Latest news with #MinistryofMinorityAffairs
Hans India
24-05-2025
- Hans India
Indian Haj pilgrims praise Centre for quality facilities, seamless conduct of holy journey
Riyadh: Indians who embarked on Haj pilgrimage appreciated arrangements and the quality of facilities offered by the Indian government to ensure a smooth and seamless journey for all in Saudi Arabia. "Indian pilgrims who went for Haj 2025 through the Haj Committee of India are very happy with the management of the Government of India and the facilities being provided there. It is the constant endeavour of the Ministry of Minority Affairs to ensure a comfortable and dignified journey for every Haj pilgrim," the Ministry of Minority Affairs posted on X on Saturday. Meanwhile, Minister of State for Minority Affairs, George Kurian, on Friday highlighted the dedicated efforts of the Centre in ensuring a smooth and successful Haj for pilgrims. Earlier on Friday, Indian Consul General of Jeddah, Fahad Ahmed Khan Suri, led 'Team India' deployed in Haj 2025, in facilitating the movement of pilgrims from Haram Shareef to their accommodations in Azizia (Mecca) after offering Friday prayer. The huge rush of pilgrims coming out from Haram Shareef after offering Friday prayer required coordination among 'Team India' members to guide the pilgrims to their designated bus points and provide on-the-spot required medical care and assistance. Medical care and assistance are being provided to the pilgrims by the mobile medical care team of the Indian Haj Mission. From dispensaries near pilgrims' accommodation to fully equipped hospitals, the Indian Haj Mission has ensured accessible medical care. Additionally, doctors, nurses, and ambulances are made available round-the-clock for any health concerns. On Thursday, Indian Consul General Fahad Ahmed Khan Suri reviewed the arrangements for the movement of pilgrims from Mecca and 'Mina' and their stay at 'Arafat' to perform the rituals of Haj. Last week, India's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Suhel Khan, met pilgrims in Mecca to ensure a comfortable Haj pilgrimage for all. "Ambassador Suhel Khan visited pilgrims from various states and enquired about their welfare and issues of concern in Mecca today. The Government of India remains committed to ensuring the comfort and safety of the Indian pilgrims and making their spiritual Haj journey hassle-free," the Embassy of India in Riyadh posted on X. The Indian Consul General Fahad Ahmed Khan Suri earlier held a review meeting with the officials and staff deployed in temporary branch offices and dispensaries, various cells and desks set up by the Indian Haj Mission.
India Gazette
18-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan lays foundation stone of Integrated Aquapark in Tripura
Agartala (Tripura) [India], May 18 (ANI): Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh on Sunday laid a foundation stone for an Integrated Aquapark under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), worth Rs 42.4 crores in Kailashahar, Tripura. The event was held in Agartala, Tripura on Sunday. In addition, the event featured an exhibition and inauguration of the Fish Festival highlighting the rich culture and diverse fishes of the state. The event was also graced by George Kurian, Minister of State, MoFAH&D and Ministry of Minority Affairs along with Sudhangshu Das, Minister of Fisheries, Government of Tripura and Tinku Roy, Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Government. of Tripura. In his address, Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh shed light on the vital role, the sector plays in boosting India's economy, noting that the fisheries sector has exhibited growth at 9.08 per cent since 2014-15, highest amongst Agri and Allied sectors, in India, according to an official release from the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Panchayati Raj. Recognising the vast potential that Tripura has in the fisheries sector, he stressed upon the need to bridge the gap between demand and supply through use of modern technology, integrated farming and innovation. Ranjan highlighted that out of 11 Integrated Aqua Parks in the country, 4 are being set up in the Northeast region, including one in Tripura. The Union Minister urged the stakeholders to work diligently towards transforming Tripura into a 'fish surplus state' capable of exporting fish, and to strive for a production target of 2 lakh tonnes, significantly exceeding the state's requirement of 1.5 lakh tonnes. He stated that soon Tripura would also be developed into an Organic Fish Cluster like Sikkim. While laying emphasis on the need to complete the Integrated Aquapark in a time bound manner, the Union Minister emphasized upon the importance of imparting institutional training to fish farmers. Encouraging fishers to utilize government schemes like Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastucture Development