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New Indian Express
7 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Congress seeks to counter BJP's 'anti-Hindu' narrative in first-ever Muzrai temple meeting in Karnataka
MANGALURU: In a move to counter the BJP's growing narrative that the Congress-led government in Karnataka is anti-Hindu, DK district in-charge and minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, on July 25, convened the State's first-ever meeting of Muzrai temple management committees at Kudmul Ranga Rao Town Hall in Mangaluru. The meeting served as a platform for Congress leaders to reaffirm the party's commitment to the development of Hindu temples and ensure religious harmony. 'Misinformation is being systematically spread that funds from Hindu temples are being used for the development of mosques and churches,' Rao said. He added: 'This is not only false, but even sections of the national media have unfortunately echoed these baseless claims.' He highlighted the historical and financial support extended by the Congress government to temples, pointing out that it was under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's leadership that the tasdik grant — financial aid given to temples — was increased multiple times: from Rs 24,000 to Rs 36,000, then to Rs 48,000, and most recently to Rs 72,000. He also noted that the tasdik system itself was introduced by his father, former Chief Minister R Gundu Rao, as compensation following the abolition of the Inam land grants.
Express Tribune
23-07-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Sino-US rivalry — collusion, competition, conflict
The writer is a retired major general and has an interest in International Relations and Political Sociology. He can be reached at tayyarinam@ and tweets @20_Inam Listen to article The US-China competition remains the 'defining issue' of international politics. My last piece titled the "Sino-US rivalry" was published in this space on January 11, 2024, where some relevant writings of the CNN-famed Fareed Zakaria and others were discussed. Given the comparative National Power Potential (NPP), the world seems to be drifting from unipolarity, ushered in after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990s; to the 'present state' of bipolarity (the US and China); and to the likely future scenario of multipolarity (China, Russia, EU, India and Brazil). First, a bipolar comparison. Conventional view is that China is 'already a US peer or near-peer, economically'. However, as I had pointed out, in the present state of competition, China still needs to do a lot of catching up, as the American NPP — especially its military strength, power of alliances and its cosmopolitan, multicultural and educated demography — far outpaces China, the 'hesitant regional power' that is trying to become a more assertive superpower. The US GDP is almost twice as large as China's and some analysts believe that the Chinese official figures are fudged, with Beijing manipulating key economic metrics, including GDP. China is heavily dependent upon fuel imports; has almost 20% housing vacancy rates and over $1 trillion in debt from its 48,000 km high-speed rail networks. The US by comparison leads in key high-technology sectors like the IT/software and services sector (80% of global profit shares); aerospace and defence (66.35%); drugs and biotechnology (60%) and semi-conductors/chips (58%, compared to China's miniscule 2.6% share). Then there are studies indicating that in a full-blown trade war, 'decoupling' China from the international economic system (sanctions) will disproportionately hurt Beijing, if China has not undertaken economic hardening like Russia. Moscow, in anticipation of the West Plus's reaction to Ukraine, had taken on years of pre-emptive economy-hardening steps to mitigate the ill-effects of sanctions. China's other handicaps include demographic weakness (overpopulation, effects of one-child policy, aging population); lack of alliances; its lighter presence in important global regions (Europe, the Middle East); its comparatively subdued power to influence others; China's lack of experience and exposure to act big, unlike the US, having the benefit of history and multicultural pluralism; and China's nagging legacy of trouble-spots (Spratly Islands, Tibet, Turkestan, human rights, etc). So far, there is no alternative to US power. But that does not mean China is and will not catch up. Second, the prospect of a Sino-US conflict. One had disagreed with the likelihood of conflict, as Beijing is likely to blink first, because the global status quo is protective of its core interests. Additionally, China is not a 'spoiler state' like Russia. President Xi abandoning his 'lone-wolf diplomacy' has often asked the US to lift sanctions, especially on technology transfers. And President Trump recently lifted ban on the sale of America's Nvidia-made semiconductors (especially the H20) to China. US's I-Phone is designed in California and assembled in China by a Taiwanese company, Foxconn. And in more curious case of inter-dependence, China monopolises supply of rare-earths, needed for US-manufactured semiconductors, to be used in China's high-end products, for export to the