Dakshina Kannada Muslim Congress leaders vent ire at state government; plan to resign en masse
Shahul Hameed, the minority wing president of DK District Congress Committee, told TNIE that they will hold a meeting at Shadi Mahal in Bolar on Thursday at 2.30 pm before putting down their papers. He said office-bearers from booth level to KPCC belonging to the Muslim community will put down the papers.
He blamed police department's complete failure to have led to the murder of Abdul Rahiman. 'There was no action against inflammatory speeches and those forced people after giving a call for bundh. If we are not able to provide justice to the people, then what is the use of us being in these positions. We are pained and helpless,' he said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
44 minutes ago
- NDTV
Madhya Pradesh Minister vs Congress Over NDTV Report On Unclaimed Bodies
Bhopal: After NDTV's investigation revealed the chilling neglect of unclaimed bodies in Madhya Pradesh - buried in shallow pits, dragged like trash, sometimes gnawed by stray dogs - the political reaction has been swift, polarised, and charged with emotion. While the state's Social Justice Minister, Narayan Singh Kushwah, insisted that all procedures are being followed "as per the rules," senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh lashed out at the Shivraj-Mohan Yadav government, calling the revelations "a humanitarian disaster" and "a betrayal even in death." "Rules Are Being Followed," Says Minister Speaking to NDTV, Narayan Singh Kushwah, Minister for Social Justice and Welfare of Persons with Disabilities, said, "Whatever is being done is done as per laid-down norms. Sometimes, even when an unclaimed body is identified, no one comes forward to claim it. In such cases, we proceed according to protocol for cremation or burial." He added that the government offers Rs 3,000 under the Antyeshti Sahayata Yojana for the last rites of the poor, and that religious committees - Hindu or Muslim - are involved to ensure dignified final rites. "In many cases, photographs are taken and records are maintained. If someone is identified post-burial, we still document it properly. The process is systematic. If anyone is found involved in misappropriation - especially regarding kafans (shrouds) - action will be taken." But Digvijaya Singh, former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh and sitting Rajya Sabha MP, was far from satisfied. He said NDTV's report had exposed a "rotting system that neither values life nor honours death." "This is not mismanagement - this is moral decay. Even the dead are betrayed now. NDTV's report is heartbreaking. This is how neglected the poor are in this state." Slamming the government's "defensive and tone-deaf" response, he said, "You don't need a form to know that a dead body should be cremated or buried with dignity. What you need is conscience - and that is missing from this administration." Mr Singh was particularly furious over NDTV's revelation that free shrouds distributed by the Prerna Seva Trust inside Hamidia Hospital were being stolen and sold on the black market for Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500. "Selling kafans - is there anything more disgusting? These people should not only be removed, they should be criminally prosecuted. This is not a scam; this is a sin." The Congress leader said he would be sending a formal letter to Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and the Chief Secretary, demanding urgent structural reform. "The Rs 3,000 funeral assistance is already in place. What's needed is the delegation of powers to local authorities, simplified processing, and accountability from top to bottom. How many unclaimed bodies come in a year? It's manageable. But no one cares - that's the real problem," he said. While Minister Kushwah maintains that "due process is followed," NDTV's 10-day ground investigation revealed that many unclaimed bodies are buried without religious rites, in shallow 1-ft pits, often stacked over earlier graves, with no official presence during the burial. Former cremation workers told NDTV that dogs and pigs have fed on human remains, and bone piles lie scattered around the Bhadhbhada Vishram Ghat. "This is not a cremation ground. It's a graveyard of shame," Digvijaya Singh said. Senior Congress leader and former union minister Arun Yadav said, "This isn't about caste or religion anymore. The poor have no identity in life, and now, not even in death. NDTV has done what the state should have done - investigate, expose, and demand dignity for all - even the forgotten." The state government has yet to announce any corrective action. Meanwhile, the bodies continue to arrive, the pits remain shallow, and the questions deeper than ever.
