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While Karnataka High Court continues hearing in the hijab case, Muslim students continue to defy the court’s interim order

OpIndia Staff
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While Karnataka High Court continues hearing in the hijab case, Muslim students continue to defy the court’s interim order

The Karnataka High Court resumed hearings on the hijab case today, which has sparked outrage across the country. Yesterday the court was adjourned while the petitioner’s advocate Devdatt Kamat was making submissions. Yesterday before the adjournment, Adv. Kamat told the court that he would complete his submissions within the next 10 minutes whenever the hearing was resumed.

Before adjourning the court yesterday, the Chief Justice read out the names of the attorneys who will be representing the petitioners, the female students, in the ongoing hearings today.

Adv. Kamat started his submissions with clarification regarding the translation of the GO which was disputed yesterday. He stated that “State says that the word in GO “savrajanik suvyavasthe” does not mean “public order”. The official Kannada translation of the Constitution uses this word “sarvajanik suvyavasthe” for “public order”. To which Justice Dixit responded that words in a GO cannot be read like words in a statute.

Kamat then went on to argue on the validity of Article 25 and how it upholds the freedom of practice of religion. To quote Kamat, “The essence of Article 25 is that it protects the practice of faith but not a mere display of religious identity or jingoism.”

He then went on to submit some more submissions consisting of orders from secular countries, unlike yesterday when he mentioned judgments of Islamic countries.

Since Kamat went on to add arguments, the court asked what about his assurance of summing up all his arguments in Ten minutes.

After considering some more arguments and submissions from some more intervenors in the case, the court was adjourned for the day and it was decided to take up the case again tomorrow at 02:30 PM.

Defiance of courts advisein hijab case observed at various places

As the court proceedings are still ongoing, the court advised that all students should stick to the dress code of the educational institutions. But there were several instances reported when people defied the court’s advice and insisted on entry into schools and colleges with hijab/burqa.

Thirteen female students from a Government High School in Karnataka’s Shivamogga district refused to sit the SSLC (Class 10) preparation examination today after their teacher asked them to remove their hijab before entering the classroom.

In another instance, a few students of Karnataka Public School in Nellihudikeri in Kodagu district protested against the hijab ban.

The hijab debate, which began in a Karnataka pre-university institution, has extended to numerous districts and even other states. The controversy erupted when some Muslim girl students of PU college in Udupi insisted on wearing hijab in classrooms. The college administration refused them access into the classes, citing that any apparel other than the specified uniform is not permitted in the classrooms.

Actor Deep Sidhu, accused in 2021 Republic Day riots, dies

OpIndia Staff
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Actor Deep Sidhu, accused in 2021 Republic Day riots, dies

Actor Deep Sidhu, one of the accused in 2021 Republic Day riots, died in a road accident. As per reports, he died in a road accident on KMP (Kundli-Manesar) Highway near Delhi.

Deep was a Khalistani supporter and was arrested last year in February after he participated in the desecration of the Red Fort after the tractor rally held by farmers that turned violent. The Khalistani supporters had brutally attacked the security personnel and police officials stationed at Red Fort, they had disrespected India’s national flag by hoisting two other flags with Sikh symbols on the Red Fort. 

In May 2021, a charge sheet was filed against him. His act of desecrating the Red Fort was hailed by the pro-Khalistan groups.

Sidhu had come to limelight after a video of him speaking in English had gone viral in December 2020. Deep Sidhu was seen claiming to be a farmer and saying that the farmers protests will be the defining moment of the geopolitics of not just India but also entire South Asia. Sidhu was heard saying that these farmer protests were nothing but an “Inquilab” (revolution). Sidhu had also threatened the authorities saying that they were failing to understand the seriousness of the matter as this ‘revolution’ (protests) will define the next geopolitics of the entire country and South Asia.

