Eastern part of Spain, especially Valencia, has been suffering from extreme floods as the area received one year’s worth of rain within a few hours. Due to the rain, the area saw massive floods, destroying property all around, and also taking lives of dozens of people.
At least 95 people have been killed due to the sudden floods, and there are several missing following the floods.
As the water ran through the affected areas, it tossed cars everywhere, swept away homes, and took away bridges in the area. The country’s AEMET (Agencia Estatal de Meteorología), state weather agency, issued its highest level of alert for the province of Castellon.
⚠️ Actualización | Aviso especial por lluvias intensas en la Península y Baleares.
Este martes es el día más adverso del episodio, pero los chubascos muy fuertes continuará duranten las jornadas siguientes.
“There are already very strong storms in the area, especially in the north of Castellon,” AEMET posted on its X account. “The adverse weather continues! Beware”, it added, advising people not to travel to that area.
It is not yet known how many people are still unaccounted for following the deadly floods. Over a thousand soldiers from Spain’s emergency rescue units have joined regional and local emergency workers in the search for bodies and survivors, according to the Associated Press.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that he is heading to the region to witness the destruction firsthand as the nation starts a three-day period of official mourning.
Mumbai Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Chief Ashish Shelar said on Thursday that Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Chief Ajit Pawar should not have given a ticket to Nawab Malik, considering the serious allegations against him. Shelar stated that the BJP cannot associate with such individuals.
Nawab Malik is the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) candidate from Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar.
In an interview with ANI, Shelar emphasised, “Ajit Pawar should not have given him a ticket; many in Maharashtra think this way. The serious allegations and chargesheet against him are unacceptable to Maharashtra… The BJP has made its stance clear. Maharashtra opposes an international terrorist like Dawood. Despite this, if he has been given a ticket, the BJP cannot associate with such people. We won’t campaign for this candidate. Instead, we’ll support the candidate running against him.”
He further expressed confidence in Ajit Pawar’s popularity in Baramati, predicting a comfortable win for him.
“I visited Baramati and saw that Ajit Pawar’s work there is commendable. He delivers on his promises, which has built his reputation across Maharashtra. I believe his victory will be straightforward,” he remarked.
Targeting the opposition alliance, Maha Vikas Aghadi, the Mumbai BJP Chief asserted that it no longer holds any significance.
“The Maha Vikas Aghadi as an entity no longer exists. They don’t listen to each other. There is conflict between Nana Patole and Sanjay Raut. Congress itself has splintered into three factions. Soon, they will all disintegrate,” Shelar said.
He added, “Uddhav Thackeray has never won an election on his own merit. He always relies on others. Those who rely on others should refrain from criticising other leaders.”
Shelar also reflected on the BJP’s defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, acknowledging that internal mistakes had contributed to the outcome.
“In the Lok Sabha elections, we did not secure the expected votes, which was disappointing. The Maharashtra BJP made mistakes, but we have corrected them. The disillusionment among our workers has now transformed into enthusiasm, especially after the Haryana elections. Congress’s so-called ‘Mohabbat ki Dukaan’ was actually a ‘Nafrat ki Dukaan’ that could only work once, and that has already happened,” he said.
He noted that the current electoral atmosphere is distinct from that of the last Lok Sabha elections, adding, “The public is now satisfied… Mahayuti will form the government with a comfortable majority.”
Discussing the Worli seat, Shelar emphasised that the Mahayuti candidate, Milind Deora, has a better understanding of the constituency than MVA candidate Aaditya Thackeray.
“Milind Deora knows Worli better than Aaditya Thackeray. He served as an MP there and has known the area since his father’s time. Aaditya Thackeray lives in Bandra but contests elections in Worli. The BJP will put its full strength behind ensuring Milind Deora’s victory,” he added.
The Mumbai BJP Chief also clarified that there is no dispute over the Chief Ministerial candidate.
“We will contest under the leadership of Eknath Shinde, and after the elections, all three parties will come together to decide on the Chief Ministerial face,” he said.
The BJP is currently in alliance with Ajit Pawar-led NCP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena under the Mahayuti banner.
The Assembly elections for the 288 Maharashtra constituencies will take place in a single phase on 20 November, with vote counting scheduled for 23 November.
