‘Victory for India': Muslim cleric praises Operation Sindhu amid Iran-Israel conflict escalation
New Delhi: Amid the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict, prominent Muslim cleric Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi has praised the Indian government's swift response in evacuating its citizens from the war-hit region under 'Operation Sindhu'.
Speaking to IANS from Bareilly, Razvi lauded the efforts, calling it a "victory for India" and a reminder of the government's commitment to protect its people.
"Many Indian students and others were stranded in Iran for studies or pilgrimage. Their families were deeply distressed. The successful evacuation has brought immense relief to parents and relatives. We must appreciate the Indian government for taking timely action," Razvi said.
Meanwhile, in a separate and strongly worded statement, Maulana Razvi targeted actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh for the casting of Pakistani actors, including Hania Amir, in his upcoming film 'Sardaar Ji 3'.
He questioned the rationale behind choosing Pakistani talent, particularly at a time when tensions with Pakistan remain high.
"Why couldn't Diljit find Indian actors? Why give opportunities to those from a country that harbours terrorists and has caused immense pain to India?" Razvi said, referencing the 26 Indian civilians killed in a terror attack in Pahalgam, which was planned by Pakistan-based terror groups.
"This film sends the wrong message to Indian society", he noted.
Razvi further recalled India's strong retaliation in the form of 'Operation Sindoor', which targeted terror infrastructure deep inside Pakistan.
Calling for a boycott of 'Sardaar Ji 3', Razvi urged the Indian government to ban the film and initiate legal action against Diljit Dosanjh and the involved actors.
"This isn't just about a movie; it's about national sentiment and respect for our martyrs," he said.
'Sardaar Ji 3' is set to release on June 27 and features popular Pakistani actress Hania Aamir, whose casting has stirred criticism on social media due to the recent Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor.
Notably, India had implemented a ban on Pakistani actors and content on various platforms, including OTT services and social media, citing national security concerns during Operation Sindoor.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
27 minutes ago
- Time of India
Indian students bare their digital souls to win US visas
New Delhi: If you want to study in the land of the brave, and the home of the free, forgo your (social media) privacy. And most Indian students applying for US colleges are willing to make their social media accounts public to fulfil their dreams to study in the US, experts say. This will impact them as most are on at least one of the social media platforms like X, Instagram, TikTok, or Linkedin. According to the US embassy's X post on Monday, Indian students applying for visas to study in US colleges will now have to make their social media accounts public by changing the privacy settings. Making the social media accounts public is one of the measures among many, either introduced or reinforced, in the last few months impacting Indian students either studying or considering studying in the US. These restrictions include further tightening of student visa rules; heightened scrutiny of students' records, including social media posts; student and exchange visitor information system (SEVIS) record glitches; and increased scrutiny at ports of entry. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) Over 95% of students enrolled with IDP (a study abroad platform) are fine making their social media profiles public. "Rest 4-5% are considering going to other countries like the UK, Canada and Australia," said Piyush Kumar, regional director, South Asia, Canada and Latin America, IDP. Live Events F-1 is a student visa to study in an accredited US college, J-1 is an exchange visa for participation in an exchange programme, while M-1 is student visa for non-academic or vocational study or training in the United States. Students with strong intent to study in the US are not changing their plans due to social media vetting, experts said. Students have been required to provide their social media account details in visa applications for several years now. "But for the first time, they (students) are being asked to make their profile settings 'Public'," said Kumar. "Effective immediately, all individuals applying for an F, M, or J non-immigrant visa are requested to adjust the privacy settings on all their social media accounts to public to facilitate vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the United States under US law," stated the US Embassy post. "I've worked so hard on my profile - academics, research, community work - but now I have to audit every tweet and post I've ever made," one such student applying for a Master of Science to UC Berkeley (Fall 2025) told ET. "Though it feels like I'm being judged for more than my merit, still I'm not giving up. I'll do whatever it takes to achieve my dream to study in the US." "We have not seen and do not believe that this will reduce the interest of students going to the US," said Rajneesh Pathak, founder of immigration and investment advisory firm, Global North Residency and Citizenship. He added that no other country has asked for this. "But usually all countries independently do a 'World Check' which includes social media and the internet," Pathak said. According to Adarsh Khandelwal, co-founder, Collegify, the US is no longer just reviewing your application - "it's reviewing you. Other countries might assess risk, but none require digital transparency at this level," said Khandelwal. Nevertheless, many students have started cleaning up their digital footprint like never before.