US/Western markets. There are more anti-conflict indicators, especially about the much-touted US-China conflict over Taiwan. There is a great deal of soul-searching in the American policy establishment about the cost-benefit of a war to defend Taiwan against a Chinese invasion. The US rationale in defending Taiwan is to prevent China from gaining a new foothold to project power in East Asia and disrupt trade routes in the western Pacific, thus upsetting the western-dominated global economy. America's 'vital' interest, however, is to prevent China from regional hegemony in Asia. In reality, Taiwan does not confer any outsized military advantages to China, other than extending the range of its missiles, AD assets and surveillance systems by a couple hundred 'unneeded' kilometres. Beijing can still target US regional assets in Guam, Japan and Philippines. China's under-sea gains would similarly be modest. In sum, Beijing's control of Taipei hardly overturns the regional military balance. Military logic and economic considerations, hence, do not warrant direct US involvement to defend Taiwan. Taiwan's TSMC still produces 90% of the world's most advanced chips. However, by 2032, the US company, Boston Consulting Group, will be producing 28% of the most advanced semiconductors. Likewise potential blockade of the narrow sea-lanes in East and South China seas by China marginally affects the global sea trade, as bypassing options exist through Indonesian and Philippine archipelago. Similarly, the notion that Chinese invasion undermines the US credibility is also geostrategically flawed, as fighting China over Taiwan unnecessarily binds US resources, needed elsewhere for the bigger objective of containing China. The US military prioritises developing the 'second island chain' of Guam, Marshal and Northern Mariana Islands, Micronesia and Palau for this purpose. In the US reckoning, Taiwan certainly matters, but not enough to justify war with China, as composite deterrence would likely work to dissuade China. And if push comes to shove, PLA will prevail in a conflict with Taipei with or without the US, the former scenario being more costly for the US Armed Forces. The suggestions that Taiwan should become a 'porcupine' in its denial-focused strategy against Chinese invasion is also not likely to work, as the island just does not spend enough on its defence, and ignores acquisition of anti-ship defence, naval mines, uncrewed weapons and drones. Taiwan can make the invasion slow, long and costly but not impossible, as its geography, low and dwindling materiel stockpiles in case of a Chinese naval blockade would ultimately tilt the operational balance in China's favour. So, no wonder, Washington officially supports 'One China' policy, respects China's redlines and there is much noise in Washington about 'competitive co-existence' with China. Third, alliances and economic integration. China remains one of the most important markets for EU especially Germany's export-driven economy. It meanders carefully through bloc politics, tries to be a peacemaker in the Middle East and vies for leadership mantle in the Global South. It is wary of a conflict with the US and so is the US. So, collusion, competition short of conflict will persist and recur.
The Hindu
23-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Farmers' associations in Tiruppur resolve to sustain continuous sit-in protest demanding a solution to Inam land issue
Farmers' associations have resolved to continue their sit-in protest that entered the ninth day on Wednesday at Avinashipalayam in Tiruppur district, asserting their right to the Inam land they are using for agricultural purposes for generations. Espousing the cause of 30 lakh families across the State, the protesters estimate that their rights to 13 lakh acres of land they have been using for generations have been denied by the HR and CE Department and the Wakf Board. The protest will continue until a definite solution is found. According to Karunamoorthy, State Coordinator, Inam Nila Iyakkam, an umbrella organisation representing the affected farmers, lessees, and tenants using the Inam land, the zero value fixation for the land by the Registration Department has hit the farmers hard. The premise of the government authorities that the farmers enjoying the land under the Ryotwari system were encroachers was unacceptable. The protestors have urged the Tamil Nadu Government to emulate the intervention made in recent years by the Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala governments, in the interest of a section of inamdars who had been left out in the earlier exercise of conversion of the inam land into pattas. The farmers have been seeking effective implementation of the Tamil Nadu Inam Estates (Abolition and Conversion into Ryotwari) Act, 1963, that provides for the acquisition of rights of land holders in Inam estates, and introduction of the ryotwari settlement in such estates. Likewise, the farmers have also emphasised on effective implementation of the Tamil Nadu Minor Inam (Abolition and Conversion into Ryotwari) Act, 1963, that provides for the acquisition of the rights of Inamdars in minor inams in the State, and the introduction of Ryotwari Settlement in such Inams.