As Deep Sidhu and his fellow protestors had uttered the magical words of ‘revolution’, the left-liberals and the opposition ecosystem had fallen in love with the Punjab actor, who descended on social media platforms for having a ‘spine’ to stand up to the ‘fascist’ Modi government. 

This is a breaking news. More details awaited.

Taliban names special military unit ‘Panipat’ invoking the victory of Ahmed Shah Abdali over Marathas in the 1761 Panipat war

Suyash
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Taliban names special military unit ‘Panipat’ invoking the victory of Ahmed Shah Abdali over Marathas in the 1761 Panipat war

With a move instigating Indian sentiments, The Taliban has decided to name a special military unit as Panipat – in reference to the 18th-century Afghan zealot Ahmed Shah Abdali. It was in 1761 when raids by Ahmed Shah Abdali to North India were challenged by the Marathas which culminated in the Third Battle of Panipat on January 14, 1761.

The Panipat unit will be stationed at Nangarhar which shares its border with Pakistan. Talking about the new unit, Taliban’s (acting) Defence Minister Mullah Muhammad Yaqoob Mujahid said, “This new unit is part of the broader move being initiated by the Taliban, under which the country aims to have a 110,000-member army. This number will be raised further if needed,”

With the lionization of Ahmed Shah Abdali, the Taliban has evidently given a signal to India also dripped in Hindu-hatred. The Battle of Panipat saw over 1,25,000 people killed during a single day with the sacrifice of Maratha Commander-in-Chief Sadashiv Rao Bhau, Peshwa Nanasaheb’s son Vishwasrao, Jankoji Scindia and several other prominent leaders for the nation. One of the events which instigated the counter-attack by Marathas was Abdali’s raids at Hindu pilgrimage sites at Mathura characterised by rampant looting, killing of the innocent and assault on women.

This is however not a singular incident when the Taliban has associated itself with genocidal warmongers from the Islamic past. A painting of Ahmed Shah Abdali’s coronation still hangs at the Presidential Palace in Kabul in front of which the Taliban was seen positing itself after its successful capture of Afghanistan in 2021.

Talabani terrorists after the successful capture of Kabul in the presidential palace. Credits: News NCR

Earlier in October 2021, Taliban leader Anas Haqqani had tweeted about him visiting the tomb of Sultan Mohammed Ghaznavi, who plundered the Somnath Mandir in the 11th century. Glorifying the tyrant as ‘a renowned Muslim warrior & Mujahid of the 10th century’, the terrorist claimed that the shrines of these ‘honours inspire us with freedom, pride & courage.’

It is no wonder that terror organisations like the Taliban, see Islamic tyrants from the past as their heroes. Alike Pakistan, The Taliban continues to purge Hindu minorities in Afghanistan while it disseminates Hindu hatred and anti-India rhetoric through its narrative as well as through action. The move has sparked strong reactions in India where people are flagging it as a jingoistic attempt to incite violence against Hindus. Indians are demanding action against the Taliban for the brazen move.

From Ghaznavi to Aurangzeb and from Abdali to Tipu Sultan, a section of Indian historians whitewash their massacres against Hindus which is followed by terrorist organizations like the Taliban glorifying them. This is one of the incidents which shows how the vicious cycle of Hindu hatred completes itself.

Canadian author Gad Saad writes to PM Modi asking to accommodate him in India as he wants to escape Canadian dictatorship

OpIndia Staff
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Canadian author Gad Saad writes to PM Modi asking to accommodate him in India as he wants to escape Canadian dictatorship

A day after the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked rarely-used emergency powers to curb the ongoing truckers protest, author Gad Saad has asked the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi whether he could be accommodated in India as he is looking to leave Canada to escape the dictatorship.

The Canadian author Tweeted on February 15, “Dear @narendramodi, we’re looking to leave Canada to escape the dictatorship. Any room for us in India?”. Gaad had responded to a Tweet by PM Modi where he had paid tribute to Saint Ravidas on the eve of his birth anniversary.

