Srinagar, April 11: Senior separatist and religious leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, on Friday, alleged that authorities had placed him under house arrest in Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar, thereby preventing him from delivering his weekly sermon and offering prayers at the Jamia Masjid.

Mirwaiz Umar said on X, “Yet again, this Friday put under house arrest and barred from offering prayers at Jama Masjid. It’s is both heartbreaking and outrageous that authorities continue to trample on my basic religious rights – at their will. The resolution formulated by MMU -the meeting of which was also not allowed, against the Waqf Amendment Act will be read out today in mosques, shrines, and Imambaras across J&K”.

Two days ago, the authorities had disallowed the meeting of the Mutahida Majlis Ulema (MMU) — an amalgamation of religious organisations in the Valley headed by Mirwaiz — convened at the residence of his residence. The meeting was called to discuss the fallout of the Waqf Amendment Act.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) recently banned the Awami Action Committee (AAC) headed by Mirwaiz Umar for five years. The MHA order said that the AAC was a secessionist organisation indulging in anti-national activities and encouraging youths to resort to violence.

The ACC was formed in 1963 by the late Mirwaiz Maulana Mohammad Farooq during the Holy Relic agitation.

After the elder Mirwaiz was assassinated by terrorists in 1990 in his uptown Nigeen residence in Srinagar city, the ACC came to be headed by his son, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

In another order, the MHA also banned for five years the Ittihadul Muslimeen headed by Maulvi Masroor Abbas. The organisation was banned for its activities against the state and for acting in a manner prejudicial to the interests of the country.

The organisation was part of the separatist Hurriyat Conference and was headed by Maulvi Abbas Ansari, the senior Shia Muslim leader. After the death of Maulvi Abbas, his son, Maulvi Masoor Ansari, headed the Ittihadul Muslimeen.

The Mirwaiz is head of the moderate Hurriyat Conference, which was formed in 2003 when the Hurriyat Conference split into two groups — the hardline group headed by late Syed Ali Shah Geelani and the moderate group headed by Mirwaiz Umar. However, several of its associate outfits are distancing themselves and are pledging loyalty to the constitution of India.

Bengaluru, April 11: Union Minister for Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs and BJP leader Pralhad Joshi on Friday launched a blistering attack on Congress, saying the grand old party was not only “anti-Hindu” but also against Dalits.

Talking to the media at the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru, the Union Minister said: We have organised the ‘Bheem Hejje’ rally today to commemorate 100 years of B. R. Ambedkar’s visit to Nippani town in Belagavi district.

Union Minister Joshi said: “Despite our MLA Shashikala Jolle bringing it to the government’s attention that it has been 100 years since Babasaheb Ambedkar visited Nippani town, it didn’t organise a programme. Congress commemorated Mahatma Gandhi’s visit to Belagavi. But why didn’t it commemorate the 100th year of Ambedkar’s visit?”

“Had the government organised it, we wouldn’t have done it ourselves. This event reflects our commitment,” he clarified.

“The Congress denied him a seat in the Constituent Assembly by ceding Hindu-majority regions to Pakistan. They made him lose elections twice and prevented him from being part of the interim government,” he charged.

The Union Minister claimed that the BJP will tell people how late Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi had “opposed reservations for Dalits”.

“The Congress insulted AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, and we will inform people about that too,” Union Minister Joshi stressed.

The BJP Karnataka unit said a garland-laying ceremony will be held at Babasaheb’s statue in front of Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru, following which the rally will depart from the grounds near BIC Exhibition Centre.

During the journey to Nippani, the party also planned to offer floral tributes at every statue of Ambedkar in taluk centres and villages along the route.

The BJP’s SC Morcha, ST Morcha, and all party workers are taking part in the rally, and a massive convention will be held in Nippani on April 15.

Ningbo (China), April 11: Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto, India’s last remaining players at the Badminton Asia Championships 2025, bowed out in the mixed doubles quarterfinals.

The Indian duo suffered a 22-20, 21-13 loss at the hands of Hong Kong’s fifth-seeded Tang Chun Man and Tse Ying Suet on Friday.

The duo registered a comeback 12-21, 21-16, 21-18 win over Chinese Taipei’s Ye Hong Wei and Nicole Chan at the Ningbo Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium on Thursday. After dropping the opening game 12-21, the Indian duo fought back to take the second 21-16 and edged a tense decider 21-18.

Meanwhile, India’s campaign in the singles was ended on Thursday when ace shuttler PV Sindhu, Priyanshu Rajawat and Kiran George lost their respective second-round matches.

Sindhu fought hard but ultimately lost to Akane Yamaguchi 11-21, 21-16, 16-21 after coming from behind in the second game to challenge the Japanese former world champion.

In men’s singles, Kiran battled tough against world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn but was defeated 21-19, 13-21, 16-21, while Priyanshu lost 14-21, 17-21 to Kodai Naraoka.

In the men’s doubles, Hariharan Amsakarunan and Ruban Kumar Rethinasabapathi, who moved into the second round after beating Sri Lanka’s Madhuka Dulanjana and Lahiru Weerasinghe, will take on the Paris Olympic bronze medallist Malaysian pair of Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik.

On Day 1, Paris 2024 semifinalist Lakshya Sen, HS Prannoy and Malvika Bansod were knocked out in the first round.

Sen was crashed out after a straight-game defeat against world No. 14 Lee Chia-hao of Chinese Taipei.

Prannoy put up a fight but couldn’t avoid a 21-16, 12-21, 21-11 defeat against China’s Lu Guangzu, marking his fourth first-round exit in six tournaments this year.

Malvika, 22nd in the women’s singles rankings, lost against world No. 15 Gao Fang Jie. She was beaten 21-14, 21-8 by the Asian Games silver medallist.

In the women’s doubles, India’s challenge ended after Priya Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra were ousted by Chinese Taipei’s Sung Shuo-yun and Yu Chien-Hui following a 21-11, 21-13 defeat.