INDIA

Leaders of the Muslim community strongly opposed the recent judgment by the Varanasi court, which allowed Hindu worship in the basement of the Gyanvapi mosque. Expressing deep disappointment, they raised concerns about potential judicial backsliding against principles of justice, secularism, and constitutional values. Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani, President of All India Muslim Personal Board, criticized the Varanasi court for allegedly disregarding the pleas of the Muslim community and other religious groups. He labeled the judgment as "hasty" and accused the court of overlooking evidence, facts, and the Places of Worship Act, 1991, which prohibits the conversion of any place of worship. Rahmani warned that not upholding the Places of Worship Act could lead to similar episo...

Assam's Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, on Friday said that his government will introduce a bill against polygamy in the upcoming budget session. He mentioned that the draft is currently being reviewed by the Law Department. Sarma also expressed interest in the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) legislation, keeping an eye on developments in Uttarakhand during a special assembly session starting on February 5. However, opposition parties criticized the move, calling it "diversionary" amidst ongoing discussions about the UCC. Sarma had expressed support for the UCC in July 2023 and took steps to ban polygamy. Last year, an expert committee unanimously recommended framing laws to end polygamy in Assam. Seeking public opinion marked progress towards enacting legislation on the matte...

Following the Supreme Court's decision to grant him bail, Raziuddin Nasir, the youngest son of the esteemed cleric Moulana Naseeruddin, has been released from Gujarat Sabarmati jail after spending sixteen years behind bars. His release took place on Thursday, and Nasir promptly made his way to Hyderabad, where he rejoined his family at their Saidabad residence. Notably, Nasir was one of the accused in the 2008 Ahmedabad serial bomb blasts case, and he, along with 27 others, was acquitted in February 2022. However, despite his acquittal in the blast case, he remained incarcerated due to a pending criminal case related to an alleged jailbreak attempt. The specific incident in question pertained to Nasir's purported involvement in a jailbreak attempt, and the trial for this matter...

In her parliamentary address on January 31, President Droupadi Murmu confidently declared the resolution of doubts surrounding the removal of Article 370, deeming it a historic moment. Reflecting on the past decade, she underscored the government's commitment to strengthening India's tourism sector, pilgrimage destinations, and historical sites. President Murmu highlighted strides made in tourism, attributing the sector's growth to India's elevated global standing and improved connectivity. Notably, she cited the record tourist influx in the North East, heightened interest in Andaman-Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands, and the government's emphasis on enhancing facilities at pilgrimage sites nationwide. The President delved into "diverse accomplishments", including the establishment ...

Five out of the six individuals accused in the Parliament security breach case on December 13 have come forward in a Delhi court, alleging that they were subjected to distressing tactics by the Delhi Police. According to a report from Live Law, the accused, including Manoranjan D, Sagar Sharma, Lalit Jha, Amol Shinde, and Mahesh Kumawat, claimed that they endured torture, electric shocks, and coercion during their interaction with law enforcement. Notably, two of the accused were reportedly coerced into confessing alleged connections with leaders from Opposition parties while undergoing a polygraph or narcoanalysis test. In a significant revelation, the accused detailed that all five of them were forced to sign approximately 70 blank pages by the police. Additionally, they asse...

In response to the court's decision, the Kashi Vishwanath Trust conducted rituals, including Shayan Aarti and Mangal Aarti at the Gyanvapi mosque. Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain confirmed compliance with the court's directive. Daily worship activities, such as Morning Mangla Arti, Bhog Arti, and evening arti, are now integrated into the routine. Security measures were heightened during the early Thursday puja, following preparations initiated promptly after the district court's order. The Tekhana path leading to the Vishwanath Temple opened at midnight, where idols were placed, and prayers with prasad offerings took place. Gyanvapi complex authorities will now oversee all worship rituals, and the Uttar Pradesh Police remain on high alert, patrolling and monitoring social media...

In a controversial move, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) carried out an unannounced demolition of a 600-year-old mosque, Masjid Akhonji, in Mehrauli, Delhi. As per news reports, the demolition driver was conducted at 6 am on Tuesday. The mosque's Imam, Zakir Hussain, claimed that the demolition, which included the destruction of Madrasa Bahrul Uloom and graves of revered figures, was conducted without any prior notice. Hussain also accused officials of removing debris meticulously to hide the demolition from the public and claimed that personal belongings, including phones and copies of the Holy Quran, were confiscated during the operation. Additionally, he alleged that cloth and food materials of 22 students from the Madrasa were vandalized by the authorities.

On Monday, Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Shantanu Thakur, declared that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) would be implemented nationwide within a week. Thakur, a BJP MP from Bongaon, a region predominantly inhabited by the Matua community in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, assured swift implementation of the contentious legislation during an interview with a news channel. Enacted by the BJP-led government in 2019, the CAA aims to grant Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim migrants, including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and Christians from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan who entered India before December 31, 2014. Thakur, also a leader of the Matua community, emphasized, "The CAA will be implemented very soon. I...

In a significant development, the Uttarakhand Waqf Board has unveiled plans to incorporate the study of Ramayana in its affiliated madrassas. The initiative is set to commence in four selected institutions in Dehradun, Haridwar, Nainital, and Udham Singh Nagar districts, with the aim of "fostering cultural understanding and inclusivity." The new curriculum, slated for the upcoming 2024 academic session, will be taught alongside the Quran. Waqf Board chairman Shadab Shams, while endorsing this move, highlighted the values of sacrifice and brotherhood present in both religious traditions. Notably, a dress code will be introduced in the designated madrassas, and efforts will be made to enhance educational standards by implementing smart classes. However, against this backdrop o...

A 17-year-old student named Adnan Altaf Maglu, hailing from the Baramulla district in Jammu Kashmir, was discovered dead under mysterious circumstances in his rented room in the Shahbagh locality of Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. Adnan was a Class 12 student at the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU)-run Sir Syed Hamid Senior Secondary School. Originally staying at the AMU hostel until Class 11, Adnan had to relocate to a rented accommodation due to low scores in his Class 11 exams, in accordance with AMU's hostel rules. The deceased's parents, Altaf Hussain and family, residing in Baramulla, were informed about the tragic incident, and they are expected to reach Aligarh late Monday night. Adnan's body is currently kept at the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College in Aligarh. According to AMU ...