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Former Minister Kimmane Ratnakar questions BJP leaders' allegiance to Indian Constitution
Former Minister and Congress leader Kimmane Ratnakar has questioned the BJP leaders' allegiance to the Indian Constitution, citing their devotion to M.S. Golwalkar's 'Bunch of Thoughts'. 'If BJP leaders accept the Constitution they have to reject the 'Bunch of Thoughts' written by Golwalkar of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. A person cannot accept both,' said Mr. Rathnakar in a press conference in Shivamogga on Thursday. 'The RSS is celebrating its 100th year. The BJP leaders, influenced by Golwalkar's ideas, have been trying to implement what the organisation stands for. However, the thoughts propagated by the leader are against the basic principles of the Indian Constitution,' he said. Holding a copy of Golwalkar's book, Mr. Ratnakar went through the excerpts from the book and questioned if the BJP leaders did support those ideas. Making a reference to the mention of Purusha Sukta in the book, he wanted to know if the BJP leaders would accept the depiction of the origin of four varnas – Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shudra. Referring to Golwalkar's thoughts favouring a unitary State and opposing the federal system, the former Minister stated that the views expressed in the book were completely opposite to the principles of the Constitution. 'Leaders of the BJP should clarify where they stand on these issues,' he wanted to know. Referring to Home Minister Amit Shah's recent comment that those who speak English in India would soon feel ashamed, Mr. Rathnakar stated that Shah's speech had its roots in Golwalkar's ideas. 'Shah did not make that statement all of a sudden. Golwalkar himself has advocated priority to Hindi over other languages,' he said. Further, he demanded BJP's response to RSS leader Dattatreya Hosabale's call to omit 'socialist' and 'secular' from the Preamble of the Constitution. Displaying a copy of the BJP's constitution, the Congress leader stated that the party (BJP) announced to have faith and allegiance to principles of socialism and secularism. 'The words – 'socialism' and 'secularism' – were present in the party's constitution. They may have amended it now,' he commented. District Congress Committee president R. Prasanna Kumar, party spokesperson Ramesh Hegde and others were present at the press conference.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
UK Islamophobia Definition Row: Deputy PM Angela Rayner backs down amid backlash over de-facto 'blasphemy law'
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has been forced to back down from her push to define Islamophobia after intense backlash from free speech campaigners, legal threats, and criticism from multiple community groups. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The controversy erupted after Rayner's office launched a consultation to craft an official government definition of Islamophobia, appointing a 16-member working group known as the 'Islamophobia Council' to tackle anti-Muslim hatred. The proposed working definition, based on a 2018 parliamentary report, described Islamophobia as 'a type of racism targeting expressions of Muslimness.' Critics swiftly objected. Free speech advocates warned that equating criticism of religious practices with racism risked stifling legitimate debate, potentially creating a de facto blasphemy law. Hindu, Sikh, and secular organisations raised concerns that focusing solely on anti-Muslim hate ignored threats faced by other religious minorities in Britain. Insight UK and the Hindu Council UK called for a unified Religious Hate Council to ensure all communities are protected equally. Dominic Grieve, former Tory attorney general and author of the foreword to the 2018 definition, is tipped to chair the council. However, critics argue that reusing the 2018 formulation could dangerously blur the lines between racial discrimination and valid religious critique, including discussions around Islamist extremism and grooming gangs. In response to growing pressure, including a legal threat from the Free Speech Union which described the process as having a 'predetermined outcome,' Rayner has now extended the consultation deadline to July 20 and made it publicly accessible to all stakeholders. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The consultation process has also been expanded to include previously excluded groups such as the Christian Institute, Adam Smith Institute, Christian Concern, and the Equality and Human Rights Commission. The government maintains that its goal is to protect Muslim communities from hate crimes while safeguarding freedom of expression. However, the episode has highlighted deep divides over how Britain tackles religious hatred without undermining civil liberties. With the consultation closing next week, officials are expected to release a revised draft definition later this month, potentially with softened language or a broader remit to cover all faith groups. For now, Rayner's retreat underscores the political tightrope of combating discrimination while preserving the freedom to question religious ideologies.