Earlier in the day, the Canadian author had also Tweeted to the United States of America, saying: “Dear United States: I once had to flee Lebanon to start a new life in Canada. Now I need to flee Canada to start a new life in the United States. Will you take us in? We can come in from the Southern border illegally if you prefer. Please advise”.

Tagging Ronald Dion DeSantis, the Governor of Florida in another Tweet, the author said that the Canadian PM doesn’t want people like him in Canada. He hoped that the governor can personally hand over green cards for him had his family when will be attending an event where the governor will also be present in Florida. “Dear @GovRonDeSantis, we’ll be at the same event next week in Florida. Perhaps you could personally hand-deliver me the green card for Dr.Saad and his family. @RubinReport can vouch for me. @justintrudeau doesn’t want people like me in Canada,” Tweeted Gad Saad.

PM Modi extends Republic Day greetings to Gad Saad and others on India’s Republic Day

It may be recalled that the author and behavioural scientist Gad Saad was one of the many notable personalities from across the world whom PM Narendra Modi had extended personal wishes on the occasion of the 73rd Republic Day of India.

“I just received an official letter from a very high representative of the prime minister of one of the leading democracies in the world. I’m not at liberty to share any additional information but it is truly incredible,” Saad had written on Twitter, tacitly admitting receiving a letter from PM Modi.

Canadian PM invokes rarely used Emergencies Act to curb truckers protest

On February 14, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act to curb the ongoing truckers protest. The Act that has been invoked for the first time in 50 years would give the Trudeau-led Canadian government additional powers to curb the ongoing truckers blockades and protests against Covid-19 pandemic restrictions.

‘Those who wanted Muslims to remain in ditches are backing the controversy’, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan slams Congress for doing hijab politics

OpIndia Staff
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‘Those who wanted Muslims to remain in ditches are backing the controversy’, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan slams Congress for doing hijab politics

Terming the ongoing Karnataka hijab row a “conspiracy”, not “controversy”, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan lambasted the Congress and other opposition parties for exploiting the issue for vested interests. Arif Mohammad stated emphatically that people promoting hijab politics today do not understand Muslims.

Recalling how indifferent the Congress leadership was about the country’s Muslims when they were in power, Arif Mohammad Khan revealed how a Congress minister had once told him, “It was not the duty of the Congress to uplift Muslims and if they want to lie in the gutter let them be.”

He said that a minister in the Rajiv Gandhi government had made the aforementioned remark while making an effort to persuade him after he resigned from the Cabinet following the Shah Bano episode.

It may be recalled that the Kerala Governor had in 2019 revealed that it was PV Narasimha Rao, a minister in the Rajiv Gandhi government, who had made this remark. He had said this while backing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remark in the Lok Sabha on the plight of Muslims during the tenure of Congress-ruled governments. 

The Kerala Governor went on to say that those people who have never thought about Muslims’ upliftment and want them to remain in ditches, those who have never urged their own children to wear the hijab/burqa and send them to the best and most costly schools are the ones who are backing the hijab controversy. According to Kerala Governor, their aims are clear: they want the country’s Muslims to remain benighted.

Arif Mohammad Khan, the Governor of Kerala, told ABP News that being secular does not imply accepting wrongdoing. He went on to say that during elections, the hijab would be made a spectacle.

Khan said previous governments used to bow down in front of people who broke rules, and/or discipline, but that the present government was not bowing down, adding that change would take time. 

Terming the hijab row a conspiracy, Arif Mohammad Khan, added that when the law prohibiting triple talaq was passed in 2019, the dominance of this particular class (Muslims) over their women ended. He further claimed that since independence until 1986, this faction had driven the government of 400 MPs to its knees. They used to intimidate and give open threats of violence. These fundamentalists had also gone on to claim that those MPs who are not with them would be eliminated. Such was their power in those days. However, now that they have lost their dominance, this class is suffering as fish suffer without water.

