Home Blog Page 3284

First of its kind “University Hindu Chaplaincy” Fellowship Program introduced in the USA, may start at Stanford and UC Berkeley first

OpIndia Staff
-
0
First of its kind “University Hindu Chaplaincy” Fellowship Program introduced in the USA, may start at Stanford and UC Berkeley first

The Hindu Community Institute (HCI) and the Motwani Jadeja Foundation (MJF) have announced a new fellowship program named “University Hindu Chaplaincy” in the United States of America. Tuition funds will be granted to suitable university faculty members, administrators, and others enrolling to become Hindu Chaplains at universities under the “MJF-HCI Chaplaincy Fellowships” program.

Dr Kailash Joshi, President of HCI, noted during the introduction of the initiative that this first-of-its-kind fellowship programme will satisfy the rising demand for spiritual help rooted in Hindu tradition and knowledge on university campuses. Ms Asha Jadeja, President of MJF, noted that there is a rising number of Hindu students born in the United States who require the direction of qualified Chaplains. As a result, it is critical that the community support the training of University Chaplains.

She further noted that HCI was hoping to introduce the course first in Stanford and UC Berkeley.

On the new fellowship, Graduate Theological Union Director Dr Kamal Abu-Shamsieh stated, “The Interreligious Chaplaincy Program (ICP) at the Graduate Theological Union (GTU) welcomes scholars from all traditions and fully supports the unique University Chaplaincy program offered by HCI and MJF.”

Head of Spiritual Directors International (SDI), Rev. Anil Singh-Molares commented, “…This program fills a significant void, allowing the riches of the Hindu tradition to be offered on campuses, hospitals, and other places in need.”

Renowned Vedic scholar and computer scientist Prof. Subhash Kak of Oklahoma State University added “I support the vision of Hindu Chaplaincy on campuses wholeheartedly. It is certainly needed in the United States; it can also serve as a model for other countries to emulate.”

Hindu Community Institute

The Hindu Community Institute is a non-profit organisation that was founded in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2018. It offers Hindu Counselors and Chaplains foundational training on a strong basis for global community service based on Hindu tradition and knowledge. HCI is governed by a Board of Directors and managed by a devoted team of over 300 volunteer professionals that handle operational, management, and faculty duties. HCI attracts academics from the United States, Canada, India, Australia, and South Africa.

Motwani Jadeja Foundation

The Motwani Jadeja Foundation is a non-profit, globally dispersed venture fund that aspires to develop entrepreneurs into creative change-makers. The foundation has a broad worldwide impact across several IT industries and academics, including offices in the Bay Area, New York City, and India. It is industry-agnostic and is most concerned with making an effect on education, the Maker Movement, and women’s rights, notably in South Asia.

Treatment at private hospital: How Judiciary gave different judgements for Anil Deshmukh and Nawab Malik, with special favour granted to Varavara Rao

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Treatment at private hospital: How Judiciary gave different judgements for Anil Deshmukh and Nawab Malik, with special favour granted to Varavara Rao

On Friday, a special court ordered that former home minister Anil Deshmukh be transferred to government-owned KEM Hospital for a test and subsequently to JJ Hospital for further treatment for his dislocated shoulder. The court dismissed his plea to be allowed to get transferred to a private hospital for treatment.

The same court, on the other hand, allowed NCP leader and Minister of Minority Development and Aukaf of Maharashtra Nawab Malik to pay for his own treatment at a private hospital.

Malik and Deshmukh have been accused of money laundering by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). While Malik was arrested in February of this year, Deshmukh was detained in November of 2021 by the central agency. Both had also requested bail on health grounds.

From May 9 to 11, Nawab Malik was permitted to visit a nephrologist for a thorough health checkup in the presence of his family doctors, Dr Saeeda Khan and Dr Sharad Kolke. According to the court, Malik will also be responsible for the costs of family doctors. This was done as a temporary arrangement while his interim bail application was heard in court.

