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Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Muslim clerics, Mohan Bhagwat agree on interfaith dialogue at meet
Amid growing discontent among Muslims against the NDA government over Waqf Amendment Act and other issues, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat and other senior functionaries of the organisation met prominent Muslim clerics and scholars in New Delhi on Thursday. In the meeting, a host of 'national issues' were discussed and the two sides stressed upon the need to start a series of dialogue between representatives of Hindu and Muslim communities to clear the 'misunderstandings'. The All India Imam Organisation (AIIO) had organised the meeting titled — 'Samvaad' — at Haryana Bhawan. Along with Bhagwat, senior functionaries, including Krishna Gopal, Ramlal and Indresh Kumar, were present in the meeting. AIIO chief Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi said the meeting lasted for about three-and-a-half hours and was attended by 60 prominent imams, muftis and representatives of prominent Islamic seminaries like Deoband and Nadwa. The RSS described the discussion in the meeting as 'positive' and said it was part of a continuous process of holding an extensive dialogue with all the sections of society. 'The main objective is to explore how everyone can work together in the interest of the country. Today's discussion was also positive,' said Sunil Ambekar, the head of the national publicity and media department of the RSS. 'A detailed discussion on national issues took place at the meeting. It was decided that there should be a dialogue between mandirs and masjids, imams and pujaris, gurukuls and madrasas so that misconceptions and confusions about each other are removed and a positive atmosphere of harmony and brotherhood is developed,' Ilyasi told The Indian Express. He said it was discussed that everyone from across the castes, faiths and religions should have the sentiment of 'rashtra sarvopari' (nation is supreme) and contribute in nation building. Possible roles and responsibilities of imams and muftis in taking the nation forward were also discussed in the meeting, he said. Asked about the RSS chief's view on the decision, he said Bhagwat appreciated the idea of continuous dialogue to clear the misunderstandings and misconceptions. 'A consensus was reached to take this forward… Similar meetings will be held in different parts of the country. The schedule will be decided soon,' Ilyasi said. When asked about the 'national issues' discussed in the meeting, Ilyasi refused to share details. When asked if any 'concern' was expressed by the clerics on the contentious issues like new Waqf Act and survey of mosques, Ilyasi said, 'It was not a meeting about concerns but for building trust and a good atmosphere.'
Time of India
03-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Sukhu launches Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana, Green Adoption Scheme
Shimla: Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday launched the 'Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana' and the 'Green Adoption Scheme' from Hamirpur. The 'Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana' aims to increase the green cover by planting fruit-bearing trees on barren and degraded forest areas. It will also generate employment and income for local communities by ensuring the participation of mahila and yuvak mandals, besides the self-help groups, said Sukhu. The CM also handed over certificates to two mahila mandals from Nadaun – Amlehad and Bhawdan – which will carry out the plantation activities on two hectares of forest land and ensure its maintenance for a period of five years. In the initial phase of the 'Green Adoption Scheme', Ambuja group will undertake plantation work on 25 hectares, while the Adani Foundation and UltraTech would adopt 10 hectares each. Sukhu handed over certificates to these organisations as a mark of official recognition. The scheme envisages encouraging private enterprises, corporate houses, and non-govt organisations as a part of their social responsibility to adopt barren forest land and undertake afforestation work. During the event, the CM inspected the passing-out parade of the newly appointed Van Mitras and interacted with them. He said the forest department faced a shortage of field staff, which posed challenges to forest protection. To address this, appointments of Van Mitras were made based on merit, with many young women taking the lead in securing these roles. Sukhu said the state govt was focusing on women empowerment and the reservation for women in police recruitment had been increased to 30%. In Lahaul-Spiti, all key administrative officers, including the deputy commissioner, were women with decision-making authority. The CM urged Van Mitras not to limit their role to forest protection alone but also to engage with rural communities to spread awareness about the importance of forests. He emphasised the need to prevent illegal logging, remain vigilant against forest fires, and contribute actively to plantation drives and forest development initiatives by fostering public participation. The chief minister also announced the opening of three new wellness centres under the municipal corporation of Hamirpur. He also released a souvenir titled 'Samvaad' dedicated to Van Mitras and launched a book titled 'The Mountainous Wilderness of Spiti'. A new mobile application was also launched to facilitate attendance tracking of Van Mitras. MSID:: 121573668 413 |