Earlier too, the Kerala Governor had said that ‘Right to wear Hijab’ argument is acceptable, but then it will be the Muslim women who will be the losers. He recalled several instances of women refusing to wear the veil in the history of Islam.

He had sharply added that those claiming to follow the legacy of Islam today are actually losers and the entire act of hijab controversy is useless.

The Kerala Governor while exclusively talking to India Today also slammed the Pakistan government for interfering in the matters of India. He said that the Pakistan govt must be treated the way it deserves to be treated. 

He appealed to the hijab girl students to avoid being instigated by the outside forces and requested them to focus on education and a better standard of life

Poster saying ‘Entire Kashmir including POK is an integral part of India’ hung at KFC outlet in Nagpur, here is what happened

OpIndia Staff
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Poster saying ‘Entire Kashmir including POK is an integral part of India’ hung at KFC outlet in Nagpur, here is what happened

On Monday, February 14, a KFC outlet in Nagpur witnessed protests over the ‘Kashmir Solidarity’ post by KFC Pakistan handle on February 05 last year. A protest was staged by National Youth Alliance (NYA) activists at KFC Shraddhanand Peth outlet near Mate square in Nagpur.

In the video posted by the organization on YouTube, it can be seen that a group of around 15-20 people entered the store of KFC while giving slogans like “KFC murdabaad, Hindustan Zindabaad“. With Tricolour flags in hand, they had brought with themselves posters criticizing KFC’s move to support Pakistan in its motive to occupy the Indian administered Kashmir. One of the protestors demanding an apology from the staff asserted, “Your company is an anti-national company, Tell us in what way you will register your apology,”

While a staff member tendered an apology with a ‘sorry’ while requesting the protestors to leave, the protestors asserted that an apology should be pasted by the outlet at the entrance. Rahul Pandey, president of the NYA said, “Such anti-national activities can not go on while KFC continues to operate in India. Who gave you the right to participate in movements like free Kashmir?”

Protestors with posters calling out KFC over its pro-Pakistan tweet in Nagpur. Credits: Nagpur Today

The protestors also tried to make customers at the outlet aware of the anti-national tweet by KFC. As the agitation continued, members of the NYA then hung a poster on the reception counter which read, “Entire Kashmir including POK is an integral part of India.” It was seen that the activists tied the poster to the stands to keep the card swipe machines on the counter. Then, all the staff members at the outlet were asked to collectively give slogans of “Hindustan Zindabaad, Kashmir India ka hai, POK Bhi India ka hai!”

They also pasted posters with the text ‘Kashmir Belongs to Kahsmiris’, ‘Sham on You’ and the KFC Pakistan’s offending tweet, and posters saying ‘We Want Apology’ on the walls of the outlet.

While speaking to OpIndia, the outlet staff refused to comment on the issue. However, the protest by the activists was peaceful and no vandalization or loss has been reported at the outlet.

The images of the KFC outlet with the poster “Entire Kashmir including POK is an integral part of India” has appeared on social media with the claim that the KFC outlet themselves put the posters in their outlet. But that is incorrect, and the poster was hung at the outlet by the members of the National Youth Alliance during the non-violent protest. However, the staff members of the outlet didn’t object to the same and politely cooperated with the protestors.

Kashmir Solidarity post by KFC

On February 05, 2021, KFC’s Pakistan Twitter handle had tweeted in a pro-terrorism post celebrating ‘Kashmir Solidarity Day’ in Pakistan. A similar message was posted by KFC on its official Facebook page as well. The tweet had appeared this year after Hyundai Pakistan had posted a similar message on the ‘Kashmir Solidarity Day’ on social media platforms. After the outrage against Hyundai, similar messages posted by Pakistani units of other companies had also surfaced, and such companies also faced outrage from netizens and on the ground activists.