Fund (FIDF) and PMMSY, Ranjan reiterated the central government's commitment towards supporting training and capacity building through NFDB. Rajiv Ranjan Singh also addressed issues like need to boost scampi production, develop ornamental fisheries, improve infrastructure, ensure easier market access and promote innovation and sustainability in the sector. On this occasion, the Union Minister distributed certificates and sanction orders to various beneficiaries. George Kurian, Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Ministry of Minority Affairs, emphasized the need to enhance fish productivity in Tripura, noting that nearly 98 per cent of the state's population consumes fish. He acknowledged the significant role fisheries plays in the state's food security and economy. Sudhangshu Das, Minister of Fisheries, ARDD and SC Welfare, Government of Tripura, emphasized the state's commitment to uplifting fishers and fish farmers through targeted interventions. The Minister also shared that under the Matsya Sahayata Yojana, identified fishers and fish farmers are receiving annual financial assistance of Rs 6,000 to support their livelihood. Encouraging the youth to take up fisheries as a viable means of employment, he noted that Tripura holds significant untapped potential in the sector. Tinku Roy, Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Government of Tripura further encouraged continued collaboration and collective action to uplift the fisheries sector and enhance livelihoods of fishers in Tripura. Dr Abhilaksh Likhi, Union Secretary, MoFAH&D, highlighted the Department's key schemes and initiatives, including PMMSY, FIDF, and the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PMMKSSY), with a combined investment outlay of approximately Rs 38,000 crores. It was noted that projects worth Rs 2,114 crores have been approved for the Northeastern region, including Rs 319 crore specifically for Tripura. Likhi urged fishers and fish farmers to embrace modern technologies such as Recirculatory Aquaculture Systems (RAS), Biofloc, and drone-based applications, while fully leveraging advancements in research and development. Emphasizing the significance of livelihood security, he also highlighted the advantages of providing insurance coverage for fishers. Additionally, special emphasis was placed on species diversification, particularly the promotion of high-value indigenous species like Pabda and Singhi. The event was also attended by Sagar Mehra, Joint Secretary, Department of Fisheries, MoFAH&D, Dr Bijay Kumar Behera, Chief Executive, NFDB along with other senior officials from the centre and state fisheries department. Tripura, with its high fish consumption rate of over 29 kg per capita per year, has made significant progress in recent years. Under PMMSY, the state has received an investment of Rs. 178 crore. Over the last five years, Tripura has implemented 69 approved projects with a cumulative value of Rs. 258.61 crores in the sector. The Integrated Aqua Park in Kailashahar alone accounts for an investment of Rs. 42.4 crores and is expected to serve as a backbone for modern fish production and marketing infrastructure, benefiting a wide range of stakeholders across the aquaculture ecosystem. It is expected to generate direct employment for about 100 people and indirect employment for over 500 people in the state. During the event, Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan also distributed certificates and sanction orders to various fisheries beneficiaries. (ANI)
Business Standard
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
SC to hear interim relief pleas on Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 on May 20
The Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing for May 20 to consider interim relief in petitions challenging the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, while clarifying that it will not entertain pleas seeking a stay on the original 1995 Waqf law. The bench, led by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai, will assess three contentious issues: waqf by user, inclusion of non-Muslims in Waqf Councils and Boards, and identification of government land as waqf. The matter was previously heard by a bench led by former Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who retired on May 13. It has now been transferred to the current bench. On April 25, the Ministry of Minority Affairs filed a preliminary affidavit defending the amended Act, emphasizing its constitutional validity and opposing any blanket stay. The Act, effective from April 5, has drawn criticism over concerns of religious representation and property classification. The Centre, opposing any stay, submitted a detailed affidavit defending the law, warning against judicial overreach and alleging misinformation around the amendments, while also highlighting a sharp rise in waqf property listings since 2013.
