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Karnataka HC refuses to allow Muslims in Udupi’s Bhandarkar College to wear hijab in class while case hearing continues

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Karnataka HC refuses to allow Muslims in Udupi’s Bhandarkar College to wear hijab in class while case hearing continues

On Monday, the Karnataka High Court refused to permit the Muslim students of Bhandarkar College of Arts and Science, Udupi to wear hijab on the college premises. The plea was filed by two hijab-wearing girl students who sought orders be given to the college in Udupi to allow wearing the religious attire while attending classes.

The two girls in the plea claimed that they have been wearing hijab with school uniforms since the first day of college admission and that there is a specific rule that permits Muslim students to wear hijab. They accused the college of initiating the hijab row in the first place by not allowing them to enter the college wearing hijab posing the government orders.

According to the reports, the plea filed by two BBA students further referred to the Karnataka State University Act and said that there was no rule under the UGC act or the Karnataka State University Act which advised uniform to the college students except a requirement for ‘decent attire’. They also stated that the hijab concept was unnecessarily being given a political angle.

It is pertinent to note that the High Court on February 10 had declared that no one should be allowed to wear their religious attire inside the educational institutions until the matter is pending in the Court. A single-judge bench of Justice Krishan S Dixit today reiterated the stand and observed that the hearing was progressing before the full bench and that no other relief could be granted.

Reports mention that the Court had already de-linked the present petition while it was hearing a batch of petitions seeking to declare wearing of hijab as an Essential Religious Practice, to the larger bench on February 8.

The hijab controversy in Karnataka has gained momentum since the first week of January after eight Muslim girls were denied entry to classes in a Udupi college because they were wearing hijab. The college authorities had informed that the hijab was not a part of the uniform dress code mandated for the students. The Muslim girls, adamant on wearing hijab, then filed a petition in High Court seeking permission to attend classes with hijab. They stated that wearing the hijab was their ‘fundamental right’ granted under Articles 14 and 25 of the Indian Constitution and ‘integral practice of Islam’.

The controversy spiralled as Hindu students in Karnataka styled with saffron scarves around their necks, protested against Muslim girls continuing to wear Hijab to the college. Tensions also prevailed at some educational institutions in Udupi, Shivamogga, Bagalkote and other parts as incidents of stone-pelting and violence were reported from various parts of the state.

Badaun: Samajwadi Party supporter Khalid Siddiqui shoots dead a man who predicted BJP’s victory

OpIndia Staff
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Badaun: Samajwadi Party supporter Khalid Siddiqui shoots dead a man who predicted BJP’s victory

In the Kabulpura region of the Badaun district in Uttar Pradesh, a young man Sharik was shot to death over an election argument. As per police, the murder was perpetrated when a political argument became a bit too hot. The perpetrator is absconding till now and the dead body has been sent for autopsy. The incident reportedly occurred on the night of February 19.

Sharik, a resident of Ramzanpur village in Badaun’s Kadar Chowk district, worked as a dish technician. He used to go for a walk after supper each day. As per reports, he went out for a walk on Saturday night as well. The accused, Khalid Siddiqui, runs a grocery store at a busy junction in the Kabulpura area. Sharik and other onlookers sat at the same shop and began speculating on the outcome of the Uttar Pradesh elections. Sharik predicted that the BJP will win the state, whereas Khalid backed the SP. On this subject, they both had a disagreement, which eventually escalated into a brawl.

When the situation escalated, local residents began intervening in the fight between Khalid Siddiqui and Sharik, but the situation had already spiraled out of hand. Khalid pulled out his gun and shot Sharik in the midst of the scuffle.

Soon after the incident, the accused Khalid Siddiqui escaped. Sharik was taken to the adjacent district hospital, but he was referred to Bareilly from there. Sharik died on the way to Bareilly.

The UP Police is currently on the lookout for Khalid. “A young guy was shot and murdered in an argument in the Kabulpura neighborhood. A case has been filed against the accused, and he is now being searched” said CO City Alok Mishra. After receiving the information regarding the murder, SP Dehat Siddharth Verma and SP City Praveen Singh Chauhan arrived at the spot and questioned eyewitnesses.

