Connect with us
Wednesday,29-July-2026
Breaking News

National News

Digvijaya Singh seeks immediate release of Umar Khalid, accuses BJP-RSS of conspiracy against Muslims

Published

on

Bhopal, Nov 3: Senior Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh has sparked a major political storm by declaring Umar Khalid, the former JNU PhD scholar jailed in the 2020 Delhi riots case, “completely innocent” and a victim of “grave injustice”.

In a controversial Facebook post that has gone viral, Singh demanded Khalid’s immediate release, describing him as a brilliant academic rather than a “traitor”.

He wrote the post while sharing an article titled “Ek Itihaskar Ki Bat’ published about research in which Khalid was engaged.

The Congress leader reposted the article.

Another post, ending with “Jai Siya Ram”, has intensified debates on judicial fairness, minority rights, and alleged political vendettas.

With this post, the former chief minister has also shared some news for reference that those who recently wrote “I Love Mohammad’ on a temple wall in Aligarh have been apprehended, and all of them are Hindus.

Singh’s post reads: “Umar Khalid is innocent and is facing a grave injustice. He is a PhD scholar and not a traitor by any standards. He should be released immediately.”

In another post he has written, “The BJP and RSS hatch this conspiracy to falsely implicate Muslims. Jai Siya Ram.”

The statement comes amid ongoing Supreme Court hearings on Khalid’s bail plea, where he has been incarcerated for over five years under the stringent UAPA.

Khalid, accused in the larger conspiracy behind the north-east Delhi riots that claimed 53 lives, has seen multiple bail rejections.

His lawyers argue prolonged detention violates the principle that “bail is the rule, jail the exception”, especially for undertrials.

The BJP swiftly condemned Singh, labelling his defence as “anti-national” and proof of Congress’ sympathy for “riot masterminds”.

The Congress veteran, a vocal critic of the RSS, has previously compared its targeting of Muslims to Hitler’s persecution of Jews, calling India an “open-air prison” for minorities under draconian laws like UAPA.

Supporters hail his post as a bold stand against “institutional bias”, where bail is routinely denied to Muslim accused while others walk free.

Critics, however, see it as vote-bank politics, especially with Singh’s history of defending activists in Bhima Koregaon and anti-CAA cases.

With SC hearings resuming, Singh’s words could influence public discourse on liberty versus security.

National News

‘No minister can issue such orders’: Jitendra Singh rejects Rahul’s claims of Amit Shah ordering firing on protesting students

Published

on

New Delhi, July 29: Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Wednesday criticised Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, for his remarks about Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a discussion in the House, alleging that he spoke without verifying facts and lacked basic knowledge of administrative procedures.

Speaking during the debate on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, Jitendra Singh said: “First of all, it is disappointing to see the conduct of the Opposition when such an important Bill is being discussed. This legislation has been brought with great sensitivity and reflects the commitment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi towards ensuring fairness in public examinations. Instead of participating in a constructive discussion or offering suggestions, the Opposition is trying to politicise the issue.”

The Union Minister also expressed surprise over Gandhi’s conduct in Parliament.

“I am surprised by the behaviour of the Leader of the Opposition. The kind of language he used in Parliament was inappropriate. Such expressions should not be used in the House. If any Member of Parliament wishes to describe himself in a certain manner, that is a matter for outside Parliament, but such language has no place here,” he said.

Singh further said that Gandhi appeared unaware of parliamentary norms despite holding a position of responsibility.

“The office of the Leader of the Opposition carries great respect. It is surprising that he does not seem to know the basic norms of Parliament. If he claims that his remarks were not directed at any individual, then one wonders whether he was referring to the students. If students are being described in such terms, then nothing could be more unfortunate,” he said.

Referring to Gandhi’s allegations against Amit Shah, Singh said, “When Rahul Gandhi claims that Amit Shah ordered action against students, he has failed to provide any evidence to support the allegation. For basic information, no minister can issue such orders. Such decisions are taken by a magistrate, District Magistrate (DM), or Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM). This is basic administrative knowledge, and it appears he lacks even this understanding.”