However, after a backlash followed by protests over similar posts by Hyundai and KIA Motors in India, KFC India tendered an apology in a statement issued after the post made by KFC Pakistan in 2021.

Telangana: Muslim groups protest against Supreme Court order handing over Manikonda land to state, target CM for not keeping election promise

OpIndia Staff
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Telangana: Muslim groups protest against Supreme Court order handing over Manikonda land to state, target CM for not keeping election promise

On February 11, the Muslim community backed by the political parties in the state of Telangana staged protests against the Supreme Court’s decision pertaining to 1,654.32 acres of Manikonda Jagir land. The Supreme Court last week had ruled in the decades-old litigation regarding the Manikonda land in favour of the state government saying that ‘all the lands are held with the state government only’.

The Muslim activists supported by the BSP criticised the state government, which they say had promised to resolve the issue. Targeting the state govt, the demonstrators held banners that loosely read ‘Waqf is in danger due to the state govt’. The community has decided to hold a ‘dharna’ on February 25 to draw the state’s attention to the issue. According to the reports, they have also decided to form a committee of 10 members including the lawyers to make submissions over the issue.

One of the activists while talking to the Siasat Daily claimed that the TRS govt had promised to secure the land for Waqf board, and also had promised to give judicial powers to the waqf after coming to power. He criticized the Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao for not keeping up with the electoral promises. Communist Party of India leader and ex-Rajya Sabha MP Aziz Pasha also hit out at the state government for running away from the promises it made earlier.

Meanwhile, Waqf Properties Protection Cell president M Nayeemullah Shareef opined that 75% of the lands were occupied by the ‘encroachers’. The state waqf board has filed a review petition in the SC regarding its decision on Manikonda Jagir land and said that the board had spent Rs 3.27 crore on legal counsels in the final quarter of 2021.

On February 8, settling the old land tussle between Dargah Hazrat Syed Hussain Shah Wali and the State government on the other side, the court observed that all the lands are held with the state government only. The dispute had started in 2006 when the Waqf had issued a notification annexing 1,654 acres of prime land in Manikonda Jagir village, an upmarket tech-city area in Hyderabad. The Supreme Court had ruled that the land belonged to the state and not the waqf board.

The court had further said that the govt had sold some of these lands through e-auction to different individuals, companies and also allotted to various institutions, including Lanco Hills, Jana Chaitanya Housing Pvt Ltd, TNGOS Housing Society, Hyderabad Public Services Cooperative Society, Phoenix, WIPRO, ISB School and Urdu University.

The Supreme Court also took into consideration the Jagir Abolition Act and returned the land to the state. The waqf had argued that the concerned land had been given to Dargah Hazrath Hussain Shah Vali as ‘inam’ by the then Nizam of erstwhile Hyderabad State. But the court said that as the Jagir Abolition Act nullified any jagirs or inams, the said ‘inam’ by Nizam is no longer valid, and the land belongs to the state. The Court directed the government to make cash payments to the jagirs and imams in terms of the commutation regulation, 90 per cent of the gross basic sum referred to in Section 4 of the Commutation Regulation.

It is pertinent to note that ‘Waqf’ means the permanent dedication by a person professing Islam of any movable or immovable property for any purpose recognized by the Muslim law as pious, religious or charitable. This means that any property by a user can be registered with the Board and it becomes ‘waqf’ and it remains so even if the original owner of the property dies.

Reports mention that the protest was led by ex-MP and president of All India Tanzeem Insaf, Syed Azeez Pasha, and the president of Deccan Waqf Protection Society, Osman al hajiri, secretary City CPI. The protest was also joined by the All India Sunni Ulema Board, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee, Telugu Desam Party, Congress and several others including the women protesters.

