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The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Why were Tablighi Jamaat members given a clean chit?
The story so far: The Delhi High Court last week acquitted all 70 Tablighi Jamaat members accused of housing foreign participants of a congregation during the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 in violation of lockdown protocol. The court ruling came in the Mohammed Anwar versus State of NCT of Delhi case. What happened in March 2020? The Tablighi Jamaat members, who came in for heavy criticism in media and political circles for attending a jod (religious congregation) in Nizamuddin Markaz (Jamaat's headquarters in New Delhi), were given a clean chit by Justice Neena Bansal Krishna who noted that the said jod was planned before COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). Incidentally, the jod which began on March 12, 2020 concluded on March 15, a day before the Delhi government capped all religious gatherings above the size of 50 and imposed the Delhi Epidemic Diseases, COVID Regulations-2020. Earlier, on March 13, 2020, the Union Health Ministry had stated that the coronavirus was not a national health emergency as there were only 81 cases in India at that time. It all changed after the imposition of the lockdown on March 24 at midnight. While most Indian participants had dispersed by then, foreign nationals were still at the Jamaat headquarters, awaiting resumption of international flights to their respective destinations. The congregation included participants from Indonesia, Malaysia, Kuwait, Ghana and Sri Lanka. However, soon after the imposition of the nationwide lockdown, the Delhi Police had filed FIRs against hundreds of Indian and foreign participants of the Tablighi Jamaat congregation for allegedly violating the lockdown and orders prohibiting the assembly of people. The men were booked under provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Epidemic Diseases Act, the Disaster Management Act and the Foreigners Act. These FIRS accused Indian nationals of either hosting foreigners in mosques or accommodating them at their homes. They were challenged before the High Court which dismissed them last week, a little over five years after the incident. What did the court state? 'There is nothing on record to show that they had congregated after the promulgation of the Notification under Section 144 Criminal Penal Code. These petitioners were already present in the Markaz. After the imposition of the lockdown, there was no way possible for them to have dispersed; rather their stepping out of the houses would have been a violation of the complete lockdown and also of the potential of spreading of communicable disease of COVID-19,' the court stated. The court also noted that the imposition of Section 144 banning large gatherings was not announced through a gazette notification nor was it properly published. Hence, the Tablighi Jamaat preachers were possibly unaware of such a notification. 'There is no averment to show that any information was actually conveyed to the petitioners,' the court stated. It also observed there was no whisper in the chargesheets that the accused were COVID-positive or had defied the government order by stepping out during the pandemic. Incidentally, eight foreign participants had been acquitted back in August 2020 by the south-east districts court in Saket, New Delhi. Later in December, 36 more foreign participants were acquitted. What was the media's role? A large section of the media had then accused the Tablighi Jamaat volunteers of being the principal reason for the spread of the disease in the country. Terms like Corona Jehad, Islamic Insurrection and Corona Terrorism were loosely bandied about and many fake videos were shared accusing the Tablighi members of spitting on food to spread the disease. The Delhi government, in its daily medical dispatches, used to have a separate column for Tablighi Jamaat COVID cases.
