INDIA

Delhi Police has initiated an investigation into an incident where 'Free Kashmir' graffiti was discovered on a wall in the Dwarka area, as per reports by news agency IANS. The graffiti was found painted on the wall of a park under the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) in Sector-13 of Dwarka on Monday evening. A senior police official stated, "An FIR has been lodged at Dwarka North police station under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Defacement of Property Act." The official also mentioned that a dedicated police team is reviewing CCTV footage from the area to identify the perpetrators and apprehend them.

Days after Narendra Modi took oath for the third time as Prime Minister of India, ideological fault lines within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) are becoming increasingly visible. The coalition, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is facing challenges from within as its alliance partners advocate for Muslim reservation, opposed fervently by Modi-led government during the past two terms. Days after Telugu Desam Party's (TDP), now an important pillar of BJP-led NDA government, reiterated its promise to grant 4  per cent reservation to Muslims in Andhra Pradesh, National Congress Party led by Ajit Pawar (NCP) sought a reservation for Muslims in the state of Maharashtra. NCP has voiced a fervent call for political reservation for Muslims, as reported by Deccan Herald. S...

Mohammed Umar Qureshi, a Muslim street vendor, was reportedly assaulted by a group allegedly affiliated with Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal in Himachal Pradesh’s Banganga. Qureshi recounted that individuals from the Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) attacked him, robbed him of his money, and coerced him into chanting "Jai Shri Ram." Originating from Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, Qureshi, who was engaged in street vending, detailed his harrowing experience in a video that circulated widely on social media. During the assault, Qureshi claimed that the attackers declared, "Now our government (Bharatiya Janata Party) has come to power. Muslims would no longer be allowed to exist." He alleged that despite his plea for help, the police did not interve...

For the first time since India’s independence, the Union cabinet has no Muslim representation, reflecting a significant change in the political landscape. The 200 million-strong Muslim community is unrepresented in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet. On June 9, at 7:15 pm, Narendra Modi took the oath as India’s 15th Prime Minister, marking his third consecutive term, a milestone not seen since Jawaharlal Nehru's tenure. Notably, none of the 71 ministers sworn in with him are from the Muslim community, marking a shift in the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) approach to minority representation. In the recent elections, the BJP fielded only one Muslim candidate in Mallapuram, who lost. The last Muslim MP in Modi’s cabinet was Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, who did not secure re-election t...

KC Tyagi, the National Spokesperson for the Janata Dal (United) (JDU), made a resolute declaration that his party, as part of the incoming National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, would staunchly oppose any form of anti-Muslim or anti-minority campaigns. This assertion comes in response to mounting apprehensions regarding the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) rhetoric during the recent Lok Sabha elections, particularly Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s contentious remarks targeting Muslims, which had sparked widespread criticism. Tyagi emphasized the JDU’s credibility among Muslims and pledged to prevent any divisive actions against minority communities under the new administration. Drawing attention to the JDU’s significant support in Muslim-majority areas, Tyagi pointed to Kisha...

In a tragic incident, two Muslim men, identified as Chand Miya and Guddu Khan, were beaten to death by cow vigilantes in the early hours of Friday. The victims were transporting buffaloes in a truck when they were intercepted and attacked by the vigilantes. The bodies of the deceased were later discovered in the Mahanadi River. This incident has raised serious concerns about the violence associated with cow protection groups in the country. Initial reports indicate that the incident occurred while Chand Miya and Guddu Khan were transporting buffaloes, which is a legally permissible activity. They were stopped by a group of cow vigilantes who accused them of illegally transporting cattle. The situation escalated, leading to the fatal assault on the two men. Local authorities have i...

The Press Club of India (PCI) has issued a strong condemnation in response to the filing of a First Information Report (FIR) against journalists from The Caravan, under serious sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) including sections 354 and 153(A), at the Bhajanpura Police Station in North East Delhi. In August 2020, journalists Shahid Tantray, Prabhjit Singh, and a female journalist from The Caravan were reporting in the North Ghonda neighborhood of northeast Delhi when they were attacked. The journalists were subjected to communal slurs, death threats, and sexual harassment while taking photographs of saffron flags in the area. According to The Caravan, the attackers included a man who identified himself as a ‘BJP general secretary.’ The journalists promptly reported the incident a...

Dhirendra Raghav, a young Hindu man, was arrested after a video surfaced showing him wearing a skullcap and pretending to be a Muslim while verbally attacking Hindu voters. In the controversial video, Raghav identifies himself as a Muslim and criticizes Hindus in Ayodhya, calling them “two-faced.” He suggests that if Rahul Gandhi had come to power, he would have provided reservations for Muslims. Raghav is heard saying, “If a leader had built a mosque for us, we would vote for him for the rest of our lives, but you did not vote for Modi despite him having done everything for you.” The video was released shortly after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) suffered a defeat in Ayodhya. This incident comes just months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Ram Temple at the...

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha kicked off the two-day annual Youth Festival "SPECTRUM-24" at the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) campus in Ompora, Budgam. In his opening remarks, Lt Governor Sinha praised NIFT Srinagar for creating platforms that allow students from educational institutions across the Kashmir Valley to showcase their talents in the performing arts, sports, fashion, and literary events. "Our young generation is the cornerstone of J&K's prosperous future. They are our greatest asset, dedicated to elevating the Union Territory to new heights," stated the Lt Governor. He emphasized that the festival provides an invaluable opportunity for youth to exchange innovative and creative ideas, promoting the region's rich cultural and artistic heritage. ...

To ensure the smooth conduct of the annual Amarnath Ji Yatra (SANJY) 2024, officials in Jammu and Kashmir are making extensive arrangements. The Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Ganderbal, Shyambir, chaired a meeting at the Transit Camp in Manigam to review the preparations. During the meeting, the Labour Commissioner of J&K, Charandeep Singh, visited a special mega camp in Sonmarg to oversee the registration process for service providers such as Ponywalas, Palkiwalas, and Dandiwalas. Accompanied by the Assistant Labour Commissioner of Ganderbal and other officials, Singh announced that all service providers would be registered by June 15, with comprehensive measures in place to facilitate the process. “We have pony, palanquin, and dandi providers here. Their details have been gathere...