INDIA

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti has strongly criticized the BJP for a controversial advertisement released during the ongoing assembly elections in Jharkhand, calling it “deplorably communal” and harmful to India’s secular foundations. The advertisement, which was posted on the BJP Jharkhand unit’s official X handle, was later removed following intervention from the Election Commission of India (ECI). Mehbooba accused the BJP of undermining the pluralistic ideals envisioned by leaders who joined India on the basis of its secular values. “This advertisement being deplorably communal contradicts the foundational ideals and secular fabric of the nation. Pure poison,” she said in a post on X. National Conference leader Aga Ruhullah Mehdi also compared the ad to Nazi propaganda, highli...

A recent directive by the Chhattisgarh Waqf Board requiring prior approval of sermons delivered during Friday prayers has ignited a heated debate over constitutional freedoms and religious rights. Opposition parties and community leaders have criticized the move, calling it an infringement on the right to freedom of speech and religion. The Waqf Board issued the directive, citing the need to curb inflammatory rhetoric and promote communal harmony. It mandates that sermons in mosques and other Waqf-managed properties be vetted beforehand to ensure they align with guidelines fostering peace. A senior Waqf official defended the decision, stating, “This is not interference with religious freedom but a step to maintain unity and prevent divisive messages.” The directive has faced...

In a significant development after a five-year hiatus, over 40,000 young aspirants participated in army recruitment rallies held in Poonch and Doda districts of Jammu Kashmir, officials said on Sunday. The rally in Poonch, conducted at the Advance Landing Ground in Surankote from November 8, saw more than 26,000 candidates vying for 307 vacancies for soldier general duty and 45 positions for clerks and tradesmen in the Territorial Army. Open to candidates from 31 tehsils in Jammu division, including Poonch, Rajouri, Reasi, and Jammu districts, the rally also welcomed applicants from across Jammu for clerical and tradesmen roles. Separately, a rally at Dugga near Bhalra in Doda district, which began on November 11, drew over 12,000 enthusiastic youths from Reasi, Udhampur, Doda, Ki...

In a significant advancement of its military capabilities, India successfully conducted the flight test of a long-range hypersonic missile off the coast of Odisha. This achievement places India among a select group of nations possessing such advanced military technology. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh termed the successful test a "historic moment" and a "stupendous achievement." He praised the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), armed forces, and industry partners for their contributions to this milestone. The hypersonic missile, developed by DRDO, is capable of carrying various payloads over distances exceeding 1,500 kilometers. Hypersonic missiles typically travel at speeds over five times the speed of sound (Mach 5) and are designed to evade most air defense s...

Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared on Saturday that militants no longer feel secure in their homes, a stark contrast to the earlier times when the violence of militancy made ordinary citizens feel unsafe. Addressing the HT Leadership Summit, the Prime Minister emphasized the shift in the security situation, stating, "During the past, terrorism made people in India feel unsafe, but now, the terrorists themselves feel unsafe in their homes." In his address, Modi also referenced the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, recalling the atmosphere of fear and insecurity during that time. He highlighted the "significant change" in circumstances today, where the perpetrators of violence are no longer free to operate as they once did. This statement underlined the government's claim of improv...

The Delhi High Court has granted bail to Javed Ali, accused of raising funds for the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The bench, comprising Justices Prathiba M Singh and Amit Sharma, overturned an earlier trial court decision that denied Ali bail in April, acknowledging that the trial could be prolonged, with only nine of 221 witnesses examined since his detention on November 10, 2019. Ali was arrested for allegedly arranging funds for LeT operative Sheikh Abdul Nayeem, who is charged with conspiring to carry out militant activities in India. According to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Ali’s alleged role involved transferring funds through Hawala channels from Saudi Arabia to Muzaffarnagar, UP, in 2017. These funds were reportedly intended for recr...

Welcoming the Supreme Court verdict on bulldozer actions, Amnesty International said on Wednesday that the landmark judgment must serve as a "turning point" in the "hate campaigns" against Muslims. In a statement, the international non-governmental organisation focused on human rights said the verdict should put an end to the "climate of impunity" around the "cruel and inhuman practice of punishing people by unlawfully demolishing their homes and properties". "This landmark judgment by the Supreme Court of India should put an end to the climate of impunity around the cruel and inhuman practice of punishing people by unlawfully demolishing their homes and properties," Agnes Callamard, secretary general of Amnesty International, said. "We hope this judgment will mark a turning point t...

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday accused the Waqf Board of grabbing land of temples, villagers, and others in Karnataka and asserted that it was time to make changes in the body and amend the related Act. He also claimed that no one can stop the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), which is “needed to check infiltrators,” and assured tribals that they would be kept out of its ambit. “The Waqf Board is in the habit of grabbing land. In Karnataka, it has devoured the assets of villagers… It has grabbed land parcels of temples, farmers, and villagers… Tell me whether changes are required in Waqf Board or not. Hemant Babu and Rahul Gandhi say no. I tell you let them oppose it, the BJP will pass the Bill to amend the Waqf Act. No one can stop us,” Shah said while addres...

In Karnataka, a group of nursing students from Jammu Kashmir enrolled at Government Nursing College, Holenarasipura, has voiced their frustration over college grooming policies that they feel infringe on their cultural and religious rights. The students, who are part of a special scholarship scheme, claim they were instructed by college authorities to shave or trim their beards, with warnings that failure to comply would result in being marked absent from clinical duties, Indian Express reported. "We are being forced to choose between our education and our beliefs," one student expressed, describing the policy as both "arbitrary" and "culturally insensitive." According to the students, the directive could not only affect their daily campus life but also influence their internal as...

Exposing a financial racket operating from a Jammu Kashmir post office, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case against five postal employees for swindling thousands of rupees from the savings accounts of a late senior citizen operating in Gandhi Nagar Head Post Office in Jammu. The federal agency has named as accused: Sadaf Gulzar, then Postal Assistant; Surinder Singh, then Postal Assistant; Karun Sharma, then Postal Assistant, Joginder Singh, then Postal Assistant and Amita, the Postal Assistant, and unknown others. CBI sources said a list of accused has been prepared for questioning in connection with the fraud which started with the illegal closure of three accounts of Rani Fotedar – 0783869052, 0783869025 and 0783869007 – in September last year. Foted...