India Gazette
14-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
J-K: Second batch of Haj Pilgrims to depart from Srinagar today
Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], May 14 (ANI): Days after the first batch of Haj pilgrims in Srinagar left for Saudi Arabia's Mecca to undertake the annual holy pilgrimage, the second batch of Haj pilgrims are also set to depart for Mecca from Srinagar on Wednesday following the cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan. According to an executive member of the Jammu and Kashmir Haj Committee, Shujaat Ahmad Qureshi, a total of 642 pilgrims are scheduled to depart from Srinagar today, and a total of six flights have been arranged for that purpose. He stated that due to the recent tensions between India and Pakistan following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam and India's response to it, seven flights were cancelled, out of which only one has been rescheduled. 'Today we are happy that the Hajj pilgrimage has restarted... But seven flights were cancelled, one of which has been rescheduled for May 15... Those who were leaving for today also faced problems, as the Airbus couldn't arrive at Srinagar Airport and now they have to travel to Delhi and from there they will change flights and leave for Mecca... Today there are two flights from Delhi and from Srinagar; four flights will be there, carrying a total of 642... We faced a lot of problems due to the recent tensions but we have time and we will reach there on schedule,' Qureshi said. A pilgrim who was set to leave for Mecca expressed his relief at the cessation of the hostilities and stated that he prayed for the situation to become normal. 'We just always prayed to allah so that the situation becomes normal... Thank God that the ceasefire took place and now we are able to travel for Haj,' he said. Earlier, the first batch of Haj pilgrims from Srinagar left on May 4 with at least 3,372 Hujjaj Karam, a title bestowed upon the Hajj pilgrims, departing from there that morning. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Minority Affairs on Tuesday stated that Indian Hajis had left for Umrah from their accommodation in Makkah after spending eight days in Madinah. 'Indian Hajis going for Umrah from their accommodation in Makkah after spending 8 days in Madinah. We wish them a pilgrimage blessed with peace & spiritual fulfilment,' the Ministry of Minority Affairs stated on X yesterday. The Ministry had also launched an 'Haj Suvidha App 2.0' designed to support a safe and well-organised Haj experience equipped with smart baggage tracking. (ANI)
Indian Express
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Kiren Rijiju at Idea Exchange: ‘Those opposing Waqf are the powerful voices among the Muslims… We are not bothered about them'
Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs , on the Pahalgam terror attack, the Waqf Amendment Bill and why liberal legacy media in the US and the UK considers India intolerant. The session was moderated by Liz Mathew, Deputy Editor, The Indian Express. Liz Mathew: The Pahalgam incident has shocked the nation. What was your first reaction? The terror attack in Pahalgam was shocking for every Indian. Just a week before that, I was there for a Lok Samvardhan Partv, where the Ministry of Minority Affairs had arranged an event to provide financial support, market linkages and other support to the local artisans of Jammu and Kashmir. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and I had jointly attended it. It's one of those incidents where the government is very serious about setting things straight. An appropriate response is being demanded by the people of the country and the government has already promised. The PM has already given a clarion call as well as a commitment to give a befitting response. Liz Mathew: You mentioned a proper response from the government. But was there fear that it could create divisions in society? The kind of composition we have in India, a country with such diverse communities, religious groups and ideologies, there will be different reactions. But when it comes to terror, then there has to be one voice. I am quite satisfied that in the all-party meeting, all the political parties gave unconditional support on any action the government takes. That was a good message. Of course, I have seen some stray comments coming from Congress leaders and some other parties. I hope the Congress leadership will understand that demoralising statements from responsible people holding important positions are not doing anything good for the country. We are in unison. There is no second voice. In the all party meeting, the voice was quite unified. Liz Mathew: You are at the helm of the Ministry of Minority Affairs at a very critical juncture. How do you think your term will go down in history after the Pahalgam attack and the Waqf Amendment Bill? If you see any proceedings during the last one year, when I have held the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs portfolio, the debates and discussions have been taking place and they have been quite effective. Initially, in the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha, there were certain incidents which were uncalled for. Like the Opposition party not allowing the PM to speak. That is unprecedented because you don't prevent the PM from speaking in a parliamentary democracy. He is the leader of the House, the country. His voice is the voice of the country. If you try to prevent him from speaking, it is strangulating the voice of the people. We had expressed our displeasure and I had personally told the Opposition leaders that this should be avoided in the future because it is not a good precedent. Our parliamentary democracy is a bit messy, a bit noisy, but then it has its own charm. So I don't mind the House getting disrupted once or twice during the entire proceedings, but it should not lead to a washout of the entire