, be it courts or intellectuals, they began looking at secularism through a Western lens. Because the word secularism is not conceived in the Indian context… We are not neutral… We are with the Hindus and we are with the Muslims, also. Here, secularism is a positive concept,' he said. Speaking further on this, he said, 'If we are neutral, we cannot work for sattras (Vaishnavite monasteries in Assam), namghars (community prayer halls), temples, cannot discuss matters of the Vedas, we cannot discuss about the Gita… Now, how can Himanta Biswa Sarma be secular? I am a hardcore Hindu. I cannot be secular. How can a Muslim person be secular? He is a hardcore Muslim. But in Hinduism, it is written, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family). If you are a hardcore Hindu, you have to reflect on Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. In Islam, it says that you always have to think positively towards the destitute. That means our secularism is never inspired by the Western definition of secularism… We are not neutral. We are positively aligned because India is a spiritual nation.' He also said that socialism was never a part of Indian civilisation nor of the 'economic ideals that Mahatma Gandhi had spoken about, which was trusteeship'. 'In our civilisation, no leader spoke about socialism. It is an ideology based on conflict… Because of that, we fell behind in competition with other countries… This socialism that was included in the Constitution did not have to be demolished by the BJP. The Congress, with Prime Minister Narasimha Rao and Manmohan Singh themselves, demolished it and they brought liberalisation to our economy… Narendra Modi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee took this liberalisation philosophy further,' he said, referring to the economic reforms of the early 1990s.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
AIMIM prepares for Jubilee Hills bypoll: Eyes seat after backing BRS in 2023; Muslim, SC vote split may impact Congress, BRS prospects
HYDERABAD: The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) is preparing the ground to contest the forthcoming by-election to the Jubilee Hills assembly constituency in the city. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The bypoll to the seat was necessitated following the death of sitting MLA, Maganti Gopinath of the BRS. The bypoll is crucial for all the major political parties - Congress, BRS, BJP and AIMIM - as its result is expected to influence the elections to 150 wards of the GHMC, which are likely to be held by year-end or early next year. The AIMIM had contested this seat in the 2014 and 2023 assembly elections, finishing second and fourth, respectively. The constituency has a sizable population of Muslim and SC voters. AIMIM president and Hyderabad MP has directed the party leaders to prepare for the bypoll. There is speculation that both BRS and Congress may consider holding talks with the AIMIM, as a split in the Muslim vote bank could mar the chances of both parties. The BRS has not lost this seat since the formation of Telangana state. Political observers said the AIMIM contesting the 2023 assembly polls boosted the victory prospects of the then-ruling BRS. In the polls, MIM candidate Mohammed Rashed Farazuddin secured nearly 8,000 votes, finishing fourth. In the 2014 election, AIMIM's Naveen Yadav polled nearly 42,000 votes and finished second. The party did not contest the seat in 2018. The talk in political circles is that the AIMIM entering the electoral battle from Jubilee Hills in the 2023 poll was allegedly to help the BRS. It was more of a friendly sort of contest, said the political analysts. However, the AIMIM, which had openly supported the BRS in the 2023 assembly elections, appears to have changed its strategy after the Congress came to power in the state in Dec 2023. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi appealed to the Muslims to support some of the Congress candidates. However, a senior leader said the party is extending issue-based support to Congress govt. "Our main objective is the development of Muslims, SCs, STs, BCs, EWS, and other marginalised communities. Any move to support the govt will be taken keeping in view the welfare of these sections and the development of the Old City. We have started working in Jubilee Hills. As far as contesting elections or finalising the candidate for the bypoll is concerned, the party will decide at an appropriate time," said a senior leader of the AIMIM.
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
Criminal cases will be registered against Mathavallis: Abdul Aziz
Nellore: WaQF Board Chairman Sheikh Abdul Aziz reaffirmed the coalition government's commitment to protecting Waqf Board properties, warning that criminal cases will be filed against board members (Mutawallis) found responsible for illegally selling Waqf properties. Speaking at a press conference in Vijayawada on Saturday, Aziz announced that an ongoing inquiry into the sale of Waqf properties will lead to strict action against guilty members. 'Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is resolute about safeguarding Waqf properties, and there will be no compromise,' he stated. Aziz highlighted that the Central government halted funding to the Waqf Board due to the previous YSRCP government's failure to submit utilisation certificates for Rs 386 crore. He noted that the issue has been raised with Chief Minister Naidu, who is addressing it with the Central government. The Chairman announced the formation of a Rent Review Committee (RRC) to manage rents from approximately 1,300 Waqf Board shops. To address issues like property sales and rent disputes, future Waqf Board meetings will be held across all districts, moving away from the earlier practice of convening only in Vijayawada. Aziz also revealed that the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) applied to establish an MSME Park at Mallayapalem village in Guntur mandal. The Waqf Board decided to lease the land long-term to APIIC instead of permanently transferring it. Additionally, Rs 1.5 crore has been allocated for the development of Barashahid Dargah in Vijayawada, with further funds designated for the development of Kasumur and AS Pet Dargahs. Waqf Board Director SK Nasir stated that rental income will support the education of underprivileged Muslim students, their marriages, and the state government's P-4 initiative.
