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Deposed Syrian President Assad and his family granted asylum in Russia, Moscow calls for political settlement of crisis

 Following the political crisis in Syria, Russia has granted asylum to Bashar al-Assad and his family, TASS reported citing a Kremlin source.

The situation in Syria remains a focal point for all the neighbouring nations after Syrian rebels on Sunday entered the capital Damascus, forcing Assad to flee, ending his over two-decade rule in the country.

The source confirmed that Assad and his family have arrived in Moscow and Russia has granted asylum for them, being driven by “humanitarian considerations.”

“Russia has always spoken in favour of a political settlement of the Syrian crisis. We insist that the UN-mediated talks be resumed,” the source said, reported the Russian news agency.

“Russian officials are in touch with representatives of armed Syrian opposition, whose leaders have guaranteed security of Russian military bases and diplomatic missions on the Syrian territory,” the source added, TASS reported

Notably, the Russian Foreign Ministry on Sunday expressed extreme concern over the events unfolding in Syria and appealed to all parties involved in the negotiations with a strong call to renounce violence and resolve all issues by political means.

Further, the ministry had stated that Bashar al-Assad has stepped down and left the country giving instructions to transfer power peacefully.

“We are following the dramatic events in Syria with extreme concern. As a result of negotiations between B Assad and a number of participants in the armed conflict in the SAR, he decided to leave the presidential post and left the country, giving instructions to transfer power peacefully. Russia did not participate in these negotiations. At the same time, we appeal to all parties involved with a strong call to renounce the use of violence and resolve all governance issues by political means,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

“In this regard, the Russian Federation is in contact with all groups of the Syrian opposition. We call for respect for the opinions of all ethno-confessional forces of Syrian society, and support efforts to establish an inclusive political process based on the unanimously adopted UN Security Council Resolution 2254,” the statement added.

Notably, the civil war in the country that had remained dormant for a few years resurfaced and within a span of a few weeks, the Syrian rebel groups took over several key cities like Aleppo, Homs and Daraa, before seizing control of Damascus unopposed on Sunday, ending the Assad family’s nearly six decades of autocratic rule.

The development came hours after rebels claimed to have captured Syria’s third-largest city, Homs, to the north of the country.

The head of Syria’s main opposition group abroad Hadi al-Bahra Syrian said that Damascus is now “without Bashar al-Assad,” according to Reuters. This came after Syrian rebels claimed capturing Damascus.

“The tyrant Bashar al-Assad has fled,” the armed opposition said in a statement.


(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Indian Embassy in Damascus remains operational after fall of Assad regime, available to assist Indian nationals in Syria

Despite the ongoing crisis in Syria, which saw the fall of the over two-decade-long rule of President Bashar al-Assad after rebels took over, the Indian Embassy continues to remain operational in Damascus and is in touch with all Indian nationals, sources said on Sunday.

The sources further stated that all the Indian nationals there are safe and the embassy remains available to assist them in the crisis-hit nation.

“Indian Embassy continues to remain operational in Damascus, Syria. The Embassy is in touch with all Indian nationals, and they are safe. The embassy remains available to assist Indian nationals in Syria,” the sources said.

The situation in Syria remains a focal point for all the other nations after Syrian rebels on Sunday entered Damascus, forcing President Bashar al-Assad to flee for an unknown destination, ending his over two-decade rule in the country.

The development came hours after rebels claimed to have captured Syria’s third-largest city, Homs, to the north of the country.

The head of Syria’s main opposition group abroad Hadi al-Bahra Syrian said that Damascus is now “without Bashar al-Assad” according to Reuters.

This came after Syrian rebels claimed capturing Damascus.”The tyrant Bashar al-Assad has fled,” the armed opposition said in a statement.

Earlier on Friday, the Indian government issued a travel advisory for Syria, strongly advising Indian nationals to avoid all travel to the country until further notice.

“In view of the situation prevailing in Syria, Indian nationals are advised to avoid all travel to Syria, until further notification,” the Ministry of External Affairs stated.

