Latest news with #Rajpal
India Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
When Urdu book on Prophet got publisher killed, earned India blasphemy law
"Wait and wait for the order of God, if you are prepared for a jehad [crusade] for Rasul... The kafir [Rajpal] will not go free..." proclaimed Maulana Mohammed Ali from Delhi's Jama Masjid in July 1927. Addressing an impassioned crowd stirred by the publication of a controversial Urdu pamphlet 'Rangeela Rasool', he declared a kind of religious less than two years, in April 1929, Maulana Ali's rhetoric had turned real. The publisher of the book, Mahashe Rajpal, was stabbed to death inside his Lahore a 19-year-old Muslim carpenter, had passed by a mosque where a huge crowd had gathered, shouting slogans against the "Hindu publisher". The speaker in the masjid roared: "Oh Muslims! The devil Rajpal has sought to dishonour our beloved Prophet Muhammad with his book". The 19-year-old was so inflamed that he decided to take matters into his own hands. Rajpal's murder, an example of fighting "blasphemy with bigotry", became a watershed moment in India's pre-Partition communal history. Protests, riots and murders among Sikh, Hindu, and Muslim communities were no longer isolated bursts. It was when satire, religious reform, and provocation, especially in Punjab, where the Arya Samaj's fiery reformation movement had already stirred society, hardened communal lines.'Rangeela Rasool', the opposition to it, the legal battles and the aggressive fallout were directly linked to the enactment of the Penal Code Amendment Act XXV of India in 1927, which for the first time, criminalised "deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings", in such explicit terms that even intent, not just affect, became a century later, in 2022, the gruesome murder of Udaipur tailor Kanhaiya Lal Teli, who had shared a social media post supporting BJP leader Nupur Sharma's remarks on Prophet Muhammad, shook India. The incident has returned to the nation's consciousness, this time, because of a new movie, Udaipur Files: Kanhaiya Lal Tailor Murder. The Supreme Court is currently reviewing the allegations of "vilification of the Muslim community" through the Supreme Court, which will hear the case on July 21, has asked the Centre to decide on the film's release by debate around hate, hurt sentiments, and free speech isn't new to India's legal and social history. Among the earliest and most defining of such episodes was the Rangeela Rasool case in pre-Partition TURBULENT 1920s AND PUBLICATION OF 'RANGEELA RASOOL'The publication of 'Rangeela Rasool' in 1924 came at a time when Punjab, and especially Lahore, was a cauldron of sectarian Arya Samaj, a Hindu reformist group founded by Swami Dayanand Saraswati, had aggressively taken on orthodoxy, including in Islam, through print. In retaliation, Muslim scholars and publishers produced books using derogatory and provocative language to counter Arya Samaj's denunciations of titles and content of the books vilified Hindu phase was not yet marked by extremes, but over time, scattered tensions resulted in clashes and riots across Malabar, Bombay, United Provinces, and the region that is now Bihar, Odisha, and Bengal."Coming to the year 1927-28, the following facts stare us in the face. Between the beginning of April and the end of September 1927, no fewer than 25 riots were reported. Of these, 10 occurred in the United Provinces, six in the Bombay Presidency, and two each in the Punjab, the Central Provinces, Bengal, and Bihar and Orissa, and one in Delhi," BR Ambedkar wrote in his 1945 book, 'Thoughts On Pakistan'."The majority of these riots occurred during the celebration of a religious festival by one or other of the two communities, whilst some arose out of the playing of music by Hindus in the neighbourhood of mosques or out of the slaughter of cows by Muhammadans. The total casualties resulting from the above disorders were approximately 103 persons killed and 1,084 wounded," Ambedkar was in this charged atmosphere that 'Rangeela Rasool' dropped like a match on dry BOOK ON THE PROPHET THAT IGNITED A STORM IN INDIADespite its salacious title, the book, which has also been referred to as a pamphlet, took a tone that was more theological and argumentative than was a reading of Prophet Muhammad and his personal life, including his book was written using the pseudonym Pandit must be said to the credit of the publisher that he refused to disclose the name of the real author of the book despite the immense pressure and threats he had to book was in Urdu, the normal language of communication on the intellectual plane, according to Girja Kumar's 1997 book 'The Book on Trial: Fundamentalism and Censorship in India'.The contents of the book enraged Muslim leaders of 2024 and 2025, protests kept erupting across Punjab. The book was banned, and cases were 1926, legal proceedings began. Mahashe Rajpal was charged with promoting enmity between in May 1927, Justice Dalip Singh of the Lahore High Court ruled that Rajpal could not be prosecuted under the existing was simply no legal provision at the time that addressed insults to religious figures. While the judge described the book as "malicious", he had to acquit verdict only added fuel to the fire. Massive protests, which saw the use of inflammatory language and threats of retribution, took place across several regions in response to the violent protests, and to fill the "legal vacuum" exposed by the 'Rangeela Rasool' case, the British colonial government moved to amend the Indian Penal Code. Later in 1927, Section 295A was introduced, making it a criminal offence to deliberately and maliciously insult religious beliefs. This is how India got its law on by then, death diktats had been issued and Mahashe Rajpal, the publisher, was a marked Urdu press of Lahore made matters worse with its reporting and editorial pieces, which were criticised by Mahatma Gandhi. He called the tone "filthy".In Delhi, Maulana Mohammed Ali, addressing thousands outside Delhi's Jama Masjid, called the verdict, which led to Rajpal's release, a betrayal. He declared a "jehad" against