News18
24-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
Plane Tragedy Reminds Bangladesh Of A Friendly India, Failing Yunus Regime
Last Updated: Ordinary Bangladeshis are slowly beginning to see how, despite all the brickbats from across the border, Bharat calmly stands with a helping hand in the time of tragedy American poet Theodore Roethke, in his poem In a Dark Time, writes: 'In the darkest hour, the eye begins to see.' Profound tragedy has struck Bangladesh in the form of a plane crash which killed dozens, or possibly over a 100 students of Milestone school and college. The nation is inconsolable. India, made a villain in the eyes of millions of Bangladeshis by relentless propaganda, has rushed burn-specialist doctors and nurses to treat the victims. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was quick to express his condolences. But the tragedy has set in motion two very strong strains of public reaction in Bangladesh. The first is a massive and spontaneous outpouring of friendliness and gratitude towards India after years. India had accrued deep public resentment in Bangladesh for backing the increasingly unpopular Sheikh Hasina regime, which ultimately fell to a mob on August 5, 2024. Since then, chief advisor Muhammad Yunus, his virulently anti-India and loose-tongued student advisors, and their Islamist puppeteers like Jamaat and Hizbut Tahrir ensured that relations reach rock bottom. They tried their best to make people forget India's role in liberating Bangladesh from Pakistan during the 1971 Muktijuddo, or sending vaccines during peak Covid-19, or supporting its economy and developmental projects. India maturely navigated the bile. No irresponsible remark was fired from New Delhi to Dhaka. And now, ordinary Bangladeshis are slowly beginning to see how despite all the brickbats from across the border, Bharat calmly stands with a helping hand in the time of tragedy. Bangladeshi social media, which was hijacked for the last couple of years by radical voices, is now coming alive again with praise for India. Islamist influencers like Pinaki Bhattacharya (a Muslim neo-convert eager to prove his loyalty to his Islamist masters) are being mocked, shamed, and rejected for trying to play dirty, anti-India politics after the deaths of so many students and a few teachers. While the renewed warmth towards India cuts across BNP, Swami League and Jatiya Party lines, the buyers' remorse over the Yunus regime has accelerated even faster after the Milestone mishap. Bangladesh is realising that it has put in power a bunch of clueless and incompetent young bigots led by a malevolent and maladroit Nobel recipient. Bangladesh's GDP is at a 20-year low. Its lifeline, the garment industry, has been immobilised by the mobocracy. Local industrialists say a famine-like situation is advancing along with an energy crisis and total collapse of law and order. To add insult, Yunus was caught on video smiling heartily at an all-party meeting right after the crash which took so many young lives. But he did not stop at that. Instead of announcing an emergency financial package, he exhorted the Bangladeshi citizenry to collect money and help the victims. This growing callousness, coupled with the recent Gopalganj massacre and public lynching of a businessman, is slowly tipping the patience of the public. It is still too early to expect a paucity- and violence-torn citizenry to effect change, but it is becoming clear to all that the nation cannot indefinitely feed itself with political and sectarian hate. Knives will have to come back to the kitchen. Abhijit Majumder is a senior journalist. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
India.com
21-07-2025
- India.com
Love Or Trap? Hindu Man Alleges He Was Forced To Become Muslim By Wife's Family
New Delhi: A Hindu man, Vishal Gokavi, has alleged that his Muslim wife, Tehsin Hosamani, and her family coerced him into converting to Islam following their marriage in Karnataka's Gadag district. The couple had reportedly been in a relationship for three years before registering their marriage under the Special Marriage Act on November 26, 2024. Vishal claims that a second wedding ceremony, conducted according to Islamic customs on April 25, 2025, resulted in his religious conversion, which he says occurred without his full knowledge and under pressure. As reported by India Today, Vishal alleged in multiple public statements and a video that Tehsin and her family threatened to falsely implicate him in a rape case if he refused to convert. He further claimed that he was subjected to mental harassment and forced to perform Islamic prayers, often having to provide photo evidence of his compliance. Vishal Gokavi said, 'I was in love with a Muslim girl. We had been in a relationship for three years. Eventually, her family found out about our relationship. She told me, 'If you ever get married, it has to be with me. If not, I'll kill myself by jumping in front of a train, drinking poison, or rolling on the ground.' She kept threatening me.'. 'She insisted that we get legally married. Out of fear, I agreed, and we registered our marriage. Later, her uncle Ibrahim Saab Dawal Khan and her mother Begum Banu told her to convert me into their religion and make me attend Jamaat (Islamic congregation). She came and conveyed this to me,' he said, as per the reports. Vishal further added, 'She said I should also marry her according to Islamic customs. When I refused, things escalated further. Members of the Jamaat gathered and began exerting pressure on me. They insisted, 'You must attend Jamaat and follow our customs." Vishal stated that the pressure to convert did not come from just one individual. He claimed that multiple people urged him to abandon his Korama community identity and embrace Islam. He further alleged that threats were made, warning that if he refused to convert, a false rape case would be filed against him, leading to his arrest. 