“Indians currently in Syria are requested to remain in touch with Indian Embassy in Damascus at their emergency helpline number (also on WhatsApp) and email ID [email protected] for updates. Those who can, are advised to leave by the earliest available commercial flights and others are requested to observe utmost precaution about their safety and restrict their movements to the minimum,” it added.

“We declare Damascus free of the tyrant Bashar al-Assad,” they said.The rebels earlier claimed to have entered the capital and taken control of the notorious Saydnaya Military Prison north of Damascus, CNN reported.

The report further cited the Military Operations Command’s post on Telegram which read, “We declare the city of Damascus free from the tyrant Bashar al-Assad.”

“To the displaced all over the world, a free Syria awaits you,” the statement added.

The civil war in the country that had remained dormant for a few years has resurfaced and within a span of a few weeks, the Syrian rebel groups have taken over several key cities like Aleppo, Homs and Daraa.


(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

PDP leader Iltija Mufti defends her comments saying ‘Hindutva is an illness’, claims there is a lot of difference between Hindutva and Hinduism

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People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader Iltija Mufti clarified her ‘controversial’ post where she expressed a strong criticism of ‘Hindutva’ calling it an “illness,” and said that there is a lot of difference between ‘Hindutva’ and ‘Hinduism’.

This comes after the PDP leader, reacting to a purported video of the attack on minor Muslim boys forced to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’, called Hindutva “a disease” that has “afflicted millions of Indians & sullied a Gods name.”

“Ram the deity must hang his head in shame & watch helplessly as minor Muslim boys are whacked with chappals only because they refuse to chant his name,” she stated on Saturday.

Clarifying her stance today, Mufti drew a clear distinction between Hindutva and Hinduism, emphasising that the former is a religion promoting values of secularism, love, and compassion, similar to Islam.

She criticised Hindutva as an “ideology of hate” propagated by Veer Savarkar in the 1940s.

“There is a lot of difference between Hindutva and Hinduism. Hindutva is a philosophy of hate that Veer Savarkar spread in India in the 1940s with the aim of establishing the hegemony of Hindus, and the philosophy was that India belongs to Hindus and is for Hindus. Like Islam, Hinduism is also a religion that promotes secularism, love, and compassion. So, let’s not deliberately distort it,” she said.

Mufti further argued that the slogan “Jai Shri Ram” has been wrongly associated with violence and is being used as a tool to instigate hate, rather than representing the ideals of “Ramrajya.”

“The slogan ‘Jai Shri Ram’ is not about ‘Ramrajya,’ but it is being linked to lynching… It is very shameful that Hinduism is being distorted…I criticised Hindutva as it is an illness,” she added.

Following Mufti’s post, she drew a lot of flak, especially from the Bharatiya Janata Party.

BJP leader Ravinder Raina said that the PDP leader had used “very derogatory language” for Hinduism and demanded an apology from her.

“PDP leader has used a very derogatory language. This kind of language should not be used. There might be differences of opinion in politics but derogatory language should not be used…PDP leader Iltija Mufti should apologise for her remarks,” Raina said.

Later, Iltija Mufti made another post, wherein she stated that the “senseless violence” carried out in the name of Islam has led to ‘Islamophobia’ and a “similar situation” is happening with Hinduism.

“Much outrage over my tweet & also whataboutery about Islam. The senseless violence that’s been carried out in the name of Islam is what caused Islamophobia in the first place. Today Hinduism (not Hindutva) also finds itself in a similar situation where it’s being used & abused to lynch & persecute minorities. Let’s call spade a spade,” she stated on Sunday.

Meanwhile, in the recently concluded Jammu and Kashmir assembly Elections — first in a decade and after the abrogation of special status — Iltija Mufti failed in her aim of making a political debut after losing from South Kashmir’s Bijbehara constituency, in an election that saw her party being reduced to mere three seats.