In the 2019 assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, Shiv Sena 56, and Congress 44. In 2014, the BJP secured 122 seats, Shiv Sena 63, and Congress 42.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
One person died on the spot after an explosion occurred in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur on Thursday, officials said. His wife has been hospitalised.
The explosion occurred when the victim identified as Surendra was unloading a cylinder in Kanpur’s Sisamau on the occasion of Diwali.
ADCP Kanpur Mukesh Kumar told ANI, “A person named Surendra was bringing the cylinder and the explosion occurred as the cylinder was being unloaded. Surendra died on the spot and his wife has been admitted to the hospital…”
Following the blast, police and Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) teams reached the spot. The area has been cordoned off and an investigation is underway.
Following the blast, people also gathered at the spot. Visuals showed the windows of a car shattered. A couple of motorbikes were also damaged in the blast, as shown in the visuals.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that today Bharat can’t compromise on even an inch of its borders and said we trust the determination of our soldiers.
“Today, Bharat cannot compromise on even an inch of its borders. That’s why our policies are aligned with the resolve of our armed forces. We trust the determination of our soldiers, not the words of our enemies,” PM Modi told soldiers on the occasion of Diwali in Gujarat’s Kachchh.
PM Modi also hailed the unrelenting bravery of army jawans and said, “Serving our motherland is a privileged opportunity. When the nation sees your unwavering resolve, your unrelenting bravery, and unparalleled valor, it feels assured of safety and peace! When the world sees you, it sees India’s strength, and when enemies see you, they see the end of their sinister plans! When you roar with enthusiasm, the masters of terror tremble with fear.”
PM Modi stressed on the fact that the country had seen a lot of positive momentum on the Atmanirbhar front with production of indigenous weapon systems.
“Today India is building its own submarine. Today our Tejas fighter plane is becoming the strength of the Air Force. Earlier, India was known as a country that imported weapons. Today, India is exporting defence equipment to many countries of the world,” he said”
“Keeping in mind the needs of the twenty-first century, today we are equipping our armies, our security forces, with modern resources. We are putting our Army in the league of the world’s most modern military forces. The basis of these efforts of ours is self-reliance in the defence sector,” he added.
PM Modi lauded the forces for their hard work and sacrifice that kept the country safe.
“Our nation is a living consciousness, which we worship as Mother India. It is because of the hard work and sacrifice of our soldiers that the country is safe today, the citizens are safe. Only a safe nation can progress. Therefore, today when we are moving so fast towards the goal of developed India, you all are the protectors of this dream,” PM Modi said.
“Today, every citizen is contributing to the nation’s development with their cent percent effort because they have faith in you! I am confident that your bravery will continue to strengthen India’s trust,” he added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday celebrated Diwali with the Border Security Force (BSF), Army, Navy, and Air Force personnel at Lakki Nala in Sir Creek area in Kachchh, Gujarat.
The area PM is spending time in is an extremely inhospitable place, due to the very hot days and very cold nights. The terrain is also challenging. Prime Minister Modi has been spending Diwali with the troops since he took over in 2014.
Earlier in the day, the PM honoured Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at the Statue of Unity in Kevadia, Gujarat on the occasion of National Unity Day. He also attended the parade organised and observed the air show by the Suryakiran Aerobatic Team of the Indian Air Force.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
Japan is not a very large country. With a population of approximately 124 million people, in terms of population, it is less than half the size of Uttar Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh, India, has a population of approximately 257 million. In 2011, the Muslim population of Uttar Pradesh was roughly upwards of 38 million. 13 years on, in 2024, it could well be way above 50 million. In contrast, the Muslim population of Japan is estimated to be a little north of 2,30,000. In 2001, there were just 24 mosques in Japan. In 2019, it was estimated to be 110. Since the asinine article published in Japan speaks of Delhi, for a little context, there were 2.5 million Muslims in Delhi in 2011 (the numbers have increased exponentially since then).
It is perhaps for this reason that The Japan Times truly has no idea how a substantial Muslim population behaves. It may find out in the next couple of decades as their population growth halts and the Muslim population increases, but right now, they are thoroughly clueless. With the Muslim population of an average Jumma congregation in Uttar Pradesh, Japan has displayed remarkable confidence in interpreting the behavior of Delhi’s Muslim population 4 years after the Delhi anti-Hindu riots.