session. We want to listen to the Opposition, and we will take care of their voice, their concern, but they have to speak on the floor and not create any kind of disturbances which prevent debate and discussion. Running parliamentary affairs in this situation is a challenge. Liz Mathew: The 18th Lok Sabha was unprecedented. The Speaker, not the government, made statements about the Emergency. The Opposition said its voice was being muzzled. You still have a rapport with the Opposition. What is your challenge as a Parliamentary Affairs Minister? I can list out a longer list of what we are not happy with in the ways that the Congress party is conducting themselves. But everything cannot repeat itself. There are momentous occasions where things happen. When the Speaker was making a statement on Emergency, it was 58 years after the incident. So these are some of the milestones where the people concerned do make remarks. They were unhappy with the Speaker because they could not enforce the Speaker according to their will. The Speaker, after all, has to run the House, and if the Opposition tries to derail the functioning of the Parliament, then the Speaker will have to ensure that it doesn't happen. I do not have much to offer here, except to expect good behaviour from the Opposition leaders in future. On the pahalgam incident | The instant reaction is of safety and unity. We have to be careful to take precautions, not let the incident affect the society or create any further division… It is important how maturely we handle the situation Liz Mathew: As the Law Minister, you had spoken about the Supreme Court's Collegium system of appointing judges being opaque, which is being echoed by many constitutional experts. Do you think that the whole debate has opened up again? I'm not the Law Minister now. But I had said at the time that the reflection of the will of the Parliament, not the government alone, was there when the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) was passed unanimously. I will not say that now. I would not want to comment on the judiciary. Coomi Kapoor: Liberal legacy media in Britain and the US often does not give a very sympathetic portrayal of incidents such as Pahalgam. Why do you think India has not been able to change the narrative after so many decades? I think it is otherwise. It is them who are not changing their perception. They have put India in a category of those nations which are still, according to them, intolerant. It is to do with what happened in 1946-47. They also think that India is still a third world country. They try to make it as a viewpoint from a superior place and look down upon India. We don't give much importance to their viewpoint, even the minority commissions, the US or the liberal so-called media there. First of all, they are not liberal at all. Liberal people listen to others. They don't. They have fixed ideologies. So they are illiberal and don't really understand the ground reality. However, the time has changed. India is not an emerging nation. India has already emerged. We have a position in the Committee of Nations. Our voice is powerful. Our leader, our PM, is one of the most popular elected leaders in the world and in fact the senior most elected leader in the world. So our credibility is not dependent on this kind of reporting that tried to portray India negatively. Coomi Kapoor: But why would they want to take the side of a military dictatorship? It has been a case not only in the Western media but in India too. Some people have directly and indirectly taken the side of the militants in a soft way. They are sympathetic towards militant organisations. They are a set of people deeply embedded in our society but they are a minuscule minority. Manoj CG: Since there seems to be a trust deficit on both sides, what is stopping the government from offering the Deputy Speaker post of Lok Sabha to the Opposition as a confidence-building measure? It may not be a case of trust deficit. It is taking too rigid a stand. On one's own fixed interest or the party's interest. On the Speaker's post, there's no formal request from the Congress leadership. Of course, many other Congress leaders speak about it, but there's no formal discussion, so I cannot comment. As far as the role of Parliamentary Affairs minister is concerned, I have left no stone unturned to reach out to them and to make them feel comfortable, whether it's a business advisory committee or any other negotiation which takes place day to day. The Parliament is not about the Parliament House alone but also many other things. We are in touch with the Opposition all the time. I invite them to my house, and whenever necessary, I visit. It's not as bad as it is maybe being painted or perceived from outside. On Minority affairs ministry | I am the first Buddhist to and first genuine minority to become a minority minister. There are six notified minority communities in India. I always felt that minority affairs was made Muslim affairs by Congress party Ritika Chopra: Is the government working towards fixing accountability for the Pahalgam attack? Story continues below this ad It's better to not talk about the internal details. There is a sense that there has to be a collective response rather than getting into the minuscule incidents. We don't give less importance to any part of the whole thing. But when the nation is facing a grave disturbance in terms of losing so many innocent lives in a place where it is unexpected to have this kind of incident, then of course the questions will come. But on how has this happened, what would the government do and detailing — these are security parameters which are to be handled or answered by the right people at the right time. Ritika Chopra: What is the government's response to the Opposition's call for a special session? We have received a letter of request from many members of Parliament, primarily from both the leaders of the Opposition from Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. We will give an appropriate response soon. Asad Rahman: Despite opposition from various Muslim organisations and the Opposition members, the Waqf Amendment Bill was passed in Parliament because of the numbers. Did you not consider the opposition to the bill from different quarters? A parliamentary democracy will never have a unanimous voice on any matter. There will be opposition. We are not into a presidential form of government. So when you have a substantial size of population who are in the opposition, they will have a voice. But then it is untenable that the majority people listen to the minority and put their agenda as part of governance. Whenever there is reform, you will see that reformists are in minority and those who oppose would always be a powerful voice. When Dayanand Saraswati started the social reforms or when Jesus Christ started reforms, look at the resistance they had to face. You are going to turn around the things which are already in practice. There are nearly 9.7 lakh Waqf properties in the country not being utilised for the welfare of the majority of the poor Muslims. And in this minority group, people are comfortably sitting on top of those huge properties. If you see these political parties, these so-called religious leaders among the Muslim community, they have huge interests in these Waqf properties. Do you think that they will just let those go quietly? They will resist it. But then we are committed and determined to bring in this reform. Powerful Muslim leaders and those political parties, who have treated Muslims as vote banks, are standing on one side. And those voiceless Muslims, the women, the poor, the neglected and the backward classes amongst the Muslims on the other. We are not bothered about those powerful voices which are not able to do anything for their community, despite claiming to be tall leaders. I am satisfied that the PM wanted these reforms to be done, and we did it in proper format of parliamentary democracy. In a couple of years, we will start to roll out the benefits. Liz Mathew: But the Opposition as well as the Muslim organisations have accused the government of creating a fear psychosis where if one didn't support the bill, the land was going to be taken. This narrative was created from the other side. That if we pass this Waqf Amendment Bill, the government will take over all the mosques, dargahs and qabristans. These are just rumours. This is what they did during CAA; that if CAA is passed, Muslims will lose their citizenship and rights. Now the Muslims have calmed down. Soon, many prominent Muslims will also come out. I have talked to some and they are saying they had opposed this Bill but now after carefully going through the provisions, they are supporting it. On his relationship with the opposition | I have left no stone unturned to reach out to them and to make them feel comfortable… It (the relationship) is not as bad as it is maybe being painted or perceived from the outside Liz Mathew: In the last few days, people who are seeking citizenship in India have been asked to leave. So, will the government grant visa to these people under CAA? No, these are two unconnected issues. CAA is for the minorities of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Liz Mathew: There are also Hindus who have come here. Yes. And then the illegal migrants, their status is different. We cannot compare with the CAA provisions here. As for any other issues which are concerning the people, the government will declare if anything is to be declared. Otherwise, right now, government has already said what is to be done. So, it has to be enforced. Nikhil Ghanekar: In the past, different conflicts have not really affected agreements like the Indus Water Treaty. What kind of precedence does it set? Let's consider the impact on Arunachal Pradesh when it comes to China building the largest dam on Brahmaputra basin. China and India never had a water treaty. Pakistan and India had a water treaty. All these are important and sensitive matters. Opinions should come at the right time from the right position. Divya A: In the Pahalgam attack, people were singled out. Did you have any apprehensions about a backlash against the minorities? Did you have any conversations with state governments about this? The instant reaction is of safety and unity. We have to be careful to take precautions, not let the incident affect the society or create any further division. I learned that out of 26 victims, one is a local Muslim. So, yes, it came to my mind. But if everybody understands that, then we will not have any kind of division. It is important how maturely we handle the situation. Harikishan Sharma: This Minority Affairs ministry was created by the UPA in 2006. Has it served the purpose of development and welfare of minorities? I am the first Buddhist to occupy this position and first genuine minority to become a minority minister. Secondly, there are six notified minority communities in India. I always felt that minority affairs was made Muslim affairs by the Congress Party. The National Commission for Minorities chairman has to be a Muslim. The Minister of Minorities Affairs has to be a Muslim. By that standard, the other communities are not minorities. During the parliamentary debates, they asked why a non-Muslim was presenting the Waqf Amendment Bill. How did Azam Khan become the management chairman of Kumbh? He was minister in charge, so he became the chairman. We don't ask these petty questions. By that logic a Muslim judge has to handle Muslim cases. Is this the standard of the opposition parties? Could they not consider the repercussions of making such points? It is a good chance for me. I have launched the Jiyo Parsi scheme, which is to ensure that the Parsi population doesn't get extinct. Similarly, I have made a Buddhist development plan, a Muslim plan, and plans for Christians, Jains and Sikhs.