Rajpal, the judge, and the colonial system. His words were not idle threats. They laid the ideological groundwork for extreme violent vigilantism, which we have seen in the controversies over Satanic Verses, and MF Hussain's painting of Bharat CARPENTER TURNED KILLER OVER 'RANGEELA RASOOL'By 1929, Mahashe Rajpal had dodged two assassination April 6, he was stabbed to death in his shop by Ilm-ud-Din, who had travelled from Lahore's walled city carrying a newly bought dagger concealed in his just 19, Ilm-ud-Din was tried and sentenced to death by hanging."After Ilm-ud-Din was convicted and sentenced to death, his trial lawyer requested Jinnah to represent him during the hearing of his appeal before the Lahore High Court. Jinnah's strategy was to attack the prosecution evidence produced before the trial court as insufficient. He also challenged the death penalty as being too harsh a punishment given the defendant's age," noted Ahmed Assad, in his 2018 book 'A Brief History of the Anti-blasphemy Laws'."But these arguments [by Jinnah] were rejected, and the sentence was affirmed. Ilm-ud-Din was executed and buried on October 31, 1929 in Mianwali. Shortly thereafter, at the request of leading members of the Muslim community, including Allama Muhammad Iqbal, the colonial authorities allowed him to be reburied in Lahore on November 14," he many Muslims, he was no murderer. Ilm-ud-Din, whose appeal was unsuccessfully argued by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, was seen as a "ghazi" (warrior for the faith). His funeral procession drew thousands, and both Allama Iqbal and Jinnah attended Pakistan, he is still celebrated. A full-length film glorifying Ilm-ud-Din has even aired on state-run television, Iqbal not only attended Ilm-ud-Din's funeral but also delivered a graveside tears in his eyes, Iqbal reportedly placed Ilm-ud-Din's body in the grave and said, "This young man left us, the educated men, behind," noted columnist, public speaker, and activist Avatans Kumar, in his 2013 piece in The Times of LEADERS, THREE RESPONSES: GANDHI'S GRIEF, JINNAH'S DEFENCE, IQBAL'S PRAISEGandhi, who had earlier denounced the contents of 'Rangeela Rasool', later responded to the publisher's killing by comparing it to the Assembly bombing by Bhagat Young India (June 1924), Gandhi called the book "highly offensive" and asked, "What the motive could possibly be except to inflame passion?" He wrote that it had "no value whatsoever" for religious discourse. After the 1929 assassination of publisher Mahashe Rajpal, Gandhi compared the act to the Assembly bombing by Bhagat Singh, saying both followed the "same philosophy of mad revenge and impotent rage". He rejected violence as a means of protest or meanwhile, is remembered in Arya Samaj and broader Hindutva circles as a martyr for free response to the incident, the British swiftly passed Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code in 1927, making deliberate and malicious insult to the religious beliefs of any class of citizens a criminal offence. The blasphemy law, born out of outrage, murder, and communal protests, remains in place in India to this day -- just like communal divisions and the failure to contain extremism do.- EndsMust Watch
Indian Express
10-07-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Haryana to mandate prior approval for IVF for couples with girl child
Couples in Haryana who have at least one living female child and wish to have another child through in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) must now obtain prior permission from the District Appropriate Authority. This requirement also applies to couples who already have a girl and a boy as children. The decision was made at a meeting Tuesday of the State Task Force (STF) for improving sex ratio, chaired by Sudhir Rajpal, Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare. The meeting, held under the direction of Health and Family Welfare Minister Arti Singh Rao, focused on improving the state's sex ratio under the 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao' campaign. 'Right now, it is just at the stage of being an idea. We have to formulate the guidelines and modalities. The idea is that people can still use IVF, but it should not be misused,' Rajpal told the Indian Express on Thursday. Haryana's sex ratio improved to 904 (903 females per 1,000 males) as of July 7 this year, up from 903 in the corresponding period last year, reflecting the impact of ongoing initiatives, the government claims. In the meeting, Rajpal directed the chief medical officers to reverse track abortions conducted up to 24 weeks of pregnancy to identify medical practitioners involved and take strict action against violations. A detailed procedure for reverse tracking has been shared with all chief medical officers. The meeting also reviewed efforts to curb illegal abortions. Rajpal instructed officials to revoke the licenses of doctors found to be complicit and take action against Ayurvedic practitioners and quacks involved in such activities, with weekly reports being mandated. Two nursing homes in the Nuh district were recently sealed for illegal abortion practices, it was discussed. Around 500 illegal medical termination of pregnancy (MTP) centres have been shut down statewide, leading to a notable decline in legal MTPs over the past two months, the body observed. Officials reported a rise in birth registration figures for June compared to May. Rajpal directed senior officers to collaborate with Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) and Anganwadi workers to identify and register unregistered children in slums and low-income areas of Palwal, Nuh, Gurgaon, and Faridabad, with the goal of completing pending registrations within a month. The Woman and Child Development Department highlighted ongoing awareness campaigns in public parks under the 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' initiative, with telecom companies engaged to spread the message via mobile alerts. Rippudaman Singh Dhillon, Secretary of the Health Department and Mission Director of the National Health Mission, also attended the meeting.