Malik had requested six-week interim bail on the grounds of health concerns. He stated he was suffering from renal problems and needed to go to a private hospital for treatment.

It is worth noting that Urban Naxal Varavara Rao, detained in connection with the Elgar Parishad case, was permitted to be transferred to Nanavati Hospital for treatment. Rao had filed a bail plea and a writ petition on medical grounds in 2020, requesting that he be transferred to Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai immediately due to his deteriorating neurological and physical conditions.

Thereafter, following the interference of a Bombay High Court bench of Justices SS Shinde and Madhav Jamdar, the state mentioned that Rao will be transferred from the Taloja jail in neighbouring Navi Mumbai to the Nanavati Hospital for treatment as a “special case” at the expense of the Maharashtra government.

‘She is seeking attention’: War of words erupts between Divya Spandana and aides of Congress leader DK Shivakumar including ex-MP Mohammad Nalapad

OpIndia Staff
-
0
‘She is seeking attention’: War of words erupts between Divya Spandana and aides of Congress leader DK Shivakumar including ex-MP Mohammad Nalapad

A social media war has broken out in the Congress party after actor-turned-politician Divya Spandana aka Ramya took a dig at KPCC president DK Shivakumar and his close aide Youth Congress president Mohammed Nalapad on Twitter.

A day after former Congress IT cell chief and former MP Divya Spandana, aka Ramya, had taken to Twitter to launch a scathing attack on her former colleagues for using media to tarnish her reputation, the Congress party’s top brass in Karnataka has hit back at former MP saying her tweets were unwarranted and unnecessary.

KPCC working president R Dhruvanarayan and Youth Congress president Mohammed Nalapad attacked the actress for her tweets directed at Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar and his supporters.

Earlier on May 12, Divya Spandana had posted a series of tweets accusing the Congress leader of destroying her credibility by planting fake news in the media after she quit the party. She stated that she did not run away and regretted remaining silent all this time.

“After I quit, ‘she duped the congress of 8 crores & ran away’ was planted in the news esp Kannada channels, in an attempt to destroy my credibility. I didn’t run away. I resigned for personal reasons. I certainly did not dupe the party of 8 crores. My mistake was staying silent,” wrote Divya Spandana.

Notably, the ex-Congress IT cell chief had also alleged that the Congress instructed its workers to troll her on social media for a remark she had made against Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar.

The tweets put out by the Congress party leadership in the state have now created a political storm within the party, with the aides of DK Shivakumar coming to his rescue.

Speaking to the media on Friday, Dhruvanarayan said that the actress has shown indiscipline by complaining against the KPCC president in public.

“She could have brought the issue to the Congress leaders instead of tweeting. She could’ve approached the AICC general secretary or the state in charge with a complaint,” Dhruvanarayan said.

Controversial Congress leader Mohammed Haris Nalapad had mocked Divya Spandana, saying he did not know whether she was still part of the Congress party.

“She is seeking attention. I did not even know where she was all these years. She is trying to find a way back into the party,” Karnataka Pradesh Youth Congress Committee president Mohammed Haris Nalapad said.

However, the actress has hit back at Mohammad Haris, saying that the Youth Congress leader President, who is on bail, is now questioning the integrity.

“This boy Nalapad is the honourable KPYCC president (on bail), son of MLA Harris, and he’s questioning my integrity. Wah!” Divya Spandana tweeted. 

Divya Spandana started her political career in 2012 through the Youth Congress. In 2013, she contested and won the Mandya Lok Sabha seat in a by-election. However, she lost the 2014 general elections. Later, she was appointed as the Congress party social media head.

In 2019, following Congress’ humiliating defeat in the 2019 general elections, Spandana had deleted her Twitter and Instagram accounts citing a “break from politics.” She even ceased speaking with party leaders. She nearly vanished from public view after the Congress announced that none of its leaders would participate in television discussions after a row over her Tweet congratulating Nirmala Sitharaman. She was afterwards fired from her position, as per reports.

