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It will be more impactful than anti-CAA movement, says AIMIM on AIMPLB’s Waqf Bill stir

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Patna, March 26: The protest launched by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in Bihar’s capital, Patna, on March 26 has sparked significant political discourse. Shamim Akhtar, the state Secretary of the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), declared that the protest against this Bill would become a bigger movement than the anti-CAA and NRC protests in Independent India.

Speaking to media, Shamim Akhtar emphasised the growing potential of the movement, asserting that it would eventually have a considerable impact on the government.

“So far, the government has not felt any major impact, but this protest will soon evolve into a mass movement. The CAA-NRC protests were a landmark moment for Muslims in Azaad Bharat, and it shook the government. But after that, the pandemic came, and the momentum slowed down. However, I believe this movement will be even more powerful than the anti-CAA/NRC protests in Independent India,” he remarked.

Akhtar further stated that the protest would galvanise a larger section of the population and bring the government’s policies into sharper scrutiny.

He also criticised Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, for not participating in the protest.

“Rahul Gandhi is far away in Delhi, a thousand kilometres from Patna. When the protests were taking place at Jantar Mantar, he was absent. Even Sonia Gandhi, who is only three to four kilometres away from the protest site, did not attend,” Akhtar pointed out, questioning why the Congress was silent on such an important issue.

“The Muslims of the country, and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, want to know why Congress is not showing any support. Why are they not opposing the Bill openly, and why aren’t they speaking up against it, considering it undermines both Muslims and the Constitution of India?” he added.

As the protest continues to gain traction, Akhtar further said that it would intensify over the coming weeks.

“I can’t predict the exact course of events, but I hope that after Ramzan and Eid, this movement will gain momentum. There is talk of a nationwide movement, with Gardani Bagh-style protests expected in every district of Bihar and across the country, similar to the indefinite sit-ins during the CAA-NRC protests,” Akhtar said.

Asked whether the protest could garner attention and support from Islamic countries, Akhtar emphasised the importance of focussing on the issue within India.

“I will speak about Islamic countries later. But as for the situation within our own home India, it is our responsibility to address the fire within before seeking help from outside,” he explained.

He further stated, “This country belongs to all its citizens, regardless of their religion, class, or community. There are people from various social organisations and political parties, including the Bhim Army, Jan Suraaj, RJD, and others, who are supporting us. This shows that the issue transcends just the Muslim community — it’s about protecting the Constitution and safeguarding the rights of all people.”

“The Modi government is trying to marginalise minorities. The Waqf Board issue is one that directly concerns Muslims. It is our right to manage our own Waqf properties and make decisions about them,” he said.

He used the analogy of a temple to illustrate his point, stating, “If I were to give the keys of a temple to someone from another community instead of a Hindu priest, how could I expect the temple’s interests to be protected? Similarly, the Waqf Board is a Muslim matter, and we have the right to decide on it.”

Akhtar also criticised the introduction of the triple talaq Bill, accusing the Modi government of interfering with Muslim personal law.

“When the triple talaq Bill was passed, Modi Ji didn’t tell us how to maintain our marriage, but he wanted to dictate how we should divorce. Our Shariat already provides a clear framework for marriage, divorce, and other personal matters. Now, with the Waqf Bill, the government is trying to interfere in our community’s affairs, and this attempt will fail,” Akhtar claimed.

He concluded by stressing that the Waqf Bill was a larger conspiracy to undermine the Constitution, which would be resisted by people across India.

Meanwhile, the RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, joined the AIMPLB’s demonstration against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill.

Crime

Accused in air hostess sexual assault case was porn addict: Gurugram Police

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Gurugram, April 19: Gurugram Police said on Saturday that the accused in the air hostess sexual assault case was a porn addict, an official said.

Gurugram Police Spokesperson Sandeep Kumar said that the accused used to watch porn videos habitually, which was also confirmed from the mobile phone recovered from him.

He said that during police interrogation, it was found that the accused has a B.Sc. (OT) degree from a private institute from the years 2019-2022, and he was an average student in studies.

“For the last five months, he was working as a treatment machine technician in the ICU of the hospital. The accused going to the victim at the time of the incident was confirmed from the CCTV cameras installed in the hospital,” he said.

The Spokesperson said that during interrogation of the accused, it was also found that he had watched porn videos before the incident and even after committing the crime.

“Which is also being confirmed from the search history of the accused’s mobile phone. He was produced before the court on Saturday, from where he was sent to judicial custody for further proceedings,” he said.

Meanwhile, the SIT on Friday nabbed the accused, after analysing at least 800 CCTV cameras installed inside and outside of the hospital, who sexually assaulted the woman when she was on a ventilator.

The accused was identified as Deepak (25), a native of Muzaffarpur in Bihar. The accused had been working as a treatment machine technician in the ICU of the hospital for the past five months and was arrested in the Sadar police station area on Friday.

An official privy to the investigation said that the accused has confessed to his crime in the matter.