Trump’s ‘Truth Social’ hits the No 1 position on Apple’s App store within 24 hours of launch

OpIndia Staff
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Trump’s ‘Truth Social’ hits the No 1 position on Apple’s App store within 24 hours of launch

On February 21 (local time), hours after its debut on Apple’s App store, former United States President Donald Trump’s social media app Truth Social grabbed No 1 position on the Top Charts. The app marks ex-President Trumps return to social media after he was banned by several platforms last year following US Capitol Hall violence in January 2021.

Screenshot of App on Apple App Store. Source: Apple App Store

The app was launched on the intervening night of February 20 and February 21, shortly past midnight. By early Monday, it was the top free app available on the App Store. Those who had pre-ordered the app got it automatically downloaded on their devices.

Pertaining to the overwhelming response to the app, several users reported they were either having trouble registering on the app or were added to the waitlist. The users said they got a message saying, “Due to massive demand, we have placed you on our waitlist.”

Donald Trump Junior had announced on February 15 that the “favourite President” was making a comeback on social media. Around 500 users were invited to test the app in the testing phase.

Trump was banned in 2021 from social media app

Following January 6, 2021 violence at US Capitol Hall allegedly involving Trump supporters, ex-President’s social media accounts were withheld by Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. Trump was accused of posting messages that incited violence.

In March last year, he had hinted to launch his own social media platform. In October, Trump had announced plans of launching Truth Social very soon. Truth Social has been developed by Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) led by Devis Nunes, former Republican US Representative. The platform is expected to attract users who feel their views and ideology are being suppressed by the social media giants.

On Sunday, during an interview with Fox News, Nunes said, “This week we will begin to roll out on the Apple App Store. That’s going to be awesome because we’re going to get so many more people that are going to be on the platform. Our goal is, I think we’re going to hit it, I think the by the end of March we’re going to be fully operational at least within the United States.”

TMTG funding

In December last year, TMTG had raised $1 billion from private investors. It is also planning to list in New York through a merger with Digital World Acquisition Corp (DWAC). The company would receive $293 million in cash from DWAC unless any of its shareholders redeem the shares. Once the DWAC deal closes, the $1 billion TMTG has raised would be made available for the company. However, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the US Financial Industry Regulatory Authority is investigating the financial activities of DWAC that has delayed the deal between DWAC and TMTG for a few months.

Delhi HC sends notices to Central, Delhi govt over BJP leader Ashwini Upadhyay’s PIL seeking to bring Madrasas, Vedic Pathshalas under ambit of RTE

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi HC sends notices to Central, Delhi govt over BJP leader Ashwini Upadhyay’s PIL seeking to bring Madrasas, Vedic Pathshalas under ambit of RTE

On February 22, on notice has been sent by the Delhi High Court to the Central Government and Delhi state government over a PIL questioning certain provisions of the Right to Education Act (RTE), 2009. The Public Intrest Litigation was filed in the High Court which demanded Madrasas, Vedic Pathshalas and other institutions imparting religious education to be brought under the fold of the RTE.

The petition moved by BJP leader Ashwini Upadhyay challenged sections 1(4) and 1(5) of the Right to Education Act stating they deprive educational excellence to Madarsas, Vedic Pathshalas and educational institutions imparting religious instructions in the country. In the petition, the relevant sections have been challenged with Articles 14, 15, 16, 21, 21A of the Constitution stating them as ‘arbitrarily irrational’ and ‘violative of the principles of the Constitution.

“The hallmark of the compulsory education system is syllabus and curriculum which must be equally and uniformly applied across the board, so as to ensure conditions, in which each child are placed on an equal playing field, competent to take on the challenges of real-world and empowered to avail the opportunities which life offers in its myriad circumstances, equally,” stated the petition to the Delhi HC. The plea also stressed that the RTE should not be restricted to ensuring only free and compulsory education, but must be extended to equal quality education without discrimination on the social-economic religious-cultural background.

The plea demanded a common syllabus and curriculum for all the children while stating, “Compulsory education which mandates every child to attend school but lacks in providing an effective common curriculum is worse than providing no education at all.”

With a view to achieving common and compulsory education up to 14 years of age, the plea stated that the changes in RTE would achieve a “code of common culture, removal of disparity and depletion of discriminatory values in human relations”. “It would also enhance virtues and improve quality of life, elevate the thoughts, which advance constitutional philosophy of equal society” the plea added.

BJP leader Upadhyay has argued that after the Muslim Personal Law Board members met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in 2012, Madrasas were removed from the ambit of RTE. “To showcase their so-called secular credentials, Gurukuls and Vedic Schools were also removed alongside Madrasas under the umbrella of RTE. Today a situation has evolved where the government is unaware of what has been taught in the Madarsas because they don’t fall under the law,” he added while posting a video on Twitter.