During her tenure as the Congress social media head, Congress’ Twitter handle saw a series of slip-ups over time, which made them the butt of all jokes on Twitter. Besides, like her innumerable other party members, Divya Spandana had often indulged in sharing fake news to malign the BJP government at the centre.

Is The New York Times committing fraud and keeping subscriber numbers high artificially? What a Fox News investigation, aired by Tucker Carlson, found

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Is The New York Times committing fraud and keeping subscriber numbers high artificially? What a Fox News investigation, aired by Tucker Carlson, found

The New York Times Company recently reported that it was close to hitting its target subscriber base by reaching 9.1 million subscribers. After the acquisition of the sports website The Athletic, it added a new subscriber base of 387,000. The Times is now closer to its target of hitting 15 million subscribers by the end of 2027. However, there seems to be a catch. A recent Fox News investigation reveals that The Times may be committing widespread subscriber fraud. The investigation was aired on the show Tucker Carlson Tonight on the 14th of May 2022.

The Tucker Carlson show that aired on the 14th of May 2022 was shared by Twitter handle @ColumbiaBugle. In the video, Tucker Carlson details how The New York Times essentially does not allow its subscribers to unsubscribe and continues to charge them $17 month after month.

The show details how another employee at Fox News tried to unsubscribe and was neither allowed to do so nor was there any provision for a refund after the system refused to allow him to unsubscribe.

What the Tucker Carlson show found about The New York Times committing subscriber fraud

Tucker Carlson starts his segment by asking a basic question that perhaps every Indian echo – We know The New York Times is unreadable. Then how does its subscriber base continue to grow?

One of the producers of the Tucker Carlson show subscribed to The New York Times about a year ago. When The Times increased its subscription rate to $17 a month, the producer tried to cancel his subscription. In April, the producer spoke to the representatives of The Times and they were assured that the cancellation of the subscription would go through. However, this month (May), the producer got billed $17 again.

On Wednesday, the producer called again to ensure that the cancellation goes through and was assured that it would. However, yet again, this did not happen. Tucker Carlson says on the 14th of May, the producer was charged another $17. When the producer called again to find out what was going on, Tucker Carlson says that the customer care representative essentially admitted that The New York Times was committing fraud. The show then proceeds to play the entire conversation that took place between the producer and The New York Times customer service representative.

First, the customer service representative confirms to the producer that the system “rejected” the request for cancellation. The reason they cited for the rejection of cancellation was that a transaction was already in progress.

Conversation between the producer and NYT customer care

On the 11th of April, there was another attempt to cancel the subscription but that was rejected by the system too, said the representative.

Conversation between the producer and NYT customer care

Essentially, so far, it appears like The New York Times does not let its subscribers cancel their subscription even if they want to given that the producer’s request was “rejected by the system” on two separate occasions.

The producer, having failed to cancel his subscription, then demanded for a refund. For this as well, he was told that the “system does not allow refunds”.

Conversation between the producer and NYT customer care

In this event, the customer service representative seemed as confused at The New York Times chicanery as the producer. She first says that she would process the refunds, however, she quickly realises that the system does not allow it. “Why is there another event being processed, that doesn’t make any sense?”, she says.

Foxed, the representative says that the system needs work and “this is not okay”.

Conversation between the producer and NYT customer care

The representative admits that “customers have been charged after cancellation too”.

Essentially, The New York Times representative admitted that first, the system does not let one cancel their subscription and if the individual assumes that NYT would be ethical enough to do the needful, they would soon realise that they are being charged repeatedly for a subscription they wanted to cancel. To top that, there is no option of giving customers a refund.

Laughing, Tucker Carlson then wonders if anyone would file a class action law suit against The New York Times.

