Meeting with Modi: Muslim delegates shocked as Centre twists story

April 18, 2016

New Delhi, Apr 18: A government press release, dated April 13, announcing that “eminent Muslim citizens” had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to congratulate him on “his recent successful visit to Saudi Arabia”, has provoked strong reactions from some members of the delegation, who have disputed the public relations spin given to the interaction.

modi

Expressing unhappiness at the manner in which the note put out by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) was worded, journalist Qurban Ali said, “We were invited to discuss the trust deficit between the Muslim community and the government, and what could be done to end this.”

Editor of Nai Duniya and former MP Shahid Siddiqui, who was also present on the occasion, also confirmed this: “I was told that we would discuss the economic and educational backwardness of Muslims … I made concrete suggestions for the community's uplift and pointed out that the benefits of many government schemes for minorities are not reaching them.”

Only a few persons, including Dr. M.J. Khan, who led the delegation, and Shia cleric Kalbe Jawad from Lucknow, expressed their appreciation of the measures taken by Mr. Modi to improve relations with the Muslim world, members of the delegation said.

The PIB note says: “They [the delegation members] said people in West Asia, Central Asia and North Africa, especially the youth, are extremely impressed with the development agenda of Shri Narendra Modi, and want good relations with India.”

West Asia expert Qamar Agha said he spoke both on the positive impact of the Prime Minister's West Asia policy as well as on the need to focus on education for Muslims and post-education skilling programmes: “I said we need to open schools in Muslim-dominated areas which children of all communities can attend.”

Rajnath initiative

Dr. Khan, who was originally general secretary of the Uttar Pradesh-based Peace Party, had joined the BJP in end-2013. Today, he says, he is not, strictly speaking, with the BJP and prefers to be described as the National Convenor of Indian Muslims Research and Coordination Centre, but remains close to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Wednesday's meeting took place on the suggestion of Mr. Singh.

Boosting ties

“I led the delegation,” Dr. Khan said, “after discussions with the Home Minister. At the meeting with the Prime Minister, we spoke of strengthening relations with the Muslim world as that would improve Hindu-Muslim relations at home. We expressed our elation at his being conferred Saudi Arabia's highest civilian honour, the King Abdulaziz Sash.”

But he stressed that the delegation also used the occasion to bring to the Prime Minister's notice many concerns of the Muslim community, relating both to secular and religious matters, that are part of a seven-point formula that was earlier given to Mr. Singh.

The issues raised included the ongoing controversy over retaining the Aligarh Muslim University's minority character and the need for a review committee to look at cases of innocent Muslim youths, who have been jailed on false charges.

The Prime Minister, several delegation members said, was forthcoming on welfare issues relating to Muslims, but was silent on controversial matters such as AMU.

Seeks representation

Kalbe Jawad also urged the Prime Minister to visit Iran, a Shia nation, to “balance” his visit to Saudi Arabia. The PM said he would be going to that country soon. The Maulana also stressed that Shias should be better represented in government bodies and communities.

Kalbe Jawad's meeting with the Prime Minister comes days after the passport office in Lucknow directed him to surrender his passport as two criminal cases are pending against him. He has been accused of “rioting with deadly weapon, undermining public order, and deterring public servant from discharging duties among others.”

Comments

shaji
 - 
Wednesday, 20 Apr 2016

It is a shame to name sake muslims (munafiqs) who trust Modi and BJP who have no agenda other than cheating muslims. the so called pro bjp muslims are being paid for telling in favoer of mOdi and bjp. Shame on you hypocrites. Go to hell. May Allah punish you in this world and also in the life after death unless you repent.

Rikaz
 - 
Monday, 18 Apr 2016

Don't be surprised lying is not new for Modi, he has started from 15 Lakhs rupees for each household...did anyone get this amount....gasoline price is sky rocketing even though crude price came down to 30 USD...promised during election he will reduce it....did you see it happening....

KhasaiKhaane
 - 
Monday, 18 Apr 2016

When Muslim leaders become hypocrites, visiting a murderer PM seeking his assistance, you people deserve such disgrace. Just wait and watch, there is more humiliation for you muslim leaders if you continue to do this. #MoNa has failed to deliver Ache din to his own people, and you guyz are expecting wonders for you?

Kushwant Bhat
 - 
Monday, 18 Apr 2016

Now you Buffoons understand what is what you thought Running dog having have some madness to unite all in Hindustan that's why these dogs started running last 60 odd years!!!!! you fools not yet understand, what's inside in his and his followers heart completely wrong thinking, now Master Khan sabb understand what is it inside, any Way \Every Dog has its own Day\" maharajas do not dream Modianna and his cheals have their own agenda you feel where it stand.
Jai hoo Hindustan.
Jai hoo bharath matha."

SK
 - 
Monday, 18 Apr 2016

It is good that Kalbe Jawed is asked to surrender his passport, as he is always speaking about shias and not for Muslims..... Such Moulanas should be booted /kicked out.....

ali
 - 
Monday, 18 Apr 2016

Modi visited K.S.A as an representative of Ambani not as an P.M of India.

Chaiwala chai dene keliye gaya tha. Desh keliye nahin.