(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Kerala minister says the govt is open to discuss new projects with Adani group, but not keen on polluting industries and privatisation of power & water

Kerala is not averse to discussing any new project with the Adani group and will do so only if there is a “win-win” situation that benefits the people of the state as well, said P Rajeev, the Minister of Law, Industries and Coir of the state. However, he added that the Kerala govt is not keen to have any big industries that will cause pollution and ecological damage.

The comments come amidst the opposition parties stalling parliament over bribery allegations made by the US govt against the Adani group.

Rajeev said Kerala has a big investment from the Adani group in the under-construction Vizhinjam Seaport, adding that that the government decided to go ahead with the project signed by the previous govt only because the benefits for the state and its people from the transhipment port project.

Notably, the Kerala government last month extended its agreement with Adani Vizhinjam Port for an additional five years, with a revised deadline for the commissioning of the port by December.

Minister Rajeev said that the state government is against giving any special incentives and wants the investors to operate on the govt’s conditions.

Replying to a question on what changes after Adani’s indictment by the US justice department, he said, “We are working with them, we are not giving that much incentives, a win-win position should be there. It should create employment opportunities, (get) more revenue to the state.”

When asked if the state govt will continue to engage with the Adani group for other projects, Rajeev said the government is open to discussions with the business group. However, he added that some areas like privatisation in electricity or water distribution will be out of such discussions.

He emphasized that while the Kerala government is collaborating with the Adani group on the Vizhinjam port project, it also opposes the group’s involvement in other ventures, such as the transfer of operations of the nearby international airport, just 15 km from the port.

He said, “We are not completely opposed to big industries; they are essential. However, they must create jobs for our people and remain environmentally friendly.” Minister Rajeev added that Kerala welcomes investments in areas like medical devices manufacturing, robotics, and spice processing.

Jammu: Authorities issue eviction notices to Rohingyas and Bangladeshis; cut water and electricity supply

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Authorities in Jammu have intensified their crackdown on Rohingya and Bangladeshi infiltrators. As per media reports, electricity and water connections of over 400 households have been cut, and eviction orders have been issued for land that was illegally occupied. The action has sparked a political row in the region, with Jammu and Kashmir National Conference leader and Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest and Tribal Affairs, Javed Rana coming out in support of the infiltrators. He has vowed to ensure a continuous water supply to the affected individuals on “humanitarian grounds”.

Water and electricity disconnections

Notably, the crackdown on illegal immigrants has been underway for several days. It has led to the disconnection of 409 water and electricity connections in Jammu city. Authorities are also conducting verification drives to identify the infiltrators. Around 14 plots of land, where these families were living, have been marked for clearance. The owners have been directed to evict the occupants at the earliest.

Legal actions against landlords

Reportedly, FIRs have been registered against 18 landlords accused of renting rooms to individuals without proper verification. Furthermore, four Rohingyas were arrested by the police during the ongoing operation. Officials have signalled that the action will continue to address security concerns tied to these infiltrators.

Political backlash and BJP support

Former minister Javed Rana voiced opposition to the measures being taken against the infiltrators. He said, “No one has the right to deprive anyone of water or electricity.” He assured that the administration would be questioned over the crackdown and promised uninterrupted water supply to the affected infiltrators.

On the other hand, BJP leaders have welcomed the action, citing national security concerns. The presence of Rohingyas and Bangladeshis in Jammu has long been a contentious issue, with reports estimating over 13,000 individuals residing in the region. BJP leaders emphasised that the crackdown is essential for safeguarding sensitive areas.

Concerns over infiltration and employment

Reports suggest that some Rohingyas have moved from Jammu to other sensitive districts, such as Rajouri and Kathua. In Kathua’s holding centre alone, over 200 Rohingyas are detained. Concerns have also been raised about their alleged involvement in local employment disputes. Earlier reports revealed that Rohingyas were being hired for sanitation work in place of local labourers, often at double the wages.