Wire journalist accused of instigating violence against Hindus in hijab row, had earlier abused Shri Ram and shamed Hindu girl welcoming new dog with Puja

OpIndia Staff
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Wire journalist accused of instigating violence against Hindus in hijab row, had earlier abused Shri Ram and shamed Hindu girl welcoming new dog with Puja

While the ban on hijab in educational institutions in Karnataka, which has erupted into a full-fledged controversy in the country, is only about adhering to basic school uniform requirements, a segment of the leftist intelligentsia and Islamists have cleverly misconstrued it to peddle their anti-Hindu agenda. On February 15 (Tuesday), one Naomi Barton who identifies herself as an ‘Audience Editor’ with leftist propaganda website The Wire used the ongoing controversy to openly incite violence against Hindus.

The Wire journalist Tweeted: “If any Muslim community had come together to so much as take a dupatta from a Hindu woman there would be blood in the streets. It is a particularly brutal humiliation that Muslims are forced to watch helplessly at the insult given to Muslim women for fear of retaliation.”

Brazenly displaying her hatred for Hindus, Barton remarked that if a Hindu woman’s dupatta had been taken away from her by any person from the Muslim community, the former would have flocked to the streets, not thinking twice before shedding the blood of Muslims. Many on social media saw this as an inflammatory Tweet to provoke Muslims to retaliate with violence in response to the hijab controversy.

In essence, netizens felt that Barton appeared to be persuading Muslims to take up arms against Hindus by claiming that if the situation were reversed, this would be the natural response of Hindus. She gave no evidence or basis to back up her ridiculous claims.

Naomi Barton is one of the many so-called liberals who have been trying to milk the Karnataka hijab controversy that erupted earlier this month to propagate their anti-Hindu agenda. OpIndia reported earlier in the day how Bollywood entertainer Swara Bhasker had compared the hijab issue to Draupadi’s cheer haran episode in Mahabharta.

Many extremist Muslims backed Swara’s totally uncalled opinion, claiming that Indians were just spectators who were enjoying the entire hijab controversy. She also insulted Hindu culture by envisioning the Draupadi vastraharan episode from the Mahabharata.

Bhasker has often spoken the language of Islamic terrorist and made the ‘gau mutra’ jibe to mock Hindus.

Naomi Barton has also in the past openly indulged in using derogatory terms for Hinduism.

She had once shoddily brought in ‘Brahminism’ in a seemingly harmless video of a cute puppy. 

Commenting on a video where a social media user had shown her pet dog, a Golden Retriever, being welcomed into the house as per the Hindu rituals, the ‘journalist’ said that the video appeared cute and harmless but it actually showed how Brahmanism was a construct. She even went on to declare the Golden Retriever an upper caste and sermonised on adopting dogs. Apparently, welcoming puppies, in whatever way an individual wishes, is ‘Brahiminism’ and has roots in casteism for the journalist associated with the far-left propaganda website.

‘Leave for now’, India issues advisory for its nationals in Ukraine as Russian invasion remains a ‘distinct possibility’

OpIndia Staff
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‘Leave for now’, India issues advisory for its nationals in Ukraine as Russian invasion remains a ‘distinct possibility’

Amid the speculations of Russia invading Ukraine, India has issued an advisory for the Indian nationals living in the country and asked them to leave Ukraine temporarily. “In view of uncertainties of the current situation in Ukraine, Indian nationals, particularly students whose stay not essential, may consider leaving temporarily,” the Embassy of India in Kyiv said in a statement.

It also asked the nationals to keep the Embassy updated about their status of presence in Ukraine to enable the authorities to reach for help whenever required. It said that the embassy will continue to function normally. This is two days after the United States decided to evacuate its Embassy in Ukraine and asked all the American citizens to leave the country immediately. It warned that Russia could invade at any time and that the invasion remains a ‘distinct possibility’.

US President Joe Biden had stressed that the US won’t send its troops to Ukraine on any terms as Americans and Russians shooting at one another would be a ‘World War’. In a phone call to its Russian counterpart, Biden also had hinted of severe costs that the US would impose on Russia if it goes ahead with the invasion of Ukraine.