It is pertinent to note here that China Daily, a propaganda outlet of the Chinese government, has reportedly paid $19 million to American newspapers in advertisement and printing charges in 4 years. As per the documents filed by China Daily with the Justice Department, the Communist party mouthpiece had paid over $6 million to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), $4.6 million to the Washington Post, $2,40,000 to Foreign Policy, $50,000 to the New York Times, $34,600 to The Des Moines Register and $76,000 to CQ-Roll Call. In fact, The Communist party mouthpiece had also spent $2,65,822 on advertising on Twitter.

In 2018, both the New York Times and the Washington Post ran a sponsored news item titled, “Belt and Road align with African nations.” The same news story was accompanied by another story, critical of the Trump administration. It read, “Tariffs to take a toll on U.S. homebuyers.” The news item emphasised how the rise in US tariffs on China would raise the cost of building homes in the US. China’s attempt to use foreign papers as a tool to further its interests had been pointed out by organisations such as the Freedom House, Hoover Institution, and other pro-democracy groups.

Madhya Pradesh High Court admits petition seeking stay on Namaz, allowed by ASI, in Bhojshala Temple complex: Read full details

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Madhya Pradesh High Court admits petition seeking stay on Namaz, allowed by ASI, in Bhojshala Temple complex: Read full details

On Wednesday (May 11), the Madhya Pradesh High Court admitted a petition seeking a stay on the offering of Namaz by Muslims in the complex of the Bhojshala monument in the Dhar district of the State.

The Court had also issued notices to the Government of Madhya Pradesh, the Union government and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The petition was filed by an organisation named ‘Hindu Front For Justice’, which had challenged an order by ASI Director-General on April 7, 2003.

The order by the ASI had allowed Muslims to offer Namaz in the complex of the 11th-century monument, which the community refers to as ‘Kamal Maula Mosque.’ The Hindu group argued that the monument is connected to the sentiments of the followers of Sanatan Dharma.

“Unfortunately, the magnificent temple and place of learning at Bhojshala was damaged by Muslim rulers in 1305, 1401 and 1514 AD but they could not change the religious character of Bhojshala and it continues to be the place of Divinity as well as of reverence and Hindus pay homage to this place and they perform Pooja there. The Pasant Utsav is celebrated every year at the said place,” the petition read.

The Hindu group also sought the establishment of the idol of Goddess Saraswati (Vagdevi) in the Bhojshala complex and the production of coloured photographs of the inscriptions within the complex. It also asked the Union government to conduct radiocarbon dating of the artefacts, and sculptures, which are located inside the monument.

The petition said, “The destruction of a temple and its continuance in the same form is a continued trauma for the worshippers denying them to achieve spiritual power and in such a situation the life of worshippers remain in jeopardy giving day to day tease and feeling of humiliation done by the invader and such continued wrong has to be rectified under the sweep of Article 13(1) of the Constitution of India to protect the life and religious rights guaranteed under Article 21 and 25 of the Constitution of India.”

The matter was heard by Justices Vivek Rusia and Amar Nath Kesharwani. The Madhya Pradesh High Court found merit in the petition filed by the ‘Hindu Front For Justice’ and noted that other petitions, pertaining to the issue, were pending before it.

“Counsel for the parties jointly submit that the similar issue is already under challenge in W.PNo.(s) 6514/2013, 1089/2016 and 28334/2019 pending before this court. Counsel for the petitioner submits that he has filed some more documents which are not available in those writ petitions strengthening the claim of this present petitioner,” it stated.

The Judges added, “Therefore, they may be permitted to file this petition in the nature of Public Interest Litigation (PIL). Since, a similar issue is under challenge and the Archaeological Survey of India is contesting the matter, therefore, the petition is admitted. Issue notice.”

Petition filed in Mathura court seeking appointment of officer to survey disputed structure Shahi Idgah Masjid on Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi in Mathura: Details

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Petition filed in Mathura court seeking appointment of officer to survey disputed structure Shahi Idgah Masjid on Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi in Mathura: Details

After the Varanasi court ordered a day-to-day survey of the disputed structure Gyanvapi Masjid, a similar application has been filed in the court of civil judge (senior division) in Mathura on Friday seeking the appointment of a commissioner to survey the structure, Shahi Idgah masjid, built on Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi.