New Straits Times
10-07-2025
- New Straits Times
Maniishapriet's parents inconsolable, says uncle
SEPANG: Still mourning the loss of their daughter, the parents of university student Maniishapriet Kaur Akhara, 20, who was murdered, were not present at court today, where two individuals were charged in connection with her death. Her uncle, prominent criminal lawyer Datuk Rajpal Singh, said the family remained deeply traumatised. "They are currently in Kuching, Sarawak, and continue to grieve deeply over her death. They are far too distraught to travel to Kuala Lumpur. "They may attend when the trial proper begins," he told the New Straits Times. Rajpal also said that another uncle of Maniishapriet was absent as he was in Johor Baru following the death of his wife. She had travelled from Johor Baru to assist the family after Maniishapriet's death but tragically died after complaining of shortness of breath. Maniishapriet was found dead with head injuries at Block A, Mutiara Ville, Persiaran Multimedia, Cyberjaya, on June 24. M. Sri Darvien, 19, an odd-job worker, has been charged with her murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code. His co-accused, D. Thineswary, also 19 and a student, was charged with abetting Darvien under Section 109, read with Section 302 of the Penal Code. Both were brought before magistrate Khairatul Animah Jelani, who denied them bail. No plea was recorded as the case falls under the jurisdiction of the High Court. Both accused appeared calm in the dock and confirmed they understood the charges read to them. Rajpal, along with lawyers Raspreet Kaur and Sarabmeet Singh, held a watching brief on behalf of the victim's family during the proceedings. Earlier, the arrival of the two suspects — under tight escort by officers from the Sepang District Police's Criminal Investigation Department — drew a sizeable crowd at the magistrate's court. More than 30 members of the media had gathered outside the courtroom. The accused arrived in two separate police vehicles at 8.55am. Police presence around the courthouse was notably heavy. Sepang district police chief Assistant Commissioner Norhizam Bahaman and his deputy, Superintendent Shan Gopal Krishnan, were seen seated in the public gallery throughout the packed hearing. Rajpal said their presence reflected their commitment to the case. "They were personally involved in the investigation — hands-on and went the extra mile. "They even visited Maniishapriet's parents when they were here. "They acted swiftly in identifying and arresting the suspects," he added. Before the proceedings began, several of Maniishapriet's friends arrived in a show of support, some donning T-shirts bearing the logo of humanitarian organisation United Sikhs Malaysia. After the hearing concluded, a group believed to be relatives of the accused waited by a special exit passage. They declined to speak when approached about their relationship to the suspects. The group watched in silence as Darvien and Thineswary were led away at 11.18am and transported to prison in police vehicles.