Russia also meanwhile has declared to cut its staff in Ukraine amid the massive build-up of troops near the border. It is important to note that Russia has deployed more than one lakh servicemen at the Ukraine border. While Russia has constantly stated that it has no intentions to attack, the US has suggested other countries around the world to leave the country of Ukraine as soon as possible.

Along with the US, countries including Germany, Italy, Britain, Ireland, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Canada, Norway, Estonia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Australia, Japan, Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have also called on their nationals to leave Ukraine.

On February 1, India at UN had called for immediate de-escalation of tensions between Russia and Ukraine, taking into account the legitimate security interests of all countries. India’s Ambassador to United Nations, T S Tirumurti had focused on quiet and constructive diplomacy and said that ‘any steps that increase tension may best be avoided by all sides in the larger interest of securing international peace and security’.

During the meeting, Tirumurti had also highlighted that more than 20,000 Indian students and nationals live and study in different parts of Ukraine, including in its border areas. The Indian mission in Kyiv has collected data on the number of Indians in Ukraine as the well-being of Indian nationals remains of priority to the country.

Earlier on Friday, Russia practised naval drills in Crimea, blocking the access to the sea as accused by Ukraine. Also, 10 days of military exercises continued in Belarus to the north of Ukraine. According to reports, a bunch of troops in Russia’s military districts adjacent to Ukraine have returned to bases after completing drills today.

Reports further mention that the US has approved a credit guarantee of $1 billion to Ukraine amid the heightened tensions. According to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Ukraine is one of the poorest countries in Europe and the money would help the country to ensure economic stability and growth. The US had earlier approved military assistance of $200 million as part of American efforts to help Ukraine protect itself. Committed to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, the official had said that the US would continue to provide Ukraine with the support it needs.

It’s been one and a half months since the possibility of war between Russia and Ukraine is looming large. Russia has demanded in writing from the West to cease expansion of NATO. It has demanded that Ukraine should never be allowed to join NATO.

Gujarat: Waqf Tribunal orders removal of road and restoration of graveyard managed by the Shihor Memon Jamat

OpIndia Staff
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Gujarat: Waqf Tribunal orders removal of road and restoration of graveyard managed by the Shihor Memon Jamat

Last week, the Shihor Municipality in Bhavnagar was ordered to deconstruct the road built by demolishing the graveyard that was managed by the Shihor Memon Jamat. The Gujarat State Waqf Tribunal asked the municipality to reinstate the graves, fallen trees and the toilet back to its original position in the graveyard.

According to a Times of India report, the Shihor Municipality had built a road as a part of infrastructural development by demolishing the outer part of the graveyard. The tribunal in its order has said that the expenditure of the restoration shall be recovered from two of the officers who carried out the demolition.

Giving the ultimatum of 24 hours, the tribunal has further ruled that if the road is not removed within 24 hours, the restoration expense shall be borne by the chief officer of the govt body. On February 2, the municipality had carried out the demolition after it issued the notice to Shihor Memon Jamat to remove the part of its graveyard construction for road.

The matter escalated as the Jamat knocked the doors of civil court after the demolition. It later withdrew the suit from the civil court and approached the Gujarat State Waqf Tribunal to decide over the issue. The civic body in its argument claimed that the land on which the road had been built never belonged to the Shihor Memon Jamat while the city survey reported that the land was a graveyard that belonged to the waqf.

Citing the SC order, the tribunal further said that the land once becomes a graveyard, is always a graveyard. It has sought a detailed report from the civic body over restoration and has asked the city police to issue protection once the road is removed.

“Waqf” means the permanent dedication by a person professing Islam of any movable or immovable property for any purpose recognised by the Muslim law as pious, religious or charitable. This means that any property by a user can be registered with the Board and it becomes ‘waqf’ and it remains so even if the original owner of the property dies. Graveyards are also properties registered with the waqf.

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