“While investigating the incident, eight police teams checked the footage of 800 CCTV cameras installed in the hospital, and around 50 hospital staff, including doctors, were questioned about the incident. Keeping in mind the seriousness of the incident, the police teams investigated from every angle and collected a lot of information related to the incident, as a result of which the police got great success in identifying the accused who committed the crime,” said Arpit Jain, DCP (Headquarters).

On Thursday, Vikas Kumar Arora, Commissioner of Police, Gurugram, had constituted an SIT and ordered the identification and arrest of the accused.

As per the order of the Police Commissioner, an SIT was constituted under the leadership of Arpit Jain, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Headquarters, Gurugram, in which a total of eight different police teams were given special directions and deployed to collect information and evidence related to the incident.

Dr. Sanjay Durani, Medical Superintendent of the hospital, said in a statement that: “We have been informed that the police have identified a suspect who has been taken into custody in connection with the ongoing investigation concerning allegations of sexual assault on a patient. On the basis of information provided to us by the police, we have suspended the suspect employee. As we await the final outcome of the investigation, we will continue to provide full support to the police.”

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Business

FM Sitharaman to showcase India’s economic dynamism during US, Peru visit

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New Delhi, April 19: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to embark on an official visit to the US and Peru, beginning April 20, where she is slated to participate in multilateral dialogues to showcase India’s economic dynamism, as the country prepares a bilateral trade agreement (BTA) with the US, it was announced on Saturday.

During her visit to the US, the Finance Minister will visit San Francisco and Washington, DC, from April 20-25, according to a Ministry of Finance statement.

In San Francisco, FM Sitharaman would deliver a keynote address at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, titled ‘Laying the foundations of Viksit Bharat 2047,’ followed by a fireside chat session.

The Finance Minister will also interact with top CEOs from prominent fund management firms during a roundtable meeting with investors, besides holding bilateral meetings with CEOs from top information technology (IT) firms based in San Francisco.

She will also participate in an event featuring the Indian diaspora in San Francisco and interact with the Indian community settled there, said the ministry.

In Washington, DC, FM Sitharaman will participate in the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, the 2nd G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) Meetings, the Development Committee Plenary, IMFC Plenary, and Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable (GSDR) meeting.

On the sidelines of the Spring Meetings, she will hold bilateral meetings with her counterparts from several countries, including Argentina, Bahrain, Germany, France, Luxembourg, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, and the US; besides meeting EU Commissioner for Financial Services; President, Asian Development Bank (ADB); President, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB); United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Financial Health (UNSGSA); and First Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

During her maiden visit to Peru from April 26-30, the Finance Minister will lead an Indian delegation of officials from the Ministry of Finance and business leaders, highlighting the strengthening bilateral economic and trade relations between the two nations.

Beginning her visit in Lima, she is expected to call on the President of Peru, Dina Boluarte, and Prime Minister Gustavo Adrianzen, besides holding bilateral meetings with the Peruvian Ministers of Finance and Economy, Defence, Energy and Mines, and also holding interaction with local public representatives.

The Finance Minister will chair the India-Peru Business Forum meeting with prominent business representatives in attendance from both India and Peru.

FM Sitharaman will also hold an interaction with the Indian investors and businesses currently operating in Peru, as well as the Indian business delegation visiting Peru. The Finance Minister will also participate in a community event in Lima, where she will interact with the Indian diaspora living in Peru, according to the ministry statement.

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National News

We can’t live like this: Women break down before NCW chief in riot-hit Murshidabad

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Kolkata, April 19: Women in Dhuliyan, one of the worst-affected areas in West Bengal’s minority-dominated Murshidabad district, have urged the Centre to set up permanent Border Security Force (BSF) camps in violence-hit pockets to ensure their safety following recent communal unrest over protests against the Waqf Act.

On Saturday, a delegation from the National Commission for Women (NCW), led by its chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar, visited Dhuliyan to meet those affected by last week’s violence, most of whom are Hindus.

Several women broke down during their interaction with the delegation and pleaded for the permanent deployment of central forces.

“We won’t survive without permanent BSF camps here. If needed, we are ready to offer our own land and homes for setting them up,” said a woman, sobbing and touching the feet of a delegation member.

The NCW team assured locals that their concerns would be conveyed to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

“We are here to stand with you in this moment of crisis. The whole country is watching and supporting you. We will submit a detailed report to the Centre and include the demand for permanent BSF presence in this region,” a delegation member told the women.

Even before Saturday’s visit, NCW member Archana Majumdar had stressed the need for permanent Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) camps in the region.

“The women victims in Murshidabad have clearly expressed the need for permanent CAPF deployment to ensure their dignity and safety. We will raise the issue with the Union government,” Majumdar said on Friday.

Meanwhile, the Murshidabad district administration has prepared a preliminary report on property damage. According to initial estimates, over 250 houses and 100 shops — mostly owned by Hindus — were vandalized during the unrest.

“This is just the initial estimate. The actual figure may rise as we complete the detailed assessment,” said a senior district official.

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