Waqf Act to protect interests of Muslim community: CM
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Indian Express
32 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Anti-encroachment order in UP's Ballia cites ‘particular caste and particular religion'; UP govt suspends officer
An order issued by the Panchayati Raj officer in Uttar Pradesh's Ballia district on August 2 has come under scanner for mentioning the caste and religion of people whose properties were to be removed during an anti-encroachments drive. After the order went viral, the district administration withdrew it, and the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister's Office ordered the immediate suspension of the officer, clarifying that the government does not support any action based on caste or religion. The order, issued by the District Panchayati Raj Officer, pertained to a special campaign to remove encroachments from Gram Sabha land, ponds, playgrounds, cremation grounds, and Panchayat buildings. It specifically cited 'illegal occupation by people of a particular caste (Yadav) and a particular religion (Muslim).' Sources said the order referred to a complaint by a BJP farmer leader to the Chief Minister, alleging widespread encroachment across 57,691 Gram Panchayats by 'a particular caste (Yadav) and a particular religion (Muslim).' It recommended a campaign to reclaim these properties. Following backlash, the order was withdrawn on August 4. Later, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took cognizance and directed action against the officer concerned. 'Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has expressed strong displeasure over the controversial order… linking action to a particular caste and religion. The Chief Minister has termed the order as 'completely discriminatory and unacceptable' and has given instruction to cancel it with immediate effect,' the state government said in an official statement. Calling it a 'serious administrative lapse', the CM ordered the suspension of Joint Director, Panchayati Raj, S N Singh, saying that such language and mindset were 'against the policies of the government' and could divide society. Instructions were also issued that encroachments should be removed 'with complete fairness, as per the facts and law and order, and not on the basis of caste or religion,' with a warning not to repeat such actions. Former Uttar Pradesh CM and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav termed it an instance of 'harassment of PDA (pichde or backward classes or OBCs, Dalits, and alpasankhyak or minorities)'' and called for judicial intervention. 'Action should be taken against anything that is illegal because illegal is illegal, so why are people of a particular caste or religion being targeted? The judiciary should take immediate notice; this is an anti-Constitutional act. We will go to court against this,' he said in a statement on X. 'The more the PDA is harassed, the stronger the PDA unity will become.'
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Lingayat seer forced to leave Karnataka mutt after devotees learn about his Muslim background
A 22-year-old seer was compelled to leave his position at a mutt in Karnataka's Chamarajanagar on Monday after villagers objected to his appointment upon learning of his Muslim background prior to taking the basava deeksha (religious initiation). Nijalinga Swamy, who had served as the seer of the year-old mutt in Gundlupet taluka for just six weeks, took his religious vows five years ago, at age 17. Originally from Yadgir district, he had dedicated himself to spreading the teachings of Lingayat social reformer Basavanna through vachanas or devotional poems across Karnataka. The controversy erupted last week when a local resident discovered the seer's former identity on seeing his Aadhaar card, which revealed his birth name and former religion. This discovery led to opposition from a section of devotees who claimed that they were unaware of his background before the appointment. Speaking to The Indian Express, Nijalinga Swamy said he was born in a Muslim family as Mohammed Nisar. 'At a very young age, I was attracted towards Basavanna and his ideas. I used to perform puja just like any Lingayat. My parents were frightened and they sent me to a madrassa to study. It gave me another dimension, and at the age of 17, I took deeksha (initiation) to become a Lingayat.' Mahadev Prasad, a philanthropist who resides in Australia, had donated land to build a mutt in Chamarajanagar district's Chowdahalli. After establishing Gurumalleshwara Shakha mutt, Nijalinga Swamy was appointed its head as he was already following Lingayat rituals at a mutt in Basavakalyan, Bidar. 'They approached my Guru to suggest a seer for the mutt, and he suggested my name. Some well-wishers told me not to reveal my previous identity (as a Muslim) and to work for the betterment of the mutt,' he said. The seer had two mobiles phone, one of which he used before taking deeksha. One of his employees sought Nijalinga Swamy's mobile phone last week as his device was not working and the seer gave him the old mobile phone. On going through the phone, the employee saw the Aadhaar card, photos of Nisar in a skull cap and another one holding a bottle of beer. He immediately informed the mutt's devotees. On being confronted, the seer admitted that he was a Muslim before accepting the Lingayat faith. He also clarified that he had not engaged in any 'unholy' activity, like drinking beer, after his religious conversion. However, by then, the devotees had forced him to step down. 'I left my parents and Islam only because I believe in Basavanna's ideology. I will continue to do so and nobody can stop me from doing that. A lot of seers and people from the Lingayat community have come to my support. In fact, another Lingayat mutt in Rane Bennur (Haveri district) has given me shelter now. I will continue to follow Basavanna and his ideas,' Nijalinga Swamy said. However, once the matter triggered a controversy, he said some people started spreading rumours against his character and even falsely claimed that he had carried out financial misappropriation. 'I will not give up, but will live the rest of my life to propagate Basavanna's ideas,' he added. Some Muslims, especially in North Karnataka, are ardent followers of the 12th-century social reformer Basavanna, who advocated for equality regardless of caste or religious background. Some of them have also taken deeksha. In 2020, Diwan Sharief Rahimsab Mulla, a 33-year-old former autorickshaw driver, took Deeksha, becoming the fourth Muslim to head a Lingayat mutt in 300 years.
Deccan Herald
3 hours ago
- Deccan Herald
Sambhal temple-mosque row: Court sets August 21 to hear case
The Muslim side has challenged the maintainability of the case in the Allahabad High Court, but on May 19, the High Court upheld the subordinate court's order permitting a court-monitored survey and directed the trial court to proceed with the hearing.