In what can be arguably called the dumbest article to have ever been published, The Japan Times, in their article headlined, “In Modi’s Delhi, Muslims Self-Segregate for Security”, essentially said that after the Delhi Riots, which were targeted against Hindus, the Muslims have been feeling so unsafe that they are migrating to Muslim-only areas to feel safer.
They supposedly spoke to some Muslim residents from Shiv Vihar – an area that saw widespread violence during the Delhi anti-Hindu Riots. In the article, The Japan Times argues that the Muslims of Shiv Vihar are migrating to Loni – which has a large Muslim population – so they can feel safe from the terrible Hindus.
To put things in perspective, Shiv Vihar is an area that saw massive violence against Hindus. It was in Shiv Vihar that a Muslim-owned school was used as a launch pad for violence against Hindus – including a neighboring Hindu-owned school and unsuspecting Hindus from the area. The Muslim school had, in fact, sent home Muslim children early that day – as if they knew violence was going to erupt – and why wouldn’t they – they had petrol bombs and catapults installed on their roof.
The roof of Rajdhani school
The roof of Rajdhani school
The crux of the matter is this – A strong Muslim mob bombed, pelted stones, and shot at the Hindus from the Rajdhani school and over 300 Muslims barged into DRP school (Hindu-owned) and gutted it.
The violence during the Delhi anti-Hindu riots had started from Chand Bagh – where Tahir Hussain and thousands of his men targeted “Kafirs” (his own words) and Ankit Sharma was stabbed multiple times by the Jihadists – stabbed till his intestines lay out of his body.
The Japan Times, however, thinks that it is the Muslims who feel unsafe in Delhi and are moving to areas with predominantly Muslim populations to feel safe.
The article also mentions that many Muslims from other parts of Delhi are congregating in Jamia Nagar because they feel unsafe among Hindus – so much so – that Jamia Nagar is running out of space. Jamia Nagar has for decades been a Muslim-majority area – with a population of Muslims of over 98%. In fact, one could argue that the number of Muslims in Jamia Nagar exceeds the number of Muslims in Japan in its entirety.
Perhaps that is why the Japan Times does not have a clue that ghettoization is not a phenomenon that started after PM Modi came to power because Muslims felt “unsafe” among the very Hindus that some of them had previously targeted, but it is a phenomenon seen the world over in every country with a substantial Muslim population. It could be argued that Muslims feel safer living in areas where the population is skewed in their favour – however, that is perhaps the case with every ethnic group. People, humans, generally feel far more comfortable living with those who share their values, culture and lifestyle – regardless of religion or creed.
However, the problem of Muslims huddling together in overcrowded areas is not merely about human behavior – especially in India. It is pertinent to remind The Japan Times that an overwhelming majority of Muslims in India were in favor of the partition of India based on religious lines – actually – based on the tenets of Islam specifically. The two-nation theory that Muslims believed in professed that Islam was a nation unto itself and therefore, Muslims deserve their own land since they cannot co-exist with Hindus.
Syed Ahmad Khan said in 1876, “I am convinced now that Hindus and Muslims could never become one nation as their religion and way of life was quite distinct from each other.” Seven years later, he voiced similar sentiments. He said, “Friends, in India, there live two prominent nations which are distinguished by the names of Hindus and Mussalmans…To be a Hindu or a Muslim is a matter of internal faith which has nothing to do with mutual relationships and external conditions…Hence, leave God’s share to God and concern yourself with the share that is yours…India is the home of both of us…By living so long in India, the blood of both have [sic] changed.”
Twelve years later, he stated, “Now, suppose that the English community and the army were to leave India, taking with them all their cannons and their splendid weapons and all else, who then would be the rulers of India?… Is it possible that under these circumstances two nations—the Mohammedans and the Hindus—could sit on the same throne and remain equal in power? Most certainly not. It is necessary that one of them should conquer the other. To hope that both could remain equal is to desire the impossible and the inconceivable. But until one nation has conquered the other and made it obedient, peace cannot reign in the land.”
