West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has criticised the deployment of CRPF armoured vehicles during the Assembly elections, accusing the BJP-led Centre of using government resources to favour their party. She also addressed concerns of potato farmers and urged them to sell their produce in other states.
Iran's supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Wednesday extolled the sacrifice and martyrdom of senior Iranian armed forces leaders as the conflict in West Asia enters into its second month.
A video of Sattar's visit to the Shiva temple in Rahimabad in his assembly constituency Sillod on the occasion of Mahashivratri on Sunday went viral on social media, triggering protests from the BJP and other outfits.
The incident took place on Sunday morning at the city's Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport and all passengers were deboarded safely. No harm was caused to the aircraft.
Pakistan's cricket captain is with his mother in Mecca; Rizwan is with his mother and wife.
The Congress party has criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi's handling of GST reforms, calling them inadequate and demanding an apology for the tax imposed on essential items. They argue that the reforms are merely a 'band-aid' solution and that the government should address the states' demand for extended compensation.
'They wanted the city to be a great business hub. They didn't like the fact that taxes collected in Bombay would go outside the city.'
The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), a sister organisation of the Bajrang Dal, said its workers carried out the act to register their protest against Gujarat Congress president Jagdish Thakor's recent statement regarding minorities.
In a bid to control the coronavirus pandemic, Saudi Arabia said it has barred international visitors from making the Islamic pilgrimage.
'6 shooters went to kill Dawood in Pakistan.'
A seemingly innocuous word, "bhai" (brother), led to a 13-minute disruption in the Delhi Assembly on Thursday, with the ruling BJP and the opposition AAP engaging in heated exchanges. The incident began when PWD minister Parvesh Verma used the word during a debate on the Teerth Yatra Samiti, prompting AAP MLAs to accuse him of disrespect. Three AAP MLAs were marshalled out by the Speaker amid the uproar, which even saw BJP legislators chanting slogans of "Chhathi maiya ki jai".
"Earlier Haj House was made in Ghaziabad. Our government constructed Kailash Mansarovar Bhawan. Earlier the mafia used to harass traders, but now no mafia can dare to grab property of any trader, doctor or a poor person...," he said.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced reservation for Muslims in supplying goods and services up to a value of Rs 1 crore to various government departments, corporations and institutions in the state budget for 2025-26. The budget also increased the value limit of government contracts in which Muslims can avail reservation to Rs 2 crore. The reservation to Muslims under 2B category is in addition to the Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, and Castes coming under Category-1, Category-2A. The budget also included various welfare schemes for minorities, including Rs 50,000 to support simple marriages and Rs 1,000 crore under the Chief Minister's Minority Colony Development Programme.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath slammed the opposition Samajwadi Party over the 2013 Kumbh Mela arrangements, accusing the then chief minister Akhilesh Yadav of appointing a "non-Sanatani " as the in-charge of the religious congregation in Prayagraj. Adityanath highlighted the presence of dignitaries, including the President, Prime Minister, and heads of state from 74 countries, at the recent Maha Kumbh, contrasting it with the "chaos, corruption, and pollution " of the 2013 event. He also criticized the opposition's criticisms of the Maha Kumbh arrangements, arguing that everyone found something in accordance with their nature and character. Adityanath refuted allegations of discrimination against any community at the Maha Kumbh, emphasizing the unity and inclusivity of the event.
His decision to put off the week-long visit for Haj also comes amid speculation of an impending reshuffle in the Union Cabinet.
Complaining about "woefully inadequate," allotment of the Haj quota to the state, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Saturday sought the intervention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to enhance the number.
'The government used to give subsidy to reduce loss of Air India'
While 221 Indian pilgrims died during the Haj in 2007 due to natural causes, six others were killed in road accidents.
Delhi recorded a voter turnout of over 19 per cent in the first four hours of polling on Wednesday across 70 assembly constituencies, with the highest voter participation witnessed in North East district.
On the basis of her committee's report, the UCC in Uttarakhand established mandatory registration for marriages and live-in relationships, banned polygamy, and provided equal inheritance rights for women.
The government had earlier issued a notice to Singh, seeking an explanation on whose ordered its office boundary wall to be painted saffron and why it was subsequently repainted.
The CM said the state government has been extending grant for the Hindus and the Christians for their overseas pilgrimage.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday demanded that the Centre should increase quota of Haj pilgrims from the state.
"This is part of our policy to empower minorities with dignity and without appeasement," Naqvi said.
'Please accept our apologies for the inconvenience caused,' the airline added.
Ahead of the Maha Kumbh, a senior cleric has written to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressing fears that mass conversions of Muslims will take place during the event, while other community leaders have flagged the alleged demand raised by some Hindu seers' body to keep Muslims out of the mega gathering.
The Bhartiya Janata Party has demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the issue.
Muslim pilgrims circle the Kaaba and pray at the Grand mosque during the annual Haj pilgrimage in the holy city of Mecca, ahead of Eid al-Adha which marks the end of Haj.
"The fare to be charged from the pilgrims for Haj 2008 will continue to be Rs 12,000 per pilgrim. There will be no increase," Information and Broadcasting Minister P R Dasmunsi said after a meeting of the Union Cabinet. As many as 1,23,211 pilgrims will travel on subsidised fare this year as compared to 1.15 lakh in October last year, he said.
The Haj Committees and Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam Ltd, which organise the religious pilgrimages will not have to Service Tax.
Control Rooms have been set up in Indian Haj Mission, Makkah, Consulate General of India, Jeddah, and the Indian Embassy in Riyadh
'Aamir will fly in 200 plus family members and friends from different cities to celebrate his mother's birthday on June 13.'
Thousands of Muslims posing in front of holy sites for a selfie during the Haj, has angered some conservative clerics and sparking a debate over legitimacy of such actions during the annual pilgrimage.
The first batch of 401 state pilgrims on Tuesday left for Haj in two Air India flights from the Srinagar international airport.
Welcoming the Supreme Court order on abolishing Haj subsidy, Law Minister Salman Khurshid on Tuesday said the government had been working on the issue "in the same direction" over the years.
Sarfaraz Ahmad Khan went on his first Haj in 1972.
Geelani cleared for Haj pilgrimage: J&K govt
Saffron has virtually permeated everything -- from booklets and school bags to towels or chairs and even buses. And the Qaiser Bagh police station seems to be the latest on the list.
"Around 45,000 pilgrims will perform Haj through private tour operators," External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh said at the Annual Haj Conference in New Delhi.
BJP says it doesn't make sense to rollback fuel subsidy while maintaining Central patronage for Haj pilgrimage.
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