Mint
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Shashi Tharoor looking for seat in ‘BJP sleeping cell inside Congress': CPI's Binoy Viswam
Communist Party of India (CPI) Secretary Binoy Viswam on Sunday took a swipe at Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor who was named as the head of a multipartner delegation to key partner countries to convey India's message of zero tolerance against terrorism following Operation Sindoor. Viswam said that Tharoor seemed to be "in search of his berth" in the alleged "sleeping cell" of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) operating inside Congress. Referring to Tharoor's appointment in one of the seven groups of the multi-party delegation, he further criticised the BJP for using the fight against terrorism as a "hunt for party gain". "Rahul Gandhi's concern about BJP sleeping cells inside Congress is not so simple. It seems that Shashi Tharoor is in search of his berth in that cell. BJP knows how to make use of such elements. For them, even the fight against terrorism is a hunt for party gains," Viswam posted on X. The Central government on May 17 tasked Shashi Tharoor to lead one of the seven delegations of a project for India's continued fight against cross-border terrorism. Tharoor stated that he will diligently fulfil his assigned responsibilities, emphasising that while the party leadership is entitled to its opinions, his commitment remains steadfast. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticised the government for not accepting all the names nanominated by his party, and said that this was "dishonest on the government's part." Congress MP Manickam Tagore alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had sidelined the Opposition, and prior to 2014, Prime Ministers upheld Parliamentary dignity by consulting the Leader of Opposition for national delegations. The all-party delegations will project India's national consensus and resolute approach to combating terrorism in all forms and manifestations. They would carry forth to the world the country's strong message of zero tolerance against terrorism. Earlier in March, Rahul Gandhi, who addressed party workers in Ahmedabad during the Samvaad program, suggested that some were "cut off" from the people and half of them were "in cahoots" with the BJP. Gandhi had spoken about the organisational weakness of Congress in Gujarat, where it has been out of power for nearly three decades.
India Gazette
18-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Shashi Tharoor looking for seat in
New Delhi [India], May 18 (ANI): Communist Party of India (CPI) Secretary Binoy Viswam on Sunday took a swipe at Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor who was named as the head of a multipartner delegation to key partner countries to convey India's message of zero tolerance against terrorism following Operation Sindoor. Viswam said that Tharoor seemed to be 'in search of his berth' in the alleged 'sleeping cell' of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) operating inside Congress. Referring to Tharoor's appointment in one of the seven groups of the multi-party delegation, he further criticised the BJP for using the fight against terrorism as a 'hunt for party gain'. 'Rahul Gandhi's concern about BJP sleeping cells inside Congress is not so simple. It seems that Shashi Tharoor is in search of his berth in that cell. BJP knows how to make use of such elements. For them, even the fight against terrorism is a hunt for party gains,' Viswam posted on X. The Central government on May 17 tasked Shashi Tharoor to lead one of the seven delegations of a project for India's continued fight against cross-border terrorism. Tharoor stated that he will diligently fulfil his assigned responsibilities, emphasising that while the party leadership is entitled to its opinions, his commitment remains steadfast. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticised the government for not accepting all the names nanominated by his party, and said that this was 'dishonest on the government's part.' Congress MP Manickam Tagore alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had sidelined the Opposition, and prior to 2014, Prime Ministers upheld Parliamentary dignity by consulting the Leader of Opposition for national delegations. The all-party delegations will project India's national consensus and resolute approach to combating terrorism in all forms and manifestations. They would carry forth to the world the country's strong message of zero tolerance against terrorism. Earlier in March, Rahul Gandhi, who addressed party workers in Ahmedabad during the Samvaad program, suggested that some were 'cut off' from the people and half of them were 'in cahoots' with the BJP. Gandhi had spoken about the organisational weakness of Congress in Gujarat, where it has been out of power for nearly three decades. (ANI)