Truth be told, the idea that Islam encapsulates a separate nation is even more ancient than that. Karl Marx, the Father of Communism, stated in 1854, “The Koran and the Mussulman legislation emanating from it reduce the geography and ethnography of the various people to the simple and convenient distinction of two nations and of two countries; those of the Faithful and of the Infidels. The Infidel is “harby,” i.e. the enemy. Islamism proscribes the nation of the Infidels, constituting a state of permanent hostility between the Mussulman and the unbeliever.”
It is, therefore, an established fact that embedded in Islam itself is the concept of Ummah – which says that Islam is a separate nation unto itself, incapable of co-existing with non-Muslims – especially Hindus.
For Japan Times to insinuate that Muslim ghettos are a phenomenon that has come to exist only after PM Modi was elected to power because Muslims felt unsafe among Hindus is one that is so outlandish that the only explanation one can think of is that Japan has no idea how a substantial Muslim population behaves in a non-Muslim nation.
Perhaps we could forgive Japan Times for their naivete, but as it has been seen time and again, such bile against the Hindu population of India is not a product of ignorance, but certified malice.
The Japan Times carefully ignores how Hindus have repeatedly come under attack by the Islamists residing in these very ghettos. When they say the Muslims are trying to find ‘strength in numbers’, they also fail to realize that in many cases, in most cases, actually, the ‘strength’ they seek is not for defense but offense. From Delhi anti-Hindu riots to several Hindu religious processions coming under attack and Hindus being lynched – it is the Hindus who need to seek ‘strength in numbers’ from the Islamist lynch mobs – not the Muslims.
Perhaps in a few decades, when Japan sees a further rise in its Muslim population – most of it migrants from various other nations – they would know exactly why ghettoization is not a phenomenon that is a result of Muslim victimhood, but one which is a historic product of the famed Muslim Ummah which deems non-Muslims sub-human.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday celebrated Diwali with the Border Security Force (BSF), Army, Navy, and Air Force personnel at Lakki Nala in Sir Creek area in Kachchh, Gujarat.
The area PM is spending time in is an extremely inhospitable place, due to the very hot days and very cold nights. The terrain is also challenging. Prime Minister Modi has been spending Diwali with the troops since he took over office in 2014.
PM Modi also extended Diwali greetings to the people earlier today.
#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrates Diwali with BSF, Army, Navy and Air Force personnel at Lakki Nala in the Sir Creek area in Kachchh, Gujarat. pic.twitter.com/WS7vS8xZak
“Many happy wishes to the countrymen on Deepawali. On this divine festival of lights, I wish everyone a healthy, happy and prosperous life. May everyone prosper with the blessings of Maa Lakshmi and Lord Shri Ganesha,” PM Modi said on X.
Moreover, the PM honoured Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at the Statue of Unity in Kevadia, Gujarat on the occasion of National Unity Day.
“My salutations to Bharat Ratna Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary. Protecting the unity and sovereignty of the nation was the top priority of his life. His personality and work will continue to inspire every generation of the country,” PM Modi said on X.
He also attended the parade organised and observed the air show by the Suryakiran Aerobatic Team of the Indian Air Force.
Similarly, in line with the Prime Minister, the top defence brass of the country is also spending time with troops in different forward locations of the country.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh virtually inaugurated ‘Desh ka Vallabh’ statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Major Ralengnao ‘Bob’ Khathing ‘Museum of Valour’ at Tawang from Tezpur.
Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan is celebrating with troops deployed in the Andaman and Nicobar Command in Port Blair and took part in festivities there.
Indian Army chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi is celebrating with troops in Arunachal Pradesh.
Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi is celebrating the festival with naval troops at Porbandar in Gujarat which sees a lot of action related to nefarious activities from the Pakistan side and smuggling of contraband.
Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh is celebrating the festival with troops in the Jammu and Kashmir sector.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
A Chinese citizen studying at the University of Michigan faces voter fraud and perjury charges after allegedly casting a ballot in the 2024 US election, Michigan authorities announced Wednesday.
The 19-year-old student, a legal resident in the US but not a citizen, is accused of using his university ID and other documents to register at a polling place on Sunday before casting a same-day ballot. Local and federal officials are investigating whether this was an isolated incident or part of a broader attempt at election interference, CNN reported.