'I was subjected to mental torture. I was warned repeatedly, 'See what happens if you refuse.' In the end, the conversion was forced upon me,' Vishal said, according to reports. He also claimed that the coercion intensified over time. According to him, Tehsin's uncle was assigned to monitor whether he was offering namaz (Islamic prayers). 'I was made to take photos while praying and send them to her. She would then follow up by asking, 'Did you perform your namaz today or not?'' he alleged. Meanwhile, videos of the Islamic wedding ceremony have gone viral on social media, drawing strong reactions from several Hindu organisations, who have labelled the incident a case of 'Love Jihad' and are demanding legal action against Tehsin and her family. In response, Gadag Superintendent of Police (SP) Rohan Jagadish said that while the issue has gained significant traction online, no formal complaint has been lodged so far. 'Yesterday, a video began circulating on social media regarding an issue between a boy and a girl. The boy's name is Vishal, who belongs to the Hindu community, and the girl's name is Tehsin, from the Muslim community,' SP Jagadish said, as per reports. He further explained the timeline of the couple's relationship and marriage: 'From the initial information we have, the couple had known each other for the past three years and were in a relationship. They decided to get married and registered their marriage on 26 November 2024 at the Gadag sub-registrar's office under the Special Marriage Act. About five months later, they reportedly got married again as per Muslim traditions, and a video of that ceremony has also surfaced on social media.' SP Jagadish acknowledged that initial claims suggest religious conversion may have occurred, but emphasized that the police had already spoken to Vishal earlier this year: 'On May 23, 2025, the boy was called to the Betageri police station and was asked whether he had any complaint or grievance. At that time, he gave a written statement and a video recording, both of which are with us, stating that he had no complaint.' He added that the police are keeping an open mind and will look into any possible marital issues or new developments that might have triggered the current controversy. Vishal was again called to the station recently and asked if he wished to file a complaint, but as of now, none has been submitted. 'If any complaint is given, we will register it and proceed with further investigation accordingly,' the SP confirmed.
Time of India
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Bangladesh at Crossroads As Islamists Rise Before Polls
Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman fainted twice on stage but returned to complete his speech, rallying for a "new Bangladesh" under Islamic governance. With hundreds of thousands claiming to have gathered at Suhrawardy Udyan, the historic site of Pakistan's 1971 surrender, the Islamist party demonstrated its political muscle ahead of a national election expected next year. Former PM Sheikh Hasina remains in exile after student-led protests toppled her government. The interim administration under Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus is yet to announce an official election date, while the opposition pushes for early polls. Jamaat's 7-point demand includes electoral reform, mass justice, and a new charter shaped by last year's uprising.#bangladesh #dhakarally #jamaateiislami #shafiqurrahman #bangladeshelections #hasinaexile #muhammadyunus #islamicpolitics #bangladeshnews #politicalrally #bangladesh2025 #suhrawardyudyan #bangladeshprotests #banglapolitics #1971war #newbangladesh #islamistrise #toi #toibharat #bharat #trending #breakingnews #indianews Read More
Economic Times
20-07-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami says parliament must function through Islamic laws
In a major announcement to derail secular credentials Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mujibur Rahman has said that only Islamic laws should be followed in the national parliament in future, and there should be no place for man-made ideas or systems. He made the remark at a public rally at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka on Saturday calling for meeting a seven-point demand, including 'justice' for the August 2024 mass killings, holding elections in a proportional representation system, and ensuring a level-playing field for all parties to ensure a free, fair, and peaceful vote. 'If Pakistan's 24 years and Bangladesh's 54 years are added together, it amounts to 78 years. During this entire period, Islam has not been established in the national parliament, and not a single law based on the Quran has been implemented, resulting in unrest, corruption, and widespread suffering for the people,' Rahman the rally, echoing Rahman, Jamaat executive council member ATM Azharul Islam said that if the fate of the 180 million people was to be changed, it could only be achieved by following the laws Allah.'Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is not a political party in the conventional sense, nor is it merely a religious organisation; it is a comprehensive Islamic movement with no affiliation outside Islam,' he said. Representatives from the Nationalist Citizen Party, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Hefazat-e-Islam, Khelafat Majlish, Gono Odhikar Parishad, and Nezam-e-Islam Party were present at the meeting, while no representative from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed told reporters that the party had not received any invitation from the the Bangladesh Railway operated four special trains on the Dhaka–Chattogram, Dhaka–Mymensingh, Dhaka–Rajshahi, and Dhaka–Sirajganj routes between Friday night and Sunday morning to transport local-level Jamaat leaders and supporters to Dhaka for the rally, officials said on Saturday.