The petition by Ashwini Upadhyay was moved to the Delhi High Court after his plea in the Supreme Court was refused to be heard. While the Supreme Court refused to comment on the merits of the case, The Delhi High Court has listed the matter for hearing on March 30, 2022. Meanwhile, The Two-member bench of Justice Jyoti Singh and Justice DN Patel is seeking responses from all respondents while sending notices to the Central Government and Government of NCT of Delhi with respect to the same.

MoS for PMO shares a throwback video on PoK hours after Russia recognised two newly independent nations from Ukraine: Watch

OpIndia Staff
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MoS for PMO shares a throwback video on PoK hours after Russia recognised two newly independent nations from Ukraine: Watch

On Tuesday (February 22), the Minister of State for Prime Minister’s Office Dr Jitendra Singh shared a snippet from a 2019 speech in the Lok Sabha to commemorate the historic Parliamentary resolution on Jammu and Kashmir that was adopted on February 22, 1994. The development coincides with the recent decision of the Russian government to identify rebel-held territories in Ukraine as independent nations.

While speaking in the Lower House of Parliament, the BJP lawmaker had said, “There are no two opinions about the fact that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India. This Parliament had passed a resolution about the same in 1994. It was done by the government of PV Narasimha Rao and we had supported it then. The only dispute that exists is how and when we can retrieve the other part of Kashmir that continues to remain under the illegal occupation of Pakistan.”

He had emphasised, “We are often accused of deteriorating the condition of Jammu and Kashmir after we came to power in 2014. We formed the government with PDP in 2015. You (Congress) have ruled over the Union territory for 50-60 years. Did you leave behind a ‘Ram Rajya’ that we have somehow destroyed after coming to power?”

“What you handed us was a legacy of a series of blunders committed in the Union territory, starting from the infamous Nehruvian blunder. If only the then Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru would have allowed his Home Minister Sardar Patel to handle Jammu and Kashmir as he did with other princely States, then, the future of the Union territory would have been different,” he concluded.

The Parliamentary resolution of February 22, 1994, reads, “On behalf of the People of India, this House firmly declares that the State of Jammu & Kashmir has been, is and shall be an integral part of India and any attempts to separate it from the rest of the country will be resisted by all necessary means.”

Russia recognises the independence of rebel-held territories in Ukraine

In an unprecedented move on Monday (February 21), Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced that his government will recognise the independence of rebel-held territories in Eastern Ukraine. The pro-Russian rebels are backed by the Russian government and have been fighting Ukraine’s military for the past 8 years.

As such, Russia has declared that parts of Ukraine i.e. Donetsk and Luhansk as independent people’s republics. Putin had also ordered Russian troops to enter the ‘newly independent territories’ for peacekeeping functions. The move was condemned by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who said, “We are not afraid…will not give anything away to anyone.”

Meanwhile, the West had expressed fears of Russia officially invading the eastern part of Ukraine. US President Joe Biden signed an executive order outlawing new investments by Americans in the newly ‘independent’ territories. The White House has made it clear that the sanctions would increase if Russia further invaded Ukraine.

“It’s unacceptable, it’s unprovoked, it’s unwarranted … some suggestion that they are peacekeeping is nonsense,” remarked Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the Russian move was in violation of international law and undermined the sovereignty and integrity of Ukraine.

There are as many as 100,000 Russian armed forces troops stationed at the Ukrainian border. The United States and NATO have called the military moment around the border unusual. US President and European leaders have repeatedly warned Russia against the possible invasion of Ukraine. In December, US intelligence reported Russia might begin a military offensive in Ukraine in early 2022.

Attorney General grants consent for contempt of court proceeding against Ajeet Bharti for second time, says ‘Court bashing has become pastime’

OpIndia Staff
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Attorney General grants consent for contempt of court proceeding against Ajeet Bharti for second time, says ‘Court bashing has become pastime’

On Tuesday, Attorney General KK Venugopal granted consent to initiate contempt of court proceedings against YouTuber and journalist Ajeet Bharti for his alleged objectionable remarks against the Supreme Court of India. “The statements are vulgar, vituperative, outrageous and gross and undoubtedly tend to lower the authority of the Supreme Court and would seriously undermine the confidence of the people in the institution”, the Attorney General said while granting consent to initiate contempt against Bharti.