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma performs Bhumi Pujan for Palasbari-Sualkuchi Bridge over Brahmaputra in Guwahati

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Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday performed the Bhumi Pujan ceremony for a new bridge over the Brahmaputra River in Western Guwahati. The 4-lane road bridge will connect Palashbari in the south with Assam’s silk capital Sualkuchi in the north.

The event was held at Bathan Pam in Sualkuchi, and it marks the formal start of the construction of the bridge that will provide vital connectivity in the region. CM Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted, “Marking another milestone in our infrastructural journey, the 12.21 km long Palasbari-Sualkuchi Bridge will bridge the gap between the two important places and boost connectivity in the State.”

The project’s foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 14, 2023, and the estimated cost of the project is ₹ 3197.20 crore. The project is supported by the New Development Bank (NDB), which approved a $300 million loan in 2019.

The 12.21 km long bridge includes a 3.6 km long cable-stayed bridge portion, a 5.61 km approach on the Palashbari side and a 3 km approach on the Sualkuchi side including wetland approach viaducts. Two approach viaducts of 0.216 kilometres each and wetland viaducts of 0.864 kilometres are included in the approach sections.

The construction arm of Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T) has won the contract awarded by Assam’s Public Works Roads Department to build the bridge, defeating SP Singla Constructions.

The 12.21 kilometre long 4-lane extradosed Prestressed Concrete bridge will connect Palashbari on National Highway 17 to Sualkuchi via the Bongshar-Sualkuchi Road. The bridge will provide connectivity to the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport. The upcoming Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Guwahati is also located near the southern end of the bridge.

This is among the several new bridges being constructed and proposed on Brahmaputra. The 6-lane Guwahati-North Guwahati bridge is nearing completion and will be opened next year, while another bridge on Eastern Guwahati is being built as part of the Guwahati Ring Road project. A second bridge between Jogighopa and Pancharatna, India’s longest 20 km Dhubri-Phulbari bridge, and the Jorhat-Majuli bridge are under construction.

A third bridge at Saraighat in Guwahati which will be a rail-road bridge, a tunnel under Brahmaputra in central Assam, another bridge between Marigaon and Darrang districts have been approved and constructions for them will start soon, while another bridge between Sivsagar and Lakhimpur districts is under consideration.

Maharashtra Waqf Board claims the lands of 103 farmers, issues notice to farmers to vacate

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After the Waqf Boards of various states declared villages, and big hotels, and even colleges as their property, the intentions of the Waqf Board have come to the fore, and it is not ready to stop. Now, the Maharashtra Waqf Board has staked its claim on the lands of 103 farmers of Latur. It has also issued notices to the farmers who own these lands.

The aggrieved farmers say that the Waqf is now trying to usurp the lands on which they have been farming for generations. The farmers say that the Waqf Board set its eyes on about 300 acres of their land and usurped it. Notices have been issued to 103 farmers to vacate the land. A suit has been filed in the Maharashtra State Waqf Tribunal of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar about this matter.

The notice sent by the Waqf Board says that the farmers of Talegaon in Latur should vacate these lands immediately. The farmers, scared by the notice, have appealed to the government and administration for help to save their lands. The farmers say that this is their own land, the Waqf Board has no part in it. It has been almost two months since the notice was sent.

The Waqf Board says that these lands have been given to the villagers by it and now it wants these lands back. Some villagers say that they have the documents of these lands from the Nizam period. At the same time, a farmer showed the Hyderabad Gazette. He told that he has this document since the time when Bidar was a district. During that time his ancestors had bought the land.

Audacity of the Waqf Board

This is not the only case of arbitrariness of the Waqf Board. The Uttar Pradesh Waqf Board has also staked its claim on the famous Uday Pratap College (UP College) located in Varanasi. The board says that this property belongs to it. Uday Pratap College was established about 115 years ago in 1909 by Raja Uday Pratap Singh Judev of Bhinga (Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh).

Additionally, in the year 2022, the Waqf Board of Tamil Nadu staked its claim on the entire Thiruchendurai village of Hindus, calling it a Waqf property. There is a 1500-year-old temple there, but still the Waqf Board also declared it as its property. In this way, the Waqf Board has staked its claim on 369 acres of land.