India.com
22-07-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Baramulla MP Er Rashid Gets Limited Custody Parole To Attend Parliament, His Party Cries Foul Over ‘Harsh Conditions'
New Delhi: A Special NIA Court in Delhi allowed Engineer Rashid, the jailed Member of Parliament from Baramulla and president of the Awami Itihaad Party (AIP), to attend the ongoing Lok Sabha session from July 24 to August 4, 2025. The permission, however, comes wrapped in tight restrictions. He will remain under constant watch, escorted daily from Tihar Jail to Parliament and back, with no access to mobile phones, no contact with the media and no communication with anyone outside the House. His physical presence will be permitted inside Parliament only during session hours. Once proceedings end, he will be sent straight back to jail, even if it means late hours. The court has directed that every rupee of travel, security and related arrangements must be paid by Rashid himself. This development sparked reactions from his party. AIP's chief spokesperson Inam un-Nabi expressed a mix of relief and anger. The decision, he said, gives the impression of a reluctant nod rather than recognition of a democratic mandate. 'Yes, he is allowed to attend (Parliament's proceedings). But why only for 12 days? Why should he pay for it all himself? These terms are not only strict, but designed to humiliate,' he said, speaking from Srinagar. He also questioned the 'inconsistency' in the court's approach. 'This is the same judge who earlier gave him interim bail during elections. He was even allowed an extension to continue campaigning. What changed now? Why has the court drawn a line suddenly and so narrowly?' he asked. The party is now planning its next move. According to Inam, the AIP's legal team is preparing to approach the Delhi High Court, challenging what they call a discriminatory parole order. The party argues that a serving MP, duly elected by the people, should be able to participate in the House without punitive conditions that 'reduce his role to a token gesture'. 'We are not asking for privileges. We are asking for fairness. A man who won from jail and who represents lakhs of people should not be shackled in silence inside the very Parliament he was elected to enter,' Inam said. A former MLA and vocal critic of both mainstream and separatist politics in Kashmir, Engineer Rashid has remained behind bars since 2019 under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act or UAPA, linked to a terror funding case. Despite his imprisonment, he contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and won Baramulla with a stunning margin, defeating high-profile candidates – including J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Since his victory, public pressure has been growing for his release or at least his presence in Parliament. The court's recent order answers that call partially. But for the AIP and many in Kashmir, the relief is thin and the restrictions speak louder than the permission. As the Monsoon Session of the Parliament is going on, Rashid may step into the Lok Sabha but not as a free man. Each day, his route will trace the same path: from the iron gates of Tihar to the echoing halls of the Lok Sabha and back again, under guard and silence.
Time of India
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Won't keep even a single rupee, will donate everything': Singer and co-star Inam-ul-Haq on earnings from music video 'Kaarwan' featuring Radhika Yadav; denies 'fame-chase' allegations
Amidst online speculation linking the song's popularity to the murder, Inam clarified he had no personal relationship with Radhika and refuted communal narratives. NEW DELHI: Singer and co-star Inam-ul-Haq, who appeared alongside Radhika Yadav in the music video Karwaan, has said he will not keep any earnings from the project, days after the 25-year-old was shot dead by her father in Gurgaon. Amid online speculation that the song's rising popularity is linked to the murder, Inam issued a statement on Instagram, saying, 'A lot of people say I'm gaining fame because of what happened to Radhika. That my song Karwaan is trending, and I'll earn from it. So let me say this clearly — I won't keep a single rupee.' 'Whatever I receive from Karwaan — whether monthly royalties from @iprsmusic or revenue from @songdewnetwork — will go towards helping the poor, feeding the hungry, supporting the helpless, and doing something meaningful,' he added. 'For as long as this song is played in the world, every payment, every month, for the rest of my life, will be donated.' You Can Also Check: Gurgaon AQI | Weather in Gurgaon | Bank Holidays in Gurgaon | Public Holidays in Gurgaon The music video featuring Radhika had surfaced online shortly after her death, sparking intense speculation on social media. Deepak Yadav, Radhika's father, was arrested for shooting her at their Sector 57 home. The FIR and PTI report state that Deepak fired at least five rounds at her, three of which struck her from behind while she was in the kitchen. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo by Taboola by Taboola Her mother, Manju Yadav, who was on the ground floor at the time, rushed upstairs upon hearing the gunshots. She later told police she initially thought it was a pressure cooker blast. Inam-ul-Haq, who featured in the song with Radhika, said the shoot was their only interaction and denied any personal connection. 'I met her for the first time during the Tennis Premier League in Delhi. Later, we worked together in the video shoot. She was an actor to me. We gave her a good luck amount. The production was unpaid. After the release, there was no contact,' he said. Rejecting the communal angle being pushed online, Haq said, 'This incident is being given a Hindu-Muslim angle. I don't know why. I have nothing to do with this case. There was neither any kind of friendship nor any relationship between Radhika and me.' He also recalled that Radhika came for the shoot with her mother and mentioned that her father had liked the song. 'She told us she wanted to work in the film line. After that, we never met. She deactivated and reactivated her Instagram account two-three times,' he said. The singer said he has not been contacted by police but is ready to cooperate. 'If I receive any call, I will definitely cooperate with them,' he added. Radhika, who had switched to coaching after a tennis injury, was cremated in Gurgaon. Police sources have said Deepak Yadav was upset with her for running a tennis academy and had allegedly asked her to take down the Karwaan video from social media. According to the postmortem report, she suffered four bullet injuries.