According to reports, two applications have been filed in the court of the civil judge in Mathura on Friday seeking the appointment of an advocate commissioner to carry out a survey at the Shahi Idgah masjid on Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi to confirm the “existence of Hindu artefacts and ancient religious inscriptions on the mosque premises”.

The Shahi Idgah Mosque stands at the Krishna Janmabhoomi in the city of Mathura. The Islamic invader Aurangzeb had destroyed the ancient Keshavnath temple and built the Shahi Idgah Mosque on its plinth in 1669.

The Mathura court has decided to hear the petitions filed by Narayani Sena national president Manish Yadav on July 1.

In his petition, Yadav has stated that “religious artefacts, ancient inscriptions and mythological evidence related to the Hindu religion exist on the Idgah premises, and the same has been concealed there. These facts need to be presented before the court.”

Manish Yadav had also filed a petition in the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court for early disposal of the Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi and Shahi Idgah Masjid cases. The petitioner contended that since the High Court has ordered the disposal of all cases related to the disputed site within four months, he moved a fresh application in court demanding an assessment on the lines of the survey being carried out in the disputed structure of Gyanvapi mosque.

On Thursday, the Allahabad high court also directed a Mathura court to dispose of the petitions claiming ownership of the entire land on which the Srikrishna Janmabhoomi stands and seeking to remove the adjoining Shahi Idgah Mosque within the four months.

So far, nine petitions are currently pending in the Mathura district courts with regard to the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah case. A Mathura court will pronounce its orders on one of the petitions on May 19.

Interestingly, the petition comes weeks after a Varanasi court had appointed advocate commissioner Ajay Kumar Misra to conduct a video survey of the disputed structure Gyanvapi mosque that is adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath temple. The court had directed him to record the videos of the disputed structure’s premises, built on the original Kashi Vishwanath temple, and submit a report.

The Gyanvapi mosque survey case also reached the Supreme Court on Friday, with the Muslim side asking to stop the survey and the videography of the structure. However, the apex court has refused to pass an immediate order, saying that they would first look into the case file.

There has been a growing demand among Hindus to reclaim Kashi and Mathura, along with Ayodhya. Taking back the disputed sites of Kashi Vishwanath temple and Krishna Janmabhoomi temple at Mathura has now become a priority for various Hindu groups in the country.

The Gyanvapi Mosque was built by the Islamic invader Aurangzeb after destroying the original Kashi Vishwanath temple. However, the remnants of the ancient Hindu temple can still be seen on the walls of the Gyanvapi Mosque. The temple was an earlier restoration of the original Kashi Vishwanath temple, which was destroyed and rebuilt several times in history. The current Kashi Vishwanath was built on a site near the Mosque in 1777 by Rani Ahilyabai Holkar.

Delhi: 26 dead after massive fire breaks out in a building in Mundka, more feared trapped

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Delhi: 26 dead after massive fire breaks out in a building in Mundka, more feared trapped

In a horrific incident at Delhi’s Mundka, 26 people lost their lives due to a fire in a building that has been raging since late afternoon today, 13th of May 2022. As per Delhi Police, there are even more people still trapped inside the building, and efforts are on to rescue them.

The fire broke out in Mundka, on Delhi’s border with Bahadurgarh, Haryana, in the late afternoon on Friday. Initially, 15 fire tenders rushed to the spot and started the rescue process. Later, nearly 30 fire tenders were involved in the efforts to bring the fire under control.

The fire broke out in a four-storeyed building that was used as office space by many different companies. The fire broke out on the first floor of the building, where a company manufacturing CCTVs and routers had its office. Rescuers managed to save 50 employees of the company from the blazing inferno. The owner of the company has been detained by the police after preliminary investigations.