After casting his ballot, the student reportedly contacted local election officials, attempting to retrieve his vote. Michigan’s Secretary of State and Attorney General released a joint statement with Ann Arbour prosecutors following the charges.
“Investigations in multiple states and nationwide have found no evidence of large numbers of non-citizens registering to vote. Even less common is a non-citizen actually casting a ballot. When it does happen, we take it extremely seriously,” Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit, both Democrats, stated.
The student is charged with one count of illegal voting and one count of perjury. Legal experts indicate that, if convicted, he could face deportation. The charges come amid heightened scrutiny over election integrity, with former President Donald Trump and Republican supporters vocalising concerns over potential voting by non-citizens. Experts have emphasised that non-citizen voting remains extremely rare and is generally detected promptly.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel confirmed her office’s “independent, parallel investigation,” while Michigan officials work to determine if the incident involved any broader coordinated effort, with federal investigators also assessing the situation.
The logistics of reversing the student’s ballot have raised concerns about election secrecy and procedural limitations. Washtenaw County Clerk Lawrence Kestenbaum stated that once ballots are cast in-person and processed by tabulators, they are mixed with others and lack identifying information, reported CNN.
“There’s a box of ballots underneath the tabulator and all of the ballots — they all look the same … there’s no way to go back and undo it,” Kestenbaum explained, stressing that such procedures preserve voter anonymity.
This security, although essential, has complicated attempts to retract improperly cast ballots. “An in-person ballot is placed in a tabulator or ballot box, intermingled with other ballots.
This is to preserve secrecy, so you can’t go into the ballot later and confirm who a particular person voted for,” noted David Becker, former Justice Department voting rights official and founder of the Centre for Election Innovation & Research, CNN reported.
Criticism over Michigan’s lack of citizenship verification rules has arisen among GOP state lawmakers. Ciara Torres-Spelliscy, election law expert at Stetson University, noted, “Plucking out an improperly cast ballot is basically impossible because it looks like every other ballot cast by an eligible voter,” explaining the challenges of the secret ballot.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
Delhi is one of the most polluted cities in the world by all parameters, whether it is the Delhi air, or the water in Yamuna flowing through Delhi, it tops almost all charts when it comes to pollution. Only recently, Pakistan’s Lahore beat Delhi as the most polluted city in the world. However, now, Delhi Government’s Environment Minister Gopal Rai has said that tonight is the most important night when it comes to Delhi pollution.
Notably, tonight is Diwali night, the most celebrated Hindu festival. Gopal Rai appealed to residents to avoid bursting firecrackers amid rising pollution concerns, warning that the city’s air quality index (AQI) has increased and stressing that incidents of firecracker use at night would be addressed.
Even though Delhi’s Air Quality has been terrible for weeks, and firecrackers had no role to play in it, Aam Aadmi Party has put the blame on Diwali and banned firecrackers in the national capital. Apparently, this will help improve Delhi’s air which has been toxic for weeks.
Earlier, Aam Aadmi Party had blamed Uttar Pradesh buses for pollution in Delhi, and now it seems, they are ready to blame Hindu festival Diwali. AAP leader Satyendar Jain even went as far as saying he was arrested in a money laundering case because he wanted to clean Yamuna in Delhi.
Notably, there is a comprehensive ban in Delhi on the manufacture, storage, sale, and use of firecrackers. However, when Aam Aadmi Party’s supremo Arvind Kejriwal was released from Tihar Jail on bail, the city saw plenty of fireworks.
Blaming Diwali for the poor Air Quality in Delhi, Gopal Rai said, “In some places, the AQI has increased but tonight is very important. If we all try to come together and keep one thing in mind that we have to celebrate Diwali with diyas and distribute sweets and not create problems for children and elders in our homes by burning crackers. If the whole of Delhi takes care of the lives of our children and elders, then I think that we can save Delhi from the smoke that happens every year after Diwali.”
He further said, “Such incidents (of bursting firecrackers) are coming to notice and the police are working on them on the ground. Such incidents happening at night will also be stopped…I believe it is more important than police enforcement that we all fulfill our duty to humanity.”