According to reports, the consent under Section 15 of the Contempt of Courts Act has been granted on a letter sent by a lawyer, Pratik Kumar. This is the second instance when the Attorney General has granted sanction against Bharti for his alleged derogatory video about the Supreme Court and its judges. Earlier in the month of September, Attorney General had sanctioned to initiate contempt proceedings alleging that the video posted on the YouTube channel of Ajeet Bharti’s media initiative DO Politics had ‘scurrilous’, ‘vituperative’ and ‘highly derogatory’ words against Supreme Court and its judges.

Attorney General KK Venugopal today said that bashing court had become a pastime for some. The allegations pertain to a video titled “Ajeet Bharti Roasts Supreme Court, High Courts” posted to the DO Politics channel on June 24. In the video almost 24 minutes in length, Bharti is accused to have made objectionable comments against the Judiciary.

Later in July, a law student named Kritika Singh from Dr Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University had written to the attorney general for sanction to initiate contempt proceedings against Ajeet Bharti. The law graduate had alleged that the journalist maligned the reputation of the Courts using vile and obscene language. The letter claimed that Bharti had levelled allegations of nepotism, rampant corruption and directing protests across the country.

“The foundation of justice delivery system has always been so strong that it never allowed anyone to obstruct the way towards equal justice by publicly using abusive language against the Hon’ble Courts and its Hon’ble Judges. As a responsible citizen of this country and a student of law, I would be failing in my duty if I turned a blind eye to this grave attack on the integrity of my Hon’ble Supreme court and its Hon’ble judges”, Singh said in her letter.

Reports mention that as per Section 15 of the Contempt of Courts Act, the consent of Attorney General is required before the Supreme Court can hear a criminal contempt of court petition filed by a private individual.

Gangubai Kathiawadi in legal trouble ahead of release, Congress MLA Amin Patel files PIL in Bombay High Court

OpIndia Staff
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Gangubai Kathiawadi in legal trouble ahead of release, Congress MLA Amin Patel files PIL in Bombay High Court

Ahead of its cinematic release on February 25, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ will have to face a legal battle in the Bombay High Court. Legal troubles have loomed over the Alia-Bhatt starter after Congress MLA Amin Patel and some residents of Kamathipura have filed separate pleas in the Bombay High Court citing discontent over the portrayal of some portions in the film.

On Tuesday, Congress MLA from Mumbadevi, Mumbai Amin Patel filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Bombay High Court against the release of the film. Patel’s plea is likely to be heard by a single member bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta today. On February 17, the MLA also met Amit Vilasrao Deshmukh, the Minister for Cultural Affairs in Maharashtra to submit a memorandum regarding serious objections with respect to the trailer of the film. Amin Patel argued that the film maligns the image of the Kamathipura locality and the Kathiawadi community residing in Mumbai.

A similar plea was also moved in by some residents of Kamathipura in the Bombay High Court to seek change in the use of the name “Kamathipura” used in the film. The Bench led by Justice GS Patel will be hearing the plea tomorrow, February 23. Earlier, Gangubai’s adopted family alleged that the film tarnishes Gangubai as a ‘prostitute’ while asserting that she always fought for the rights of prostitutes in her life. Notices were sent to the makers of the film and charges of defamation have also been levied against them. 

Alia Bhatt starter ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ is directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and is all set to release in the cinemas on February 25. The film is an adaptation of Hussain Zaidi’s book ‘Mafia Queens of Mumbai’ which records the life of Gangubai Kothewali, a matriarch of a brothel in Mumbai’s Kamathipura.

Swapna Suresh, main accused in Kerala gold smuggling case joins NGO, assumes charge as Director, women empowerment & CSR

OpIndia Staff
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Swapna Suresh, main accused in Kerala gold smuggling case joins NGO, assumes charge as Director, women empowerment & CSR

Swapna Suresh, one of the main accused in the Kerala gold smuggling case, joined an NGO named High Range Development Society (HRDS) India on February 18. The NGO which is based in Palakkad, offered Suresh the post of Director, Women empowerment and CSR at its office in Thodupuzha with a monthly salary of Rs 43,000.

According to the reports, she joined the organisation at the Skill Training Centre of HRDS India’s office in Thodupuzha after she was issued the offer letter on February 12. The appointment of Swapna Suresh has emerged into a huge political controversy with rising accusations against her to have attained the position because of her alleged affiliation with the RSS and BJP. People have also claimed that the NGO is backed by the RSS or BJP. Suresh on Sunday confirmed that she was being harassed and that unnecessary controversy was being weaved around her new job.

