Hamid Nihal Ansari, a software engineer from Mumbai, returned to India in December 2018 after spending six years in a Pakistani jail for illegally entering the neighbouring country from Afghanistan, reportedly to meet a girl he had befriended online. He was arrested in 2012 and lodged at Peshawar jail after Pakistan had slapped espionage charges against him. The decision to release him was on account of relentless pressure from New Delhi and Sushma Swaraj, who was the external affairs minister and was personally monitoring the case. Speaking to Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com, Ansari recalls the time he spent with her and says that if it wasn't for her efforts, he would still be rotting away in a Pakistani cell.
The Janata Dal-United, an ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party, opposed the government's move on Article 370 through a fresh Presidential Order ending special status to Jammu and Kashmir. On Monday, opposing the Narendra Modi-led government's decision, they walked out of the Rajya Sabha where the bill to split the state into two Union Territories was passed. Similarly, on Tuesday, the JD-U walked out of Lok Sabha while the bill was being discussed. In Patna, JD-U national spokesperson K C Tyagi said: "We completely differ with the Central government's move on Jammu and Kashmir. There was a need for wider consultations on it, but no consultation was done even within the NDA. We own the legacy of socialist leaders Ram Manohar Lohia and Jai Prakash Narayan, who had opposed attempts to tamper with Article 370 during Congress (government in the past)." Speaking to Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com on the same, the JD-U leader said that 'walking out of Parliament won't affect their ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party'.
'All the benefits of democracy will flow to Kashmir now. This has not happened in the last 70 years.'
"This move will strengthen the unity of the country, which is the requirement of the hour," says Charu Wali Khanna.
'People will feel cheated as they always felt a part of India. We want to be with India and we want people of India to accept us.' Laway tells Rediff.com's Syed Firdaus Ashraf.
'You haven't heard a peep out of Kashmir so what is going to erupt? What repercussion will be (there) in long term, you will have to (wait) and see'
'We were advocating Indian democracy and Indian Constitution. The other side (separatists) questioned Indian Constitution, democracy and accession. This action of scrapping Article 370 has vindicated their point.'
BSP legislator says his own party gives election tickets to highest bidder, warns that money politics more dangerous than bahubali politics.
'We are warning that if you get these 3.5 lakh additional non-medical people with licence, our infant mortality rate and maternal mortality rate will deteriorate'.
'Congress gave Muslim conservatism support and here the BJP saw a window of opportunity'
'If you want to keep a cow and do business you can keep it in your compound or your home, but not tie them up at public places.' Taking up this problem by its horns, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation is planning to take action against all those who illegally tie cows to the footpaths and turn it into a business. The civic body has proposed to increase the penalty for tethering cows, bulls and horses to poles on roads and footpaths to Rs 10,000 from Rs 2,500. The proposal follows a request by Matunga corporator Nehal Shah, who said that at various places -- temples, footpaths and roadside corners -- cows are tied up to poles and passers-by pay owners to feed the animal. Speaking to Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com, she says that tying up animals on the streets is tantamount to cruelty and that the steep fines will act as a deterrent.
Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com finds out how the government is seeking to change the RTI Act, and what impact it will have on the Right to Information.
'The most important thing is that the psychological signal it is giving to the markets and international markets,' says former finance secretary Arvind Mayaram.
Syed Firdaus Ashraf lists seven states where the Grand Old Party suffered a severe setback.
'They just want to show that the Congress is in disarray.'
'After the Parliament election results many people are confused and that is why this crisis has erupted
The answers will come -- hopefully! -- when the film releases on August 15, feels Syed Firdaus Ashraf.
10 reasons why the Congress-JD-S government is on the brink of collapse.
'The anti-Muslim discourse creates an atmosphere of fear.'
'Why should she involve Islam in it?' 'We are living in a secular democracy and she has the right to do what she wants. but why bring Islam into it?'
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