Abdullah
 - 
Monday, 18 Apr 2016

Lie and cheating is in their blood.

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July 1,2020

Mangaluru, Jul 1: Sudarshan Moodbidri, president of Dakshina Kannada district unit of Bharatiya Janata Party escaped unhurt after the car in which he was travelling met with an accident today on the outskirts of the city. 

The car’s front portion was completely damaged in the accident. It is not yet known who was driving the car. Sources said that Sudarshan did not suffer any injury. 

The mishap occurred when the driver lost control while trying to avoid hitting a pedestrian at Mijar near Moodbidri. The car collided with an oncoming vehicle before it veered off the road and entered the roadside sludge.

Sleuths from Moodbidri station police visited the spot as part of investigation.

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News Network
April 29,2020

Washington, Apr 29: A US government panel on Tuesday called for India to be put on a religious freedom blacklist over a "drastic" downturn under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, triggering a sharp rebuttal from New Delhi.

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom recommends but does not set policy, and there is virtually no chance the State Department will follow its lead on India, an increasingly close US ally.

In an annual report, the bipartisan panel narrowly agreed that India should join the ranks of "countries of particular concern" that would be subject to sanctions if they do not improve their records.

"In 2019, religious freedom conditions in India experienced a drastic turn downward, with religious minorities under increasing assault," the report said.

It called on the United States to impose punitive measures, including visa bans, on Indian officials believed responsible and grant funding to civil society groups that monitor hate speech.

The commission said that Modi's Hindu nationalist government, which won a convincing election victory last year, "allowed violence against minorities and their houses of worship to continue with impunity, and also engaged in and tolerated hate speech and incitement to violence."

It pointed to comments by Home Minister Amit Shah, who notoriously referred to mostly Muslim migrants as "termites," and to a citizenship law that has triggered nationwide protests.

It also highlighted the revocation of the autonomy of Kashmir, which was India's only Muslim-majority state, and allegations that Delhi police turned a blind eye to mobs who attacked Muslim neighborhoods in February this year.

Coronavirus state-wise India update: Total number of confirmed cases, deaths on April 29

The Indian government, long irritated by the commission's comments, quickly rejected the report.

"Its biased and tendentious comments against India are not new. But on this occasion, its misrepresentation has reached new levels," foreign ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava said.

"We regard it as an organization of particular concern and will treat it accordingly," he said in a statement.

The State Department designates nine "countries of particular concern" on religious freedom -- China, Eritrea, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

The commission asked that all nine countries remain on the list. In addition to India, it sought the inclusion of four more -- Nigeria, Russia, Syria and Vietnam.

Pakistan, India's historic rival, was added by the State Department in 2018 after years of appeals by the commission.

In its latest report, the commission said that Pakistan "continued to trend negatively," voicing alarm at forced conversions of Hindus and other minorities, abuse of blasphemy prosecutions and a ban on the Ahmadi sect calling itself Muslim.

India's citizenship law fast-tracks naturalization for minorities from neighbouring countries -- but not if they are Muslim.

Modi's government says it is not targeting Muslims but rather providing refuge to persecuted people and should be commended.

But critics consider it a watershed move by Modi to define the world's largest democracy as a Hindu nation and chip away at independent India's founding principle of secularism.

Tony Perkins, the commission's chair, called the law a "tipping point" and voiced concern about a registry in the northeastern state of Assam, under which 1.9 million people failed to produce documentation to prove that they were Indian citizens before 1971 when mostly Muslim migrants flowed in during Bangladesh's bloody war of independence.

"The intentions of the national leaders are to bring this about throughout the entire country," Perkins told an online news conference.

"You could potentially have 100 million people, mostly Muslims, left stateless because of their religion. That would be, obviously, an international issue," said Perkins, a Christian activist known for his opposition to gay rights who is close to President Donald Trump's administration.

Three of the nine commissioners dissented -- including another prominent Christian conservative, Gary Bauer, who voiced alarm about India's direction but said the ally could not be likened to non-democracies such as China.

"I am deeply concerned that this public denunciation risks exactly the opposite outcome than the one we all desire," Bauer said.

Trump, who called for a ban on Muslim immigration to the US when he ran for president, hailed Modi on a February visit to New Delhi.

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News Network
July 15,2020

Bengaluru, Jul 15: Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President D K Shivakumar on Tuesday alleged Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa led state government of corruption and said it had not spared even beds and pillows meant for COVID-19 patients to make "corrupt" money.

Taking to microblogging site Twitter, Congress leader said BJP government will be exposed in the coming days.

"It is nauseating that @BSYBJP govt has not even spared the beds and pillows meant for CoVid patients to make corrupt money from. There are many such scams involving ministers. Evidences about them will be placed before people and the BJP Govt will be exposed in the coming days," he tweeted.

Cabinet minister Jagadish Shettar on Monday announced a complete lockdown in Karnataka's Dharwad area from 10 am on July 15 to 8 pm on July 24 in a bid to control the rising number of COVID-19 cases.

According to the State's health department, Karnataka has a total of 41,581 positive cases so far, including 24,572 active cases and 16,248 recoveries.

So far, 757 people have lost their lives to coronavirus in the State.

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