The catastrophe shocked the nation and condolences for the victims flooded in led by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind.

PM Narendra Modi tweeted, “Extremely saddened by the loss of lives due to a tragic fire in Delhi. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. I wish the injured a speedy recovery.”

Meanwhile, President Kovind said, “Distressed by the tragic fire accident at a building near Mundka Metro Station in Delhi. My condolences to the bereaved families. I wish for speedy recovery of the injured.”

As per the latest reports, the rescue efforts are still underway as the frontline workers try to save the people still stuck in the building.

Demand to administration to run bulldozers on illegal Mazars and dargahs: Hindu organizations in Aligarh make list, appeal to make law

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Demand to administration to run bulldozers on illegal Mazars and dargahs: Hindu organizations in Aligarh make list, appeal to make law

People have started getting alert about the reports coming from the country about illegal Mazars being built overnight and encroaching and carrying out suspicious activities. In Uttar Pradesh, the voice against illegal Mazars and dargahs has now started to rise. In Aligarh, Hindu organizations have appealed to the administration to remove such illegal constructions immediately. They have also warned of an agitation if action is not taken.

Om Veer Singh along with the people of the Hindu organization has submitted a memorandum to the ministers and the administration regarding the matter. In a memorandum to the administration, Om Veer Singh has said, “Nowadays, the construction of illegal Mazars and dargahs on the roadsides and on public land is increasing day by day, which seems to be a well-planned conspiracy. Where there was nothing until a year ago, the grave suddenly starts to appear. After that, it is expanded to make a Mazar.”

Om Veer Singh demanded the government to enact a law on this so that such construction without permission can be stopped. In this regard, he submitted a memorandum to the Governor through Jal Shakti Minister Swatantra Dev Singh. Revenue Minister Anup Pradhan and MP Satish Gautam were present during the meeting. Bharatiya Janata Party’s MP from Aligarh Satish Gautam said that any illegal construction on government land will be bulldozed, and no one will be spared.

According to Khabar India TV, MP Gautam said, “With the help of the administration, such places will be identified and an inquiry will be conducted by PWD officials. Bulldozers will be operated at all such places, which are illegal, whether the building belongs to a builder or it is a Mazar or a dargah. Everything in Yogi Adityanath’s state will be done under the Constitution.”

In fact, Om Veer Singh, a resident of the Hetalpur village of Tappal in Aligarh, mentioned many such Mazars and dargahs. He said that the Mazar in front of Adampur Road on Aligarh-Palwal Road in Kasba Tappal, the Mazar near Attari Road on Aligarh-Palwal road, the Mazar near cold storage of Khair Kasba on Aligarh-Palwal Road, the Mazar on Noorpur Road, the Mazar on Yamuna Expressway on Garhi Surajmal Road, etc. are all illegal. He said that due to illegal Mazars built on the roadside, road accidents take place every day.

The construction of illegal Mazars and dargahs is a problem not only for Aligarh but for the entire country. Delhi MP Pravesh Verma has submitted to the Lieutenant Governor a list of 54 such government lands in the capital region on which mosques and cemeteries were built illegally. There is a Mazar built in the posh area of Dehradun in Uttarakhand. The people there claim that this Mazar is illegal. The person who works as a Khadim at the Mazar is said to be a drug addict. He also started selling eggs there.

During the lockdown last year, a case of an illegal Mazar being built by Muslims was also reported near Prithviraj Chauhan’s ‘Qila Rai Pithora‘. After the video of it came out, people were enraged and demanded that the Mazar be demolished immediately. Similarly, the case of Mazar at the Lohagarh Fort of Chhatrapati Shivaji was also reported.

Similarly, a variety of medicines, including those for sex and subduing of women, were recovered from an illegal Mazar built on panchayat land in Ballabhgarh, Faridabad. The locals had complained that the toilet in the Mazar had pictures of Hindu deities. When people reached there, they found intoxicating drugs, Islamic books, and many objectionable items.

