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Ahead of Prophet Mohammad’s birthday, Mumbai masjids woo non-Muslims

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Barely a fortnight before Prophet Mohammad’s birthday on October 9 celebrated worldwide as Eid-e-Milad, several Muslim groups in Mumbai have united for a unique initiative to enlighten non-Muslims on the Prophet’s teaching and preaching and remove misgivings about Islam.

Titled ‘Prophet For All Campaign’, the initiative will see the participation of various masjids, madrassas, Muslim-run schools or colleges, NGOs, social and cultural organisations and other entities.

“This is not intended to be an evangelical exercise. We are only keen to carry the Prophet’s message of love, peace and brotherhood to all our non-Muslim brethren – Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Parsis, Jains, Buddhists, etc – for a better understanding of Islam and its followers,” the Campaign torchbearer Adv. Yusuf Abrahani, who is also the Islam Gymkhana President, told IANS.

Besides the Prophet’s message for humanity, it will also dwell on environment, conserving water, compassion for the poor, destitutes, orphans, workers or women along with certain activities conducted specially for non-Muslim audiences, he added.

President of the Association of Muslim Professionals (AMP), Aamir Edresy said that there are around 500 registered masjids in Mumbai, nearly 400 schools and 20 colleges run by various Muslim trusts who are also being roped into the Campaign.

“We are sending appeals through the students to their families to participate in the campaign, invite at least five locals or neighbours to their homes for a meal on Oct. 9, and try to convey the Prophet’s message, with similar pleas even on social media,” Edresy informed IANS.

The PFAC will put up banners of the Prophet’s teaching which have universal appeal at major railway stations, bus stands, outside mosques or other public places, to make the maximum number of masses aware, on October 8.

On October 9, a special amushaira’ shall be held at the Islam Gymkhana featuring non-Muslim poets who have written on the Prophet with the audience comprising invitees from different communities, added Abrahani.

Explaining the principle behind the PFAC, the duo said that in recent times, certain misconceptions about Islam and Muslims have been created which have caused immense distress to the law-abiding and peaceful minority community in the country.

The PFAC hopes to dispel such wrong notions among the masses, make them aware of the true beauty of Islam, its philosophy of universal peace, brotherhood, love and concern for all people irrespective of their faith, etc, they said.

Abrahani recalled how many Muslims had fought for India’s Freedom, many had contributed in different ways to Mahatma Gandhi’s struggle for Independence, and Muslims have always remained at the forefront of various wars to protect their Motherland.

“Even during the recent Coronavirus pandemic for two years, hundreds of mosques in Mumbai and other parts of the state, besides individuals took care of lakhs of ordinary folks, threw the doors open for the migrants, the poor and needy, with meals, and a safe place to rest and refresha,” added Edresy.

The next goal is to have regular meal services for the deprived sections of society in all mosques, like the Sikh community, all mosques to remain open round-the-clock for people without any restrictions, offering other social-cultural services to the nearby communities, competitions, health initiatives, and more, as the budgets of the masjid trusts would permit.

Other members like Saeed Khan, Wamir Idrisi, Farooq Syed have urged Muslims to visit orphanages, destitute homes, old age institutions, blind persons or even hospitals on October 9 to distribute food, fruits or items of daily necessities to the needy, as propounded by the Prophet.

“On the Prophet’s birthday, various organisations, NGOs, mosques, and others hope to offer celebratory meals to around 300,000 non-Muslims across Mumbai. We shall continue this campaign on a long-term basis,” said Abrahani.

Meanwhile, starting the main PFAC activities, groups of mediapersons (non-Muslim), IAS-IPS officers, police personnel, lawyers, civic workers, politicians, film celebs, cricketers, industrialists, and leading social personalities shall be invited in batches at a series of events culminating with the Prophet’s birthday.

The PFAC organisers are hopeful that this will help curb the venom spewed against Islam and its followers in India by a miniscule number of amisguided individuals’ and help strengthen the existing bonds of Muslims with all other communities.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai: 3 Feared Dead After Ferry Travelling From Gateway Of India To Elephanta Island Capsizes

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December 18, 2024

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Mumbai: In a shocking incident, a ferry which was travelling from Mumbai’s Gateway of India to Elephanta Island started sinking in the Arabian Sea on Wednesday. There are reports that around 30 passengers onboard the ferry when the incident occurred. Rescue operation is being carried and the passengers are being taken out from the sinking boat.