Apparently, 377 teams have been formed to enforce the crackers ban across Delhi, even though there is no attempt to address the real causes of pollution in Delhi.
In July this year, 18-year-old accused Axel Rudakubana was charged with three murders and ten cases of attempted murder after a violent stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, England. A subsequent police investigation has led to two additional charges imposed against him, one of which is under the Terrorism Act.
According to reports, the UK police conducted a search at Rudakubana’s residence and reportedly uncovered a PDF titled ‘Military Studies in the Jihad Against the Tyrants: The Al-Qaeda Training Manual,’ which prompted the terror-related charge. Authorities also allege that Rudakubana produced the deadly toxin ricin, resulting in an additional charge for creating a biological weapon.
The charge related to the toxin filed under the Biological Weapons Act 1974 states that he produced the biological toxin ricin, on or before the 29 July incident. The terrorism charge has been filed under r Section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000, stating that he possessed the PDF of an Al-Qaeda Training Manual.
“At this time Counter Terrorism Policing has not declared the events of 29th July a terrorist incident. The matter for which Axel Rudakubana has been charged under the Terrorism Act does not require a motive to be established. For a matter to be declared a terrorist incident, motivation would need to be established,” said Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy.
Axel Rudakubana appeared at Westminster magistrates’ court by video link from Belmarsh prison after he was charged with the production of a biological toxin and possession of terrorism literature. While he listened to the hearing, he didn’t say anything.
Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring said that the new charges were “related” to the charges he already faces. Rudakubana’s trial is scheduled to begin in January 2025.
On 29th July, three young girls ages 6, 7, and 9 were killed in a stabbing incident at a Taylor Swift-themed dance and yoga class in northwestern England. The girls were identified as Bebe, Elsie, and Alice. Two of the girls lost their lives on the day of the incident while the third girl died the next day. Further, 8 children and 2 adults were also hospitalized after the attack.
Later massive protests erupted across the United Kingdom leading to law and order issues. Witnesses described the scene as “from a horror movie” as bloodied children ran from the attack to save themselves.
Kennedy meanwhile has reassured the public of Southport, and Merseyside that the authorities are committed to achieving justice for the families of Bebe, Elsie, and Alice, the 10 victims who were injured at the Hart Space in Southport on that Monday, in July. Further investigations into the case are underway.
Notably, after the horrific crime, there were rumours that the attacker was an illegal immigrant Muslim, leading to massive anti-immigration protests by right-wing groups in the UK. As a result, the court decided to release the name and identity of the accused, who was a minor at the time of the crime, to quell the rumours and protests. Axel Rudakubana, who turned 18 subsequently, was born in Cardiff, Wales.
While the disclosure of his identity had helped in quell the rumour that he was an illegal Muslim immigrant, the new information, especially his link to Al-Qaeda, is set to re-ignite the debate of spread of Islamic fundamentalism in the UK.
In a press release dated 30th October 2024, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) made some shocking revelations about Amanatullah Khan – AAP leader and former Delhi Waqf Board chairman. Investigations have revealed that Amanatullah Khan siphoned lakhs that he collected as the Delhi Waqf Board Chairman chief after the Delhi anti-Hindu Riots of 2020, in the name of relief work for the victims.
The ED press release in this regard said, “ED investigation revealed that Amanatullah Khan, without taking any approval from the Delhi Waqf Board, floated “Delhi Waqf Board Relief Committee”. In order to solicit funds in the name of Delhi Riot Victims, Amanatullah Khan opened an unauthorized bank account in the name of Delhi Waqf Board Relief Committee and some of the funds obtained from the public were withdrawn in cash under the directions of Amanatullah Khan and were handed over to him”.
Interestingly, right after the Delhi Waqf Board Relief Committee was formed in 2020, Amanatullah Khan had purchased a Rs 19 lakh property in the name of his second wife Maryam Siddique, who is a full dependent and has no source of income. The payment for this was made partly in cash and partly from the amount received from his close associate Zeeshan Haider.
The ED press release also reveals that in his election affidavit, Amanatullah Khan had failed to disclose all the information. He had failed to reveal that Maryam Siddique, his second wife, was completely dependent and had no source of income.