Time of India
29 minutes ago
- Time of India
Paramount+ rebrands premium tier: What you need to know about the new name and pricing
Paramount Global has now planned to drop the 'Showtime' label from its highest subscription tier, which was previously known as Paramount+ with Showtime , and would now be called Paramount+ Premium, as per a report. Why Is Paramount+ Changing Name of One Of Its Plans Now? According to The Deadline report, the Paramount+ Showtime cable network brand and even the top-tier programming for the streaming service will be staying intact. The company explained to users in the streaming app that Paramount+ had made the change as the firm had recently 'introduced a sampling of Showtime programming to the Essential [lowest-tier] plan,' and pointed out that calling the higher tier Paramount+ Premium, therefore, 'reflects the broad and diverse offerings across both plan tiers,' as quoted in The Deadline report. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like At Last, An ED Pill for 87¢ That Actually Works Health Alliance by Friday Plans Learn More Undo Paramount also highligted in its statement that the Showtime programming 'remains an important part of Paramount+, and is still prominently represented on the service!,' as quoted in the Deadline report. ALSO READ: Operation Iran a flop: Trump's boastful Tehran strike may have completely missed the mark despite precision Live Events No Change in Pricing However, even after this new rebranding of the plans, the compamy said that it will not be accompanied by any pricing changes, so Paramount+ Premium will continue to remain $12.99 per month and the Essential tier will still remain priced at $7.99, as reported by The Deadline. According to a Variety report, the two packages now offered by the streaming giant are Paramount+ Premium, which does not have ads except in the bundled live local CBS feeds; and Paramount+ Essential with ads. ALSO READ: Within a matter of hours, Trump drops the F-bomb and then calls Fed Chair Jerome Powell dumb and hard-headed Paramount's Bigger Picture: Growth and Merger Talks The rebranding comes amid Paramount Global still trying to close its long-gestating merger with Skydance Media , as per the report. The company recently reported 79 million global streaming subscribers as of the end of the first quarter, as reported by The Deadline. According to the Deadline report, previously for a long time, Showtime had operated its own stand-alone service, but it was combined with Paramount+ in 2024. That led to a broad-audience CBS shows like Tracker and Matlock directly next to more upscale and targeted fare like Yellowjackets and Couples Therapy, as reported by The Deadline. FAQs What's the new name of the top-tier plan? It's now called Paramount+ Premium instead of Paramount+ with Showtime, as per the Deadline report. Is the price going up with this rebrand? Nope, it would not. The prices stay exactly the same: $12.99 for Premium and $7.99 for Essential, as per the Deadline report.
Time of India
29 minutes ago
- Time of India
US & EU trade pacts to be concluded soon: Nirmala Sitharaman
The negotiations for a bilateral trade deal with the United States and a free trade agreement with the European Union (EU) are progressing "really intensely" and should be concluded soon, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said Tuesday. Countering a US-led narrative that India is a "tariff king," she said the government has brought down customs duty slabs to eight "including the zero rate" and that effective rates are much lower than the tariff rate, or the maximum possible tax on imports. India has already signed free trade agreements with the United Arab Emirates, Australia, and the four-nation EFTA (European Free Trade Association) bloc, while negotiations with the UK have been completed, Sitharaman said at a trade conclave organised by the Exim Bank here. The emphasis now is on concluding more free trade agreements, she added. India has deepened its participation in global value chains. Apple's iPhone contract manufacturers have crossed the 20% domestic value addition (DVA) threshold across variants, the minister said. Citing the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) World Investment Report 2025, she said India's position has improved though the global FDI flows dropped 11%. Export Focus Indian exports grew at an annual rate of 6.3% between 2010 and 2023 when global exports grew at 4%, and the country's share in global exports touched 3% in 2023 from 2.2% in 2010, as per the UNCTAD report. "Exporters are swimming against tides and succeeding," Sitharaman said. The country's total exports reached an all-time high of $825 billion in FY25, recording a 6% growth from previous year, despite global uncertainties, she noted. "In the last few years, global growth and trade have suffered," she said. "There was Russia-Ukraine war, then it was Israel-Gaza. Every year, we have had one or the other serious challenge to do with trade." India aims to achieve the export target of $2 trillion by 2030. Speaking at the conclave, financial services secretary M Nagaraju said India continues to be a beacon of hope and growth amidst all the global headwinds.