As per reports, the boat named Neelkamal was traveling with 30 to 35 passengers onboard. Currently, a rescue operation is underway by the defense forces. Neelkamal ferry boat was hit by the Pilot vessel at stern which led to the capsize of the boat. The incident occurred near Uran, Kunja.

As per reports, another speed boat which is said to be a patrolling boat collided with the ferry from behind due to which the ferry capsized. The collision led to the boat overturning, with around 50 passengers onboard. Rescue operations were immediately launched in coordination with the Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine Police.

A total of 15 boats have been deployed in the area, including 11 Navy boats, 3 Marine Police boats, and 1 Coast Guard boat. Additionally, four helicopters are actively conducting search and rescue (SAR) missions to locate and assist survivors. So far, 66 people have been rescued from the waters. Unfortunately, three casualties have been confirmed, with their bodies recovered. The exact number of missing persons and potential casualties remains uncertain as the rescue efforts continue.

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Maharashtra

Maha Congress: BJP trying to ‘murder’ Indian democratic system through EVMs, ONOE

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December 17, 2024

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Nagpur (Maharashtra), Dec 17: Continuing to take potshots at the government, Maharashtra Congress President Nana F. Patole claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA is attempting to ‘murder’ the Indian democratic system through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), here on Tuesday.

Speaking to the media, Patole said that the EVMs used in the Lok Sabha elections were not utilised for the Maharashtra Assembly elections, for which EVMs were allegedly brought here from Gujarat.

“There is a gross misuse of EVMs. BJP members are sitting on the board of directors of the companies manufacturing EVMs. The EVMs deployed during the Lok Sabha polls were not used for the state Assembly polls and for this, the EVMs were sent from Gujarat,” contended Patole.

He again slammed the Election Commission of India (ECI) for “failing to exercise its constitutional powers” and alleged that all its operations are conducted at the behest of the BJP, “thus revealing their (ECI’s) mindset” – though the government and ECI have rubbished all anti-EVM allegations.

Taking a swipe at the One Nation-One Election, Patole added that the BJP-RSS’ machinations to end the country’s democracy are evident by the ‘One Nation, No Election’ bill brought before Parliament on Tuesday.

Earlier, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) legislators continued their strong protests for the second day against EVMs, the plight of farmers, the custodial death of a Parbhani Dalit man Somnath Vyankat Suryawanshi in judicial custody, and the killing of a Beed Sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh.

The MVA legislators of Congress-Shiv Sena (UBT)-Nationalist Congress Party (SP) raised slogans and carried placards condemning the MahaYuti government, targeted the police for alleged atrocities in Parbhani and protecting the culprits in the Beed case, plus sought action against the officials concerned in both matters.

Amid the growing clamour from the Opposition, the Speaker said that the Parbhani matter would be taken up for discussion on Wednesday by the Assembly.

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Maharashtra

Rare bonhomie on display between Uddhav Thackeray and Devendra Fadnavis

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1 day ago

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December 17, 2024

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Nagpur, Dec 17: After a bitter fight and war of words during the recently held Assembly election, Shiv Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Vidahan Bhavan and congratulated him for MahaYuti’s victory.

Thackeray, who was accompanied by his son and former minister Aaditya Thackeray and party legislators, spent a few minutes in the CM’s chamber and gave him a bouquet wishing him his successful tenure. Both exchanged their views in a lighter atmosphere. A rare bonhomie between Thackeray and Fadnavis was on display.

“I wished Fadnavis for taking over as the chief minister and also congratulated him for MahaYuti’s victory in the state Assembly. There is a rich tradition in Maharashtra for a healthy dialogue between the ruling and opposition party leaders. I also wished him under his chief ministership Maharashtra will further progress,” said Thackeray.

Thackeray also met the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar and congratulated for his election as the Speaker.

The Shiv Sena-UBT chief has clarified that there was nothing political about his meeting with the chief minister.

Ahead of the Assembly election, Thackeray had slammed Fadnavis, likening him to an “insignificant dhekun (bed bug)” and stressing on the need “to get rid of it”. In another public meeting, Uddhav called him “tarbuz (watermelon)” that “should be dumped in potholes”.

Fadnavis hit back saying that something had affected Uddhav Thackeray’s health and he should get well soon.

Thackeray had recently targeted Fadnavis saying “Either you will remain, or I will.” However, after taking over the CM’s charge on December 5, Fadnavis downplayed Thackeray’s statement and said, “Both are in politics.”

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