She clarified that she had to follow all the given procedures to get the position as Director, Women empowerment and CSR in the NGO and that it was quite an ordinary job with an ordinary salary of just Rs 43,000. She said that she had taken up the job to look after her children and her old mother.

“Let me live. Let me raise my children and take care of my mother. Please do not harass me by creating unnecessary controversies. I have no intention to harm or hurt anyone, so please leave me alone”, she was quoted.

The HRDS meanwhile opined that she was appropriate for the position as she is equipped with excellent communication and vast contact network. The HRDS also said that it saw no harm in appointing Suresh as the Director of the organisation amid the gold smuggling case as she has not been convicted yet.

This is specifically after the Kerala State Commission for SC/STs initiated proceedings against NGO over complaints alleging that they constructed uninhabitable houses for Adivasis in Attappadi and elsewhere. Suresh reiterated that relentless attempts have been made to deliberately harass her and requested the public to stop giving political angle to her employment.

BJP denies allegations, says the NGO has no links with their party

BJP state president K Surendran also has denied the allegations of the NGO being affiliated to RSS or BJP and said that the private company was headed by a former leader of SFI. “The NGO has no connection with BJP”, Surendran was quoted.

It is important to note that Swapna Suresh is the primary defendant in the Kerala gold smuggling case where the customs officials at the Thiruvananthapuram international airport ceased gold weighing over 30 kilograms and valued at almost Rs 15 crore. The action was initiated against Suresh and other diplomats in 2020 after the custom officials got information that the suitcase carrying gold was a part of a huge smuggling network involving rampant misuse of diplomatic passports.

Earlier in the month of February 2021, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s Principal Secretary M Sivasankar, who is also an accused, in his autobiography had already declared Suresh as guilty in the case and accused her of deceiving him. Swapna Suresh then lambasted the senior bureaucrat and exposed that Sivasankar was aware of the diplomatic luggage and that everything she did while on the run from police was on Sivasankar’s orders.

She stated that they were close and that after taking voluntary retirement, Sivasnakar wanted to settle down with her in Dubai. She also said that Sivasankar deliberately orchestrated the NIA’s involvement in the gold smuggling case in order to keep Swapna quiet. Accusing him of manipulating, exploiting and destroying her life, Suresh said that the book published by Sivasankar narrated his version of the controversial episode.

Reports mention that HRDS India is an NGO that works for the betterment of tribal people in the state. Its activities include the construction of pre-fabricated houses for Adivasis. Guru Atma Nambi is its president and Aji Krishnan is its secretary. The organisation’s main source of resources includes CSR funds from corporate and foreign donations. With its three skill training centres in Thodupuzha, Coimbatore and Kannur, the NGO also undertakes farming activities like medicinal plant cultivation in Adivasi inhabited areas.

Video of namaz offered in Mysore Palace in Karnataka, which is famous for Dussehra celebrations, goes viral

OpIndia Staff
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Video of namaz offered in Mysore Palace in Karnataka, which is famous for Dussehra celebrations, goes viral

Some individuals may be seen reportedly offering namaz inside the Amba Vilas Palace (Mysore Palace) in Karnataka in a video that has gone viral. A group of ten Gujarati tourists reportedly paid a visit to the Palace and offered namaz after washing their hands and legs. The video of men doing namaz has gone viral on social media.

This move has come amidst the ongoing hijab controversy that erupted in Karnataka and gained national attention.

On Sunday, a 26-year-old youth, Harsha, was killed by Islamists after a social media post where he supported uniform dress code in school and opposed the hijab/burqa. One Qasif, Syed Nadeem and other were arrested in the connection till now. Qasif worked as a lorry cleaner as per reports.

Mysore Palace

Mysore Palace is one of India’s most popular tourist attractions. It is also known as Amba Vilas Palace, which was the seat of the Wodeyar Maharajas of the Mysore state and is one of the country’s biggest palaces. Mysuru Aramane is the local Kannada name for it. The old wood-built palace burned down in 1897 at the wedding of Jayalakshammanni, Chamaraja Wodeyar’s eldest daughter, and was rebuilt in 1912 at a cost of Rs. 42 lakhs.