On the 29th of October 2024, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a Supplementary Prosecution Complaint (PC) against Amanatullah Khan and Maryam Siddiqui under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The prosecution and investigation are connected to the irregularities committed by Amanatullah Khan between 2016 and 2021 – when he was the Delhi Waqf Board chairman. The investigation found irregularities in the appointment of employees, misuse of official power as the chairman and irregularities in allotment of the tenancy of properties of Delhi Waqf Board without following proper procedure, and possession of assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.
The investigation has revealed how Amanatullah Khan siphoned off crores from the Delhi Waqf Board. ED says that Amanatullah Khan was siphoning off money through his associates Zeeshan Haider and Daud Nasir. These associates made cash payments through one Kausar Imam Siddiqui. Through a handwritten notebook belonging to Kausar, it was revealed that Rs 27 crore worth of cash payments were made to buy a property at Tikona Park, Okhla via these associates and Kausar. The property had belonged to Jawed Imam Siddiqui.
“ED investigation revealed huge amounts of suspicious cash deposits in the bank accounts of seller Jawed Imam Siddiqui and his wife with regard to the sale of the said property at Tikona Park”, the press release said.
ED said, “During the course of the investigation, 14 summons were issued to Amanatullah Khan. However, he appeared in response to only one summon. Further, complaints under Section 174 of the IPC, 1860 and under Section 208 of BNS were filed by the ED against him before ACMM Rouse Avenue Court for non-compliance to the summon proceedings. In this case, ED has arrested Amanatullah Khan, Zeeshan Haider, Daud Nasir, Kausar Imam Siddiqui and Jawed Imam Siddiqui and all the accused persons are in Judicial Custody”.
Amanatullah Khan’s ‘relief work’ after Delhi anti-Hindu Riots 2020
Back in 2020 right after the Delhi anti-Hindu violence, the media was in an overdrive to show that the riots were orchestrated against Muslims. The relief camp set up by the Delhi government and its Waqf Board – chaired by Amanatullah Khan – was widely covered – with the media hailing the relief efforts by Amanatullah Khan. The ED investigation has now shown that Amanatullah Khan was siphoning off money from this relief pool.
On the 6th of March 2020, for example, India Today published a report about Amanatullah Khan’s relief efforts.
The report read that the relief work by the Waqf Board and Amanatullah would help repair properties “irrespective of faith”. The Waqf Board had apparently made a list of victims and shops vandalised in order to start the relief work and even released Rs 50 lakh towards it. The Waqf had also announced that it would repeat 19 mosques.
The India Today report read, “The Board has also set up a relief camp for riot victims in Mustafabad where over 1,000 people are being kept. Besides food and medical help, the camp also has help desks to provide legal aid and counselling to the affected people”.
Telegraph India spoke of how the relief camp was bringing a “healing touch”.
Telegraph headline from 2020
Interestingly, no media house which covered this alleged ‘relief work’ by Amanatullah Khan questioned his role in the riots.
In a statement to media, Khan, while defending AAP councillor Tahir Hussain, who is accused of murdering IB official Ankit Sharma, said, “It is as if only Tahir Hussain is responsible for Delhi riots. This is an attempt to save the rioters. Only Muslims are being made responsible for the riots.” He further added, “If there will be discrimination, if you are unfair towards Muslims and send them to jail, call them rioters, then in this country the riots will continue.”
He further claimed that a conspiracy is being hatched to shield culprits and project Hussain as main perpetrator. Earlier, Khan had taken to the micro-blogging site Twitter to say that being a Muslim in India is the biggest crime and that Hussain was being ‘targeted’ as he is a Muslim.
Khan, who is himself accused in myriad cases, most notably for inciting violence in Delhi on December 15, 2019, stoked fear among the Muslim population of the country by claiming that the central government is against the Muslims and the former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain is in jail because he is a Muslim.
Amanatullah Khan was also seen with Sharjeel Imam, the mastermind of the Shaheen Bagh protests who had urged Muslims to cut off North East India from the rest of the country. Sharjeel Imam is now rotting in prison. An FIR was also registered by Ghaziabad Police against Khan for inciting violence through his social media posts. It is also alleged that Khan made an inflammatory speech before violence broke out at Jamia Milia on the 15th of December.