He further rejected Gandhi’s other claims.

“There was no firing; only tear gas was used. He also claimed that the Home Minister travels with 30 vehicles, which suggests he may be mistaken even in his calculations. He further alleged that the Home Minister was abroad, but there is no evidence to support that claim. Amit Shah has not gone abroad. Making statements without facts or evidence is not the conduct expected from the Leader of the Opposition,” Singh said.

Continue Reading

National News

Mumbai: Woman, 21-year-old biker killed in high-speed collision on Mahim Causeway

Published

on

New Delhi, July 29: A 50-year-old woman and a 21-year-old motorcyclist were killed after a speeding motorcycle hit the woman while she was crossing the road on Mumbai Mahim Causeway on Tuesday night, police said.

According to Mahim Police, the accident occurred at around 9:20 p.m. on General Arun Kumar Vaidya Marg near Mahim Causeway. The deceased have been identified as Mangala Tandel (50) and Dhruv Manoj Gurav (21), both residents of Mahim.

Police said Mangala Tandel was crossing the road along with her two daughters to visit a relative who lived on the opposite side when a speeding KTM motorcycle allegedly struck her. The impact left both Tandel and the rider critically injured.

Mangala’s husband, Ashok Tandel, who works with Bank of Baroda, told police that he was at home when he heard a loud crash. Rushing outside, he found his wife and the motorcycle rider lying seriously injured on the road, with the KTM motorcycle at the scene.

With the help of local residents, Mangala was rushed to Raheja Hospital, where doctors declared her dead on arrival.

Meanwhile, the injured rider, identified as Dhruv Gurav, was initially taken to Bhabha Hospital before being shifted to Raheja Hospital for further treatment. He later succumbed to his injuries during treatment, police said.

Mahim Police said they are awaiting the rider’s blood sample report to determine whether he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident.

Based on a complaint filed by Ashok Tandel, Mahim Police have registered a case against Dhruv Manoj Gurav under Sections 106(1) and 281 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and relevant provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Police alleged that Gurav was riding the motorcycle in a rash and negligent manner at high speed, leading to the fatal collision.

Continue Reading

Crime

Hyderabad Police officer suspended on allegation of sexually exploiting woman

Published

on

Hyderabad, July 29: Station House Officer (SHO) of Jubilee Hills Police Station in Hyderabad has been suspended following allegations of sexually exploiting a woman and blackmailing and threatening her.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar issued orders suspending Station House Officer U. Srinivasulu Reddy. An announcement to this effect was made late on Tuesday night.

Following the allegations by a 31-year-old woman from Sangareddy district, the officer was sent to the Vacancy Reserve. After the preliminary investigation, the Commissioner ordered his suspension, pending a departmental inquiry.

The woman had complained to the Director General of Police (DGP) C.V. Anand that Srinivasulu sexually assaulted her, forced her to undergo an abortion and threatened her. She also accused him of physically assaulting her.

She alleged that the SHO was blackmailing her by threatening to post her personal videos and demanding that she pay Rs 2 crore. She claimed she had paid several thousands of rupees on different occasions.

The incident dates back to 2021, when she approached Ameenpur police station over a family dispute. Srinivasulu was then serving as an inspector there. She alleged that he later contacted her regarding the case and gradually demanded sexual favours.

The woman alleged that Srinivasulu later asked her to visit his residence in KPHB and, when she refused, he threatened to come to her house. She alleged that he later sexually assaulted her at his residence. She also claimed that he took her to a hospital when she became pregnant, where she underwent an abortion.

The woman also alleged that Srinivasulu had paid Rs 25 lakh to get posted as Jubilee Hills SHO.

Reddy, who was posted as SHO of Jubilee Hills just four months ago, denied the allegations. He reportedly told senior officials that the woman threatened him and extorted money from him.

Police are likely to record the statements of both the suspended officer and the complainant as part of the investigation into the allegations.

Continue Reading

Trending