In Karnataka, the Waqf Board has claimed 1200 acres (about 2000 bighas) of land as its property by calling it Shah Aminuddin Dargah’s land. After this, the Congress government of the state sent notices to the farmers asking them to vacate those lands. Later, the farmers of Honwada village in Tikota taluk of Vijayapura district complained about this to Minister MB Patil.

UP CM Yogi Adityanath, Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel, Union Minister Piyush Goyal to address World Hindu Economic Forum in Mumbai

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The World Hindu Economic Forum (WHEF) 2024 is scheduled to take place from 13th December to 15th December at the Jio World Convention Centre, BKC, Mumbai. This year’s theme is “Think in Future, for the Future”. According to the press release by WHEF, keynote speakers at the event include some of the most prominent names in the country including feature Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, and Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.

A platform for forward-thinking economic strategies

In a statement, WHEF Founder Swami Vigyananand stated that the forum aims to promote sustainable economic strategies aligned with the vision of a “Viksit Bharat 2047.” He added that this year, the forum is inspired by the Bhagavad Gita. The theme will reflect priorities from the Union Budget and aim to provide a platform for innovation and economic growth through dynamic dialogue.

The event will focus on the future of Bharat’s economy through plenary and parallel sessions on emerging sectors like Industry 4.0, renewable energy, artificial intelligence, agritech, skill development, and semiconductor manufacturing. Other topics include defence and aerospace, electric mobility, capital markets, and tourism.

A decade of connecting wealth creators

WHEF was formed in 2012. Since its inception, the forum has provided a notable platform for wealth creators. It has united financially successful individuals to share resources and mentor aspiring entrepreneurs. Around 1,000 delegates from across the globe are expected to attend this year’s edition which will offer unparalleled networking opportunities to rising entrepreneurs and businesses.

In a statement, Shri Ravikant Mishra, Secretary of the Organising Committee said, “WHEF has curated an exceptional list of speakers, including industry stalwarts such as NSE CEO Ashishkumar Chauhan, Jio Financial Services Chairman KV Kamath, Bharat Forge Vice Chairman Amit Kalyani, and Indian Dairy Association President RS Sodhi.”

New opportunities for startups

Furthermore, WHEF will debut a launchpad this year that has been designed to showcase innovative startups. Shailesh Trivedi, Joint Secretary of the Organising Committee, said in a statement, “This platform will enable startups to pitch their ideas to global investors and expand their market reach.”

Vision for a USD 10 trillion economy

The forum said in a press release that it is driven by its mission of “Creating and Sharing Surplus Wealth,” advocating for collaboration among governments, businesses, academia, and civil society to achieve a USD 10 trillion economy. The forum is aimed to turn Bharat into a prosperous and equitable society by 2047 by fostering connectivity, partnerships, and affordable capital.

Uttar Pradesh: Tabish Asghar deceives Hindu woman with fake identity of Vishal Rana, forced conversion and abortion follow

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A case of love jihad has come to light in Uttar Pradesh, linking the districts of Amroha and Noida. As per media reports, a man named Tabish Asghar posed as a Hindu named Vishal Rana to deceive a Hindu woman. Asghar, who is a resident of Naugawan Sadat in Amroha, posed as Rana to deceive the daughter of a businessman from Shahjahanpur.

The accused married the victim under Hindu rites and later pressured her to convert to Islam. Furthermore, he also forced her to abort her pregnancy and even attempted to murder her. An FIR was registered against Asghar at Gautam Buddh Nagar Sector 113 Police Station. He was arrested and sent to jail.

According to media reports, the woman is the daughter of a businessman from Shahjahanpur. She met Tabish Asghar four years ago. At that time, he introduced himself as Vishal Rana, a Rajput, from Naugawan Sadat. As time passed, he gained her trust, and their friendship soon turned into a romantic relationship.