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Couples with daughter trying for 2nd baby via IVF need prior govt approval
Gurgaon: Couples living in Haryana who have a girl child will now need prior govt permission should they seek the IVF (in vitro fertilisation) route for a second child. According to a directive from the additional chief secretary health, couples opting for IVF need to file an application with the District Appropriate Authority (DAA) along with supporting documents like birth certificates of children, documents related to childbirth or miscarriage, and reasons for seeking IVF. The decision was taken at the latest weekly review meeting of the state task force (STF) established for course correction after Haryana's annual sex ratio at birth fell from 916 in 2023 to 910 in 2024, setting off alarm bells in the state with a history of female infanticide. The meeting was chaired by health and family welfare minister Arti Rao and ACS health Sudhir Rajpal. You Can Also Check: Gurgaon AQI | Weather in Gurgaon | Bank Holidays in Gurgaon | Public Holidays in Gurgaon The directive to seek prior IVF permission will be applicable to couples with one or more daughters and also to those with a son and a daughter. Officials said the measure aims to prevent misuse of assisted reproduction for sex selection. DAA, whose chairperson is the deputy commissioner and member secretary is the chief medical officer (CMO), has been tasked with reviewing applications and monitoring IVF centres. DAA plays a key regulatory and enforcement role under various health-related laws and programmes, notably the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act that Haryana health teams have operated under for years to track down illegal abortion rackets. Officials said IVF clinics that don't follow this directive will face penalties under PCPNDT Act, cancellation of licence and criminal prosecution. "District authorities must ensure strict scrutiny in such IVF cases to avoid any possibility of gender discrimination through assisted reproductive techniques," Rajpal said. Calling for "zero tolerance" towards illegal abortions, Rajpal ordered CMOs to reverse-track all abortions performed up to 24 weeks to identify medical professionals involved. "A detailed protocol for reverse-tracking has already been circulated, and strict action, including licence cancellation, will be taken against violators," he said. IVF centres will also have to submit monthly reports to the health department. Explaining the reason behind the directive, a senior health department officer said, "During IVF, embryos are created outside the body. Before implantation, clinics may offer Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) to screen embryos for genetic diseases. PGT can also reveal the sex of the embryo, even though this is legally restricted in India. Some unethical clinics may use this technology to select only male embryos for implantation. Clinics or couples may choose to implant only male embryos, discarding or freezing female ones, even when both are healthy. While revealing the sex of a foetus or embryo is banned under PCPNDT Act in India, some clinics illegally inform couples about the gender during or after IVF procedures, leading to sex-selective abortions." Among other measures, STF has directed all districts to carry out more than 10 raids every week targeting illegal abortion centres and unauthorised practitioners including BAMS (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery) suspected of carrying out unlawful terminations of pregnancy. CMOs have been told to submit weekly reports. STF is also pushing for stronger coordination between health authorities, police and district administrations to enforce these directives effectively so that sex ratio gains made by the state over a decade since it began the 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' campaign are not lost. Data shows a slight improvement in state's sex ratio, which stands at 904 girls per 1,000 boys as of July 7, an increase from 903 during the same period last year. Last year, 13 of Haryana's 22 districts saw a fall in sex ratio at birth, leading to the 6-point fall.
The Print
09-07-2025
- Health
- The Print
Haryana CMOs directed to track abortions of up to 24 weeks of pregnancy to curb ‘illegal' practices
A comprehensive procedure for reverse tracking has already been shared with all CMOs, an official statement said. The government aims to identify medical practitioners involved in 'illegal' procedures and initiate strict action for them. Chandigarh, Jul 8 (PTI) Haryana's additional chief secretary (Health) has directed chief medical officers (CMOs) to initiate reverse tracking of abortions conducted up to 24 weeks of pregnancy. A weekly meeting of the State Task Force (STF) for improving sex ratio in Haryana was held under the chairmanship of Rajpal here on Tuesday. The meeting focused on intensifying efforts to curb illegal abortions and further improve the state's sex ratio under the 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao' campaign. The meeting noted the recent improvement in Haryana's sex ratio to 904 till July 7 this year from 903 in the corresponding period last year. Rajpal emphasised the need for stringent enforcement against illegal abortions, instructing officials to take strict punitive measures, including revoking the licences of doctors found complicit. In one such case, two nursing homes were sealed in Nuh district over illegal abortion practices. Further, all CMOs have been asked to take action against the doctors and quacks engaged in illegal abortion activities and submit a report every week. The officials who took part in the meeting informed the additional chief secretary (ACS) that consistent field-level efforts have led to a noticeable rise in birth registration figures for June as compared to May. To further strengthen the drive, the ACS directed senior officers to collaborate with Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) and anganwadi workers to identify and register unregistered children, particularly in slum and low-income areas of Palwal, Nuh, Gurugram, and Faridabad. The goal is to complete all pending registrations within one month. Regarding the regulation of IVF centres, the STF decided that couples with one or two living female children seeking another child through IVF must obtain prior permission from the District Appropriate Authority. The meeting was also informed that due to an intensified crackdown on illegal Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) centres, around 500 such centres have been shut down across the state. This has also led to a significant decline in legal MTPs over the past two months. The woman and child development department shared that awareness campaigns under the 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao initiative are being actively carried out in public parks, and telecom companies are being engaged to disseminate the message through phone alerts. Health Secretary and National Health Mission Mission Director Rippudaman Singh Dhillon and senior officers of various departments were present in the meeting. PTI SUN SKY SKY This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
