Mehbooba Mufti lauds wife of navy officer killed in Pahalgam for communal harmony appeal, slams Farooq Abdullah
Mentioning Himanshi Narwal's 'don't want people going after Muslims and Kashmiris' comment, Mehbooba sought to corner National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah for his remarks to a section of media that attacks like the one in Pahalgam on April 22 cannot happen without support.
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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Fresh caste census aimed at diverting attention from stadium stampede deaths: BJP
Bengaluru: BJP, the principal opposition party, has criticised the Congress high command's directive to chief minister Siddaramaiah to commission a re-enumeration of the socio-economic and education survey (or the caste census), calling it "a desperate bid to divert public attention from the stampede during Royal Challengers Bangalore's IPL victory celebrations which claimed the lives of 11 people. The diktat comes two days ahead of Thursday's special cabinet meeting which Siddaramaiah had called for "final deliberations" on the contentious report. Interestingly, the decision was taken at a meeting in New Delhi where the CM and his deputy, DK Shivakumar, explained the cause of the stampede and action taken by the govt in the aftermath. Tuesday's diktat has obviously triggered a fresh slugfest, with the opposition seeing the move as a lame excuse to escape political accountability for the stampede. But governing Congress has countered BJP by accusing it of being "anti-social justice". BY Vijayendra, BJP state president, ridiculed the directive. "BJP has all along said the caste census was unscientific and we demanded a fresh survey, but the govt paid no heed to our demand," he said. "Now, Congress has suddenly decided on a fresh survey. Make no mistake, it is a cheap tactic to divert public attention from the stampede and save the govt from political accountability." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Pinga-Pinga e HBP? Tome isso 1x ao dia se tem mais de 40 anos Portal Saúde do Homem Clique aqui Undo He said Siddaramaiah, during his previous stint as CM, had commissioned the survey and the govt spent Rs 160 crore on it. Now, much of taxpayers' money "has gone down the drain with the governing party itself realising flaws". But Congress functionaries rubbished BJP's accusations, insisting that the govt will explore the possibility of using data from the existing report and updating it with the latest figures. "It is our leader Rahul Gandhi's vision to ensure social justice by conducting a caste census," said Eshwar Khandre, minister for forest, ecology, and environment. "There were some concerns from some communities about the projected population figures with the data being 10 years old. It is an opportunity for us to update it. The modalities will be discussed at a cabinet meeting, and the CM will decide on scheduling the survey. " A fresh survey, though, will throw up new challenges since more communities, including Brahmins, Kodavas, and several OBC castes, have joined the chorus of dissent. The report is said to have even recommended a higher quantum of reservation for Muslims — from 4% to 8%. "The decision to conduct the survey afresh was taken with the interests of underprivileged classes in mind, and not to divert attention from the stampede," said higher education minister MC Sudhakar, who is also the govt's spokesperson. "BJP is making false allegations." Siddaramaiah had previously made several attempts to get his cabinet to discuss the report. He had asked his ministers to give their opinion at a special cabinet meeting on April 17. But that meeting was inconclusive with ministers seeking more time. Authorities say almost all ministers have now sent their inputs and that there is no dissent over conducting a new survey.
United News of India
4 hours ago
- United News of India
Eyes filled with tears on seeing Kashmir getting connected with the rail network: Farooq
Srinagar, June 10 (UNI) National Conference President and former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Farooq Abdullah, on Tuesday travelled on the recently inaugurated Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express along with other leaders and party MLAs. After the train ride, an emotional Abdullah said his heart was overwhelmed and his eyes filled with tears on seeing Kashmir finally getting connected with the rail network of the country. Abdullah boarded the train from Srinagar Railway Station to Katra early Tuesday and expressed his admiration for the train. "I am very happy to be travelling on this train to Katra. It is one of the biggest benefits for us,' said the former Chief Minister. Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the two semi-high-speed trains connecting the Valley with Jammu's Katra town began operations on June 7. Since their inauguration, the trains have gained immense popularity among locals, pilgrims, and tourists, with bookings already at full capacity. Vande Bharat Express trains run between Srinagar and Katra via Banihal six days a week, except Wednesday. Abdullah emphasized that the Vande Bharat service offers a much-needed alternative to the Srinagar-Jammu highway, which is often unreliable due to landslides and weather-related disruptions. 'The road gets closed frequently, and airfares shoot up during such times. This train will spare people from those difficulties,' he said. Abdullah also noted that the train service will positively impact the tourism sector and the region's horticulture industry. J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's sons, Zamir and Zahir, J&K Minister Satish Sharma, Chief Minister's advisor Nasir Aslam Wani, and National Conference Chief Spokesperson and MLA Tanvir Sadiq also accompanied Abdullah on his train ride. At Katra railway station, Abdullah called the train the biggest gift for the people as it will also strengthen "love and friendship" between the two regions. He congratulated all the workers and engineers who built the world's highest bridge on the Srinagar-Katra train link. UNI MJR BD
NDTV
5 hours ago
- NDTV
2 More Pak Sympathisers Arrested In Assam, Total Arrests Reach 92
Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that two persons have been arrested in the state for expressing their 'pro-Pakistan' stand on social media. The arrests happened from Nagaon and Lakhimpur districts in the state. The persons have been identified as Sabikul Islam and Dulal Bora. Islam was taken into custody from the Lakhimpur district while Bora was arrested by Nagaon police. According to CM Sarma, a total of 92 anti-nationals are now lodged in jail for sympathising with Pakistan. He said, "Our systems are constantly tracking anti-national posts on social media and taking action." Among the 92 arrested people, the most prominent is the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) MLA Aminul Islam. He was the first person to be arrested in the state for the "pro-Pakistan" stand. Aminul Islam, an AIUDF MLA from Assam's Dhing Assembly constituency, was arrested on May 1 on sedition charges following his provocative statement regarding the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives. In a video clip circulated on social media, the AIUDF leader is heard claiming that the Pahalgam and Pulwama attacks were part of a "government conspiracy". Aminul Islam said, "Six years ago in Pulwama, when the RDX blast happened and 42 soldiers died, I said on that day that the Pulwama blast happened at the behest of a conspiracy of the Central government, and it was a conspiracy to win the 2019 Lok Sabha polls." He added that what happened in Pahalgam is that the "BJP has been peddling that the terrorists asked about religion and opened fire only on Hindus, and they let go of Muslims". "But the victims said that the terrorists opened fire without asking about anybody's name, and I doubt that the nexus which was involved in the Pulwama attack in which RDX was used, is behind the Pahalgam incident," he said. "If the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government does not conduct a fair investigation into the incident and tries to bring a division between Hindus and Muslims, I would believe that this incident happened because of a conspiracy," he added. However, the AIUDF Chief Badruddin Ajmal distanced himself from his party legislator's comments. Ajmal said, "AIUDF stands with the government. The terrorists have no religion, and those who spread terrorism are against Islam."