There are twelve Hindu temples in the Mysore Palace complex. The oldest was constructed in the 14th century, while the most recent was constructed in 1953.

Mysore Palace
The Amba Vilas Palace

The palace is famous for Dussehra celebrations. The festival is celebrated as “Mysore Dasara” for 10 days in the line. The illuminated Mysore Palace during the Dasara celebrations draws tourists from all over the world.

Mysore Dasara
Mysore Dasara celebrations

The Karnataka Hijab controversy

The hijab row in Karnataka started when some Muslim students insisted on wearing hijab in a pre-university college in Udupi. The incident gained traction all over the country soon after. Protests were followed by several Islamic organizations in the country in favor of the hijab being allowed in educational institutions.

In a recent, Karnataka saw massive outrage after a Hindu man named Harsha was allegedly killed over social media posts made in support of secular uniforms in schools and colleges.

Putin declares two independent nations from Ukraine, urgent UNSC meeting held where Russia is president

OpIndia Staff
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Putin declares two independent nations from Ukraine, urgent UNSC meeting held where Russia is president

On February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized two independent nations from Ukraine’s Donbas region. He also ordered the Russian Army to launch “peacekeeping operations into the area”.

Putin signed a decree recognizing the two nations, Donetsk People’s Republic and the Lugansk People’s Republic, in the presence of Russian-backed separatist leaders Denis Pushilin (DPR) and Leonid Pasechnik (LPR). They agreed on cooperation and friendship.

The Russian government, in an official statement, said, “The President of Russia and Head of the LPR Leonid Pasechnik signed a Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between the Russian Federation and the Lugansk People’s Republic.”

In a television address, Putin said Ukraine was an integral part of the history of Russia, and eastern Ukraine was ancient Russian land. He said with confidence that the people of Russia would support his decision. While talking about the history as far back as the Ottoman empire, Putin said the recent eastward expansions of NATO did not go well with Russia.

He said, “I deem it necessary to make a decision that should have been made a long time ago – to immediately recognize the independence and sovereignty of the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Lugansk People’s Republic.” Notably, with the decision, Putin clearly ignored all the warnings of Western nations where they had said any such step would kill of peace negotiations and would trigger sanctions against Russia.

Though it is unclear how much force Russia is planning to dispatch to these two newly recognized nations in the decree, it was mentioned Russia now has the right to build military bases in Donetsk and Lugansk. There are around 1.5 lakh Russian troops available in the nation as per the US. Contrary to Western worries, Russia has categorically denied any plans to invade Ukraine but said it might use military-technical action unless Ukraine guarantees never to join NATO.

Emergency UN Security Council meeting

Following Putin’s announcement, the US and European nations convened an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council. However, as happens, Russia is currently the president of the UNSC and no significant decisions were taken, apart from some nations condemning Russia’s decision and some nations, including India, calling for resolution through diplomatic channels and not military conflict.

India issued an advisory on flights between India and Ukraine

Indian Embassy in Ukraine issued an advisory for the students and Indian nationals on flights between India and Ukraine. The advisory read, “In view of the continued high levels of tension and uncertainties of the current situation in Ukraine, additional flights are being organized.” It further added Air Arabia, Fly Dubai, Qatar Airways and other operators in the region also have flights from Ukraine to India. 

France and Germany expressed disappointment

During a telephonic conversation with President Putin, the President of France and the Federal Chancellor of Germany expressed disappointment over the recent developments in the region. However, as per the Russian government, they indicated readiness to continue contacts.

Britain calls Russia’s step’ breach of International Law’

In a statement, Boris Johnson, Prime Minister, UK, said Russia’s recognition of two separate nations was a breach of International Law. In an official statement, Johnson told Ukrainian President Zelenskiy that the Russian invasion was a real possibility in the coming hours and days. “He told President Zelenskiy that the UK had already drawn up sanctions to target those complicit in the violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and that those measures would come into force tomorrow. The Prime Minister also said he would explore sending further defensive support to Ukraine at the request of the Ukrainian government,” said PM’s office.

The US signed an order prohibiting trade with separated nations

President Joe Biden, United States, signed an executive order prohibiting trade and investment between the US and new nations recognized by Russia. The order would prohibit new investments by Americans irrespective of their locations. The order read, “The United States will not hesitate to use its authorities to target those supporting efforts to undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. This authority provides the United States with the flexibility to impose similar restrictions on any other regions of Ukraine as appropriate.”

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