On 22nd February 2023, Asghar, under his assumed identity, married the Hindu woman in a ceremony that followed Hindu traditions at a banquet hall in Ghaziabad. The event was attended by the family of the victim and Asghar’s brother, Wasim Akhtar, who falsely identified himself as “Vasu Rana” to support the deception.

A few days after the wedding, Asghar took the victim to Allahabad High Court under the pretext of registering a court marriage. During the process, the woman discovered the real identity of Tabish Asghar through official documents. Shocked by the revelation, the woman questioned him about his deception. However, Asghar silenced her by claiming her future would be at stake if she pursued the matter further.

Later, Asghar started to pressure her to convert to Islam. When she resisted, he forced her to undergo an abortion and threatened to kill her. The woman could not bear the coercion and returned to her parents’ house in Shahjahanpur. Tabish, however, went to the woman and apologised to her. He somehow managed to convince her to return to Noida with him, only to resume his coercive behaviour shortly after.

The situation escalated when he allegedly attempted to murder her by pushing her off a hill during an outing in Ramnagar. After that, he fled and remained untraceable for several days. The woman lodged a missing person complaint, which led the police to locate him.

An FIR was registered at Sector 113 Police Station in Gautam Buddh Nagar under several charges, including assault, forced abortion, and violations of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act. He has since been arrested and sent to jail.

Bar Council of India removes AAP legal cell head Sanjeev Nasiar as Vice Chair of Delhi chapter over alleged fake law degree, urges CBI probe

The Bar Council of India on Sunday directed the immediate removal of Advocate Sanjeev Nasiar from his position as Vice Chairman of the Bar Council of Delhi.

Additionally, the Secretary of the Bar Council has been instructed to request an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the authenticity of Nasiar’s LL.B. (Hons.) degree and possible fabrication of related records. Nasiar, who also heads the legal cell of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), faces scrutiny over these allegations.

The Bar Council of India, in its meeting held on December 7, 2024, has resolved to take immediate and decisive action in the matter concerning allegations of irregularities in the LL.B. (Hons.) Degree issued to Sanjeev Nasiar, Vice-Chairman, Bar Council of Delhi by Devi Ahilyabai Vishvavidyalaya, Indore.

This decision follows an inquiry conducted by a sub-committee constituted as per the resolution dated September 3, 2024, and in response to directions of the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi.

BCI issued a press statement stating that the inquiry has revealed significant and glaring discrepancies in the records relating to Sanjeev Nasiar’s degree. The inspection of P.M.B. Gujarati Arts and Law College, Indore, disclosed that the college was not authorized to conduct an LL.B. (Hons.) Course during the relevant period.

The academic records provided to the Sub-committee appeared tampered with or fabricated with uniform handwriting and ink consistency spanning an extended period. Additionally, it was established that the LL.B. (Hons) program was introduced under The Bar Council of India regulations only in 2008, rendering the degree in question, purportedly issued in 1988, inconsistent with regulatory requirements.

The non-cooperation and obstructive behaviour of university officials during the inquiry further cast serious doubts on the authenticity of the degree.

The Sub-Committee constituted by The Bar Council of India, has after a thorough enquiry, concluded that the authenticity of the LL.B (Hons.) Degree of Sanjeev Nasiar is highly questionable.

In accordance with its statutory authority under the Advocates Act, 1961, and the Bar Council of India Rules, the General Council of the Bar Council of India has resolved as follows.

“The report dated 25.10.2024 of the Sub-Committee regarding enquiry of the LL.B (Hons.) Degree of Mr. Sanjeev Nasiar is hereby adopted. The Secretary, Bar Council of India is directed to approach the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) with the request to hold an immediate investigation into the authenticity of the LL.B. (Hons.) Degree of Mr. Sanjeev Nasiar and potential fabrication of related records and take appropriate action.

Pending the outcome of the investigation, Sanjeev Nasiar is removed from the position of Vice Chairman, Bar Council of Delhi, said BCI statement.


(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)