New Delhi, March 18: The violence in Nagpur has drawn sharp reactions from political leaders across parties. The incident, which erupted after a protest by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal supporters, has sparked heated debates regarding its origins and motives behind it.

Shiv Sena(UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi condemned the violence, stating, “This was a planned conspiracy, executed under a well-thought-out political strategy by those who had issues with Maharashtra. This narrative, which originated in Delhi, was brought to Maharashtra and implemented. Behind this violence, there is a clear backdrop of provocation. From CM Devendra Fadnavis to his cabinet ministers, provocative statements were made.”

She further criticised the Maharashtra government, adding, “CM Devendra Fadnavis is pushing Maharashtra into underdevelopment, creating an environment where no one will want to invest in the state. Law and order have been shattered, and you are misleading and provoking the people. It is shameful that such violence took place. Nitin Gadkari himself stated that, to date, no such incident has ever occurred in Nagpur. The so-called ‘double-engine’ government they claim is actually a ‘double disaster’ government.”

Shiv Sena leader Manisha Kayande voicing her concern, said, “I strongly condemn this serious incident. Who started it and who spread the rumours, this is very dangerous and frightening.”

Congress MP Pramod Tiwari appealed for peace, stating, “I humbly appeal to the residents there that peace, harmony, and calm must be restored at all costs and I directly blame the Bharatiya Janata Party and its associated organisations, along with the state government, for fuelling the fire that was already burning.”

BJP leaders, too, weighed in on the incident, claiming it is a conspiracy.

BJP State President Chandrashekhar Bawankule described the violence as “unprecedented”, adding, “The unfortunate incident that occurred in Nagpur has never been seen before. The way this incident took place it is a clear case of conspiracy.”

BJP MLA Sanjay Upadhyay was more direct in his comments, saying, “In Nagpur, the way Hindu vehicles were set on fire, the police were attacked, and Hindus were targeted. I stand in support of every Hindu who faced atrocities. The perpetrators and those behind the conspiracy must be exposed, and actions like bulldozer operations should be taken against them.”

According to police reports, the violence erupted after VHP and Bajrang Dal supporters gathered near Shivaji Maharaj’s statue in Mahal to protest against Aurangzeb’s tomb.

During the protest, they allegedly burned a photograph of Aurangzeb and a symbolic grave wrapped in a green cloth filled with grass.

This act reportedly led to rumours that sacred verses had been set on fire, which escalated tensions.

As tensions mounted, around 80-100 individuals became aggressive, hurling stones at police officers and setting vehicles on fire. Some reports even claimed that knives were thrown at security personnel. The police responded with lathi charge and tear gas to disperse the crowd.

Authorities have since detained around 50 individuals in connection with the violence, and a heavy police force has been deployed to maintain law and order in the area.

As investigations continue, political leaders continue to weigh in, each blaming the other for the violence that has marred the peace in Nagpur.

Srinagar, March 17: A terrorist was killed on Monday and an AK-47 rifle and ammunition were recovered in an ongoing operation in J&K’s Kupwara district, officials said.

The exact identity and affiliation of the slain terrorist are being ascertained.

An encounter broke out between security forces and hiding terrorists in Kupwara earlier in the day.

Officials said that following intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists in the Krumbhoora (Zachaldara) village in the Rajwar area of the district, security forces started a CASO (Cordon and Search Operation).

“As the security forces closed on the hiding terrorists, they fired at the surrounding security forces triggering an encounter. Two to three terrorists are reportedly holed up inside the cordoned-off area. All the exit points of the terrorists are being plugged,” an official said.

A joint team of the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Special Operations Group (SOG) has launched a coordinated operation to eliminate the threat. Authorities have sealed off the area and additional reinforcements have been deployed to ensure a successful operation.

Civilians in the area have been advised to stay indoors and avoid movement near the encounter site for their safety.

Terrorists, under the orders of their handlers sitting across the border in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), have stepped up their activities. Intelligence agencies believe that the peaceful, people-participative Lok Sabha and Legislative Assembly elections in 2024 have frustrated terror handlers in Pakistan. Recently, terrorists killed three innocent civilians in the Kathua district, including a 14-year-old boy.

The bodies of two civilians out of three who went missing from the Qazigund area of the Kulgam district on February 14 have been recovered.

These civilians, belonging to the Rajouri district of the Jammu division, were working as labourers in the Valley to earn their livelihood.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has chaired three security review meetings on J&K since the beginning of 2025.

He has given clear orders to the security forces to ensure zero infiltration and zero tolerance for terrorists and their sympathisers in the Union Territory.

Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha has also chaired two back-to-back security review meetings, one in Srinagar and the other in Jammu, directing police and security forces to dismantle the entire ecosystem of terror sustained by terrorists, their overground workers (OGWs), and sympathisers.

He said that funds generated from drug smuggling, drug trafficking and hawala rackets are ultimately used to sustain terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, and the war against terror cannot be fought in isolation unless its support channels dry up.

New Delhi, March 17: As the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) intensified its protest against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Jagdambika Pal, Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), on Monday slammed the Muslim body for its warning of a “Shaheen Bagh-like protest,” calling it an attempt to divide people.

AIMPLB staged another demonstration at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, alleging that the government is conspiring to seize Waqf properties. The protest saw participation from eleven opposition parties, including the Congress. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and Congress leader Salman Khurshid also participated in the protest.

However, AIMPLB’s approach has drawn criticism from within the community as well, with Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi accusing the board of being hijacked by political interests rather than focusing on real Muslim issues.

Reacting to AIMPLB’s stance, Pal told media, “They have been opposing this bill from the very beginning. Despite this, we invited the All India Muslim Personal Law Board to present their views before the Joint Parliamentary Committee. Owaisi Sahab was also a member. We listened to everyone for 3-4 hours and recorded the opinions of every stakeholder from different states.”

Earlier, AIMPLB member Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas had warned, “If the bill is implemented, the entire country will witness a protest like Shaheen Bagh.”

Notably, Ilyas is the father of former JNU scholar and student activist Umar Khalid, who has been behind bars since September 2020 under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) in the “larger conspiracy” case related to the 2020 North-East Delhi riots.

Slamming such remarks, Pal asserted that the JPC report was prepared after extensive consultations.

“We considered every stakeholder’s viewpoint before drafting the report. This law aims to protect Waqf properties from individuals who misuse them and prevent the benefits from reaching poor Muslims, women, and widows. The bill hasn’t even been passed yet, and they are already calling for a Shaheen Bagh-like situation. This is a well-planned attempt to divide people, just like during the Article 370 and Triple Talaq debates,” he said.

Pal pointed to the positive impact of past government decisions, stating, “Today, Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing a tourism boom and economic prosperity. Similarly, the abolition of Triple Talaq has given minority women a new sense of security, and they are thankful to PM Modi for this historic decision.”

Defending the democratic process behind the bill, he added, “In a democracy, the power to make laws lies with the elected representatives of the people. The government introduced this bill and had the majority to pass it directly in Parliament.”

“However, instead of rushing it, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju proposed referring it to a Joint Parliamentary Committee. This was done to ensure that Muslim organisations across the country, including those now protesting, were heard, and a fair and balanced law was created.”

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, seeks to introduce reforms such as digitization, enhanced audits, transparency, and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied properties.

While the government argues that it aims to protect Waqf assets and benefit the underprivileged, the opposition and AIMPLB remain firm in their resistance, setting the stage for further confrontations over the bill.