Similarly, an attempt of encroachment has been in the Civil Hospital in Surat in Gujarat by constructing an illegal Mazar. The hospital administration has written to the police requesting them to remove the illegal Mazar located on the premises. A video of the Mazar is also going viral on social media.

Germany: Five wounded in a suspected Islamic terror attack on a train, passengers overpowered Iraq-born attacker

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Germany: Five wounded in a suspected Islamic terror attack on a train, passengers overpowered Iraq-born attacker

In a shocking incident that took place in Germany, three passengers on a regional train in Germany overpowered an attacker who wounded five persons on the train with a knife. This incident took place on Friday 13th March 2022 and the nabbed attacker is identified as an Iraq-born man.

According to a report by Associated Press, state interior minister Herbert Reul said that the train was traveling near the western city of Aachen when the man began attacking fellow passengers in a random and arbitrary manner.

Herbert Reul further said, “The motive for the attack is under investigation. Authorities are investigating the possibility of an extremist motive but haven’t yet confirmed it. There were about 270 passengers on the train. The attack was a gruesome crime that was stopped in an enormous act of courage. The suspect was known to authorities.”

The state police informed that the police officer who happened to be among the passengers overpowered the 31-year-old suspect with the help of two other passengers. The wounded were being treated at local hospitals and none of them was in the life-threatening condition as informed by the police.

The police authorities have suspected but not confirmed that the attacker had an Islamist motive for the attack. A probe is launched to determine if the attack was influenced by Islamist ideology and if the attacker was a part of a terror outfit.

Indian govt announces one-day state mourning on Saturday as a mark of respect on the passing away of UAE president

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Indian govt announces one-day state mourning on Saturday as a mark of respect on the passing away of UAE president

The government of India has decided to observe a one-day state mourning on Saturday, following the death of the UAE president Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. A statement issued by the union home ministry said that that there will be one day’s State Mourning tomorrow throughout India, when the national flag will be flown at half-mast and there will no official entertainment program.

The statement issued by the ministry said, “His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi has passed away. As a mark of respect to the departed dignitary, the Government of India has decided that there will be one day’s State Mourning tomorrow throughout India. The National Flag will be flown at half-mast on the day of mourning throughout India on all buildings where the National Flag is flown regularly and there will be no official entertainment on the day.”

Earlier today, Emirates News Agency WAM had reported the death of 73-year-old Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the president of the United Arab Emirates and the ruler of Abu Dhabi. Ministry of Presidential Affairs has announced that UAE will observe a forty-day national mourning with the flag flown at half-mast starting today.  Moreover, work will be suspended at all ministries, departments, and federal, local and private entities for three days.

Sheikh Khalifa had suffered a stroke in 2014, and had undergone a surgery, after which he continued to face health issues. His role as the president was limited to ceremonial duties, and His brother and Abu Dhabi’s crown prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, has been widely seen as the de-facto leader of the UAE, who handles day-to-day activities.

Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan was appointed as the second president of the UAE in 2004, after the death of his father and founding president of UAE, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

Sheikh Khalifa was born in 1948, and was the eldest son of Sheikh Zayed. Even before becoming the president, he was handling several presidential duties as the crown prince since late 1990s, as his father was facing health problems.

He was considered one of the richest monarchs in the world, and was the richest emirate in the UAE. His net worth is estimated to be over $18 billion, most of which comes from his investments in the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, a sovereign wealth fund owned by the Emirate of Abu Dhabi where Khalifa was the president.

It is noteworthy that world’s tallest building Burj Khalifa in Dubai was named after the late UAE president. The skyscraper was originally named Burj Dubai, but after Abu Dhabi and the federal government of UAE lent Dubai 10 billion US dollars to pay off its debts, the structure was renamed as Burj Khalifa in honour of the UAE president.

1...3,2833,2843,285...7,677Page 3,284 of 7,677