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Shah Rukh Khan shouldn’t be targeted because he is Muslim: Shiv Sena

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SHAHRUKH khan

Mumbai: Even as he came under attack from sections in BJP, Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan on Wednesday received support from ruling ally Shiv Sena which said the superstar should not be targeted only because he is a Muslim and that the minority community in India is “tolerant”.

“This country is tolerant and the Muslims are tolerant as well. Shah Rukh Khan should not be targeted only because he is a Muslim,” Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said.

BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya had on Tuesday triggered a controversy when he tweeted that Shah Rukh’s “soul” is in Pakistan though he lives in India. His remarks came a day after the 50-year-old actor said there is “extreme intolerance” in the country.

Earlier today controversial BJP MP Yogi Adityanath compared Shah Rukh to Pakistani terrorist Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of Mumbai carnage, over his “extreme intolerance” comment and also suggested that he go to Pakistan.

Slamming Vijayvargiya, Raut asked the BJP general secretary not to bring Pakistan into this debate on tolerance, saying that it is India’s internal matter.

He said Shah Rukh is a superstar only because India is tolerant.

“Shah Rukh Khan is a superstar only because the country is tolerant and has never thought in the name of religion,” the Sena leader said.

However, Raut said Shah Rukh spoke quite late on the issue.

“First of all Shah Rukh Khan should not have gotten into this debate on tolerance and secondly, out of the people who have returned their awards, the number of Muslims is almost negligible. Also, Shah Rukh spoke on the issue very late,” he said.

Meanwhile, under fire for his remark against Shah Rukh, Vijayvargiya on Wednesday withdrew his controversial tweets but asserted that had there been intolerance in India, Shah Rukh would not have been the most popular actor after Amitabh Bachchan.

(PTI)

Ghulam Ali cancels all concerts in India

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ghulam-ali

New Delhi: Pakistani ghazal singer Ghulam Ali, whose concert in Mumbai was called off after resistance from the Shiv Sena, has cancelled all his scheduled performances in the country, saying that he won’t return to India until “things are settled down”.

Ghulam Ali also expressed his disappointment over the recent incidents, asserting that Indian fans have always welcomed him and his music with open arms.

“I have cancelled all my future concerts in India, will never come back to India. I will not perform until things settle down. I’m hurt by recent incidents in India. As of now I have decided not to come to India. Indian fans have been very supportive. I’m a singer, I will talk about music, not politics,” the singer told CNN-IBN news channel.

All his scheduled concerts, including the one in Delhi on November 8, and another in Lucknow, have been scrapped.

According to a report in ibnlive.com, Ghulam Ali, who made an entry into Indian cinema with his popular song “Chupke chupke raat din” for B.R. Chopra’s “Nikaah”, is “hurt by the politics being played over his concerts in India” and “how political points were trying to score brownie points by not letting him perform in India”.

The singer was stopped from performing in Mumbai and in Pune last month after the Shiv Sena threatened to disrupt his concerts. It led to a debate, with artistes from all sections urging that art be kept out of politics.

He had then said that he was sad, but his admiration for India remains undiminished.

(IANS)

Govt says hate speech must be punished, supports prosecution of Subramanian Swamy

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subramanian swamy

New Delhi: The Centre has sought in the Supreme Court the dismissal of BJP leader Subramanian Swamy’s plea challenging the constitutional validity of penal provisions on speeches and writings that could cause enmity and hatred among communities.

“That the challenge of the constitutionality of section 153A of the IPC on the ground that it violates the guarantee of the freedom of speech and expression must be rejected because the section seeks to punish only (a) such acts which have the tendency to promote enmity or hatred between different classes (b) such as which are prejudicial to the maintenance of the harmony between different classes and which have tendency to disturb public tranquillity.

“These acts are clearly calculated to disturb public order and show the limitation imposed by section 153A are in the interest of public order. Article 19(2) would, therefore, save section 153A as being within the scope of permissible legislative restriction on the fundamental right guaranteed under Article 19 (1)(a),” said the affidavit filed by an Under Secretary in the Home Ministry.

The affidavit has also referred to a book written by the BJP leader.

“The petitioner has written a book named Terrorism in India where he has made hate speeches against the community of India. The book-its theme, its language, innuendos, similes it employs and the moral of its story, if any–in order to ascertain whether the offending passages read in the context of the book as a whole fall within the mischief of section 153A. “The book (is) to be considered in all its aspect as it contains matter which “promotes feelings of enmity and hatred between Hindus and Muslims in India.” Therefore, the petitioner has violated the sections of IPC,” the MHA said in its affidavit.

Swamy, who is facing a court case in Karimganj in Assam for allegedly delivering an inflammatory address at Kaziranga University, sought relief from the apex court in the case. He also challenged the constitutional validity of Section 153A (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc, and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) of the Indian Penal Code.

Earlier, on May 21, a judge of the apex court had recused from hearing his plea challenging the validity of some penal provisions relating to “hate speech”.

The apex court was hearing Swamy’s plea against the order of an Assam trial court issuing an NBW against him for failing to appear before it on March 19 in a case of alleged hate speech. The NBW was issued on June 1 by a court in Karimganj on a complaint accusing him of allegedly delivering an inflammatory address on March 15 at Kaziranga University. The Karimganj court had ordered that the arrest warrant be complied with on or before June 30. Proceedings in the case have been stayed in the Assam court.

(PTI)

Shivamogga: BJP leader, who threatened to behead CM, arrested

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SN Channabasappa

Shivamogga: A Karnataka BJP leader stirred a row when he publicly threatened to behead Chief Minister Siddaramaiah if he dared to consume cow meat after which he was today arrested for his “provocative” and “intimidatory” remarks.

S N Channabasappa, a former president of the erstwhile Shivamogga City Municipal Council, had held out the threat last evening during a protest organised by the local party unit against Siddaramaiah’s reported comment on eating beef made last week.

“How dare you lay your hands on the neck of Gomata? You are openly saying with a dictatorial attitude that you will eat cow meat… If you have the guts, you come here and eat at Gopi Circle (in Shivamogga), then, let there be no doubt that on that day, you will be beheaded,” Channabasappa said.

“… Are you playing with the emotions of Hindus? Don’t do it…,” warned Channabasappa, who was arrested today for his remarks which were described by the Chief Minister as “a provocative statement.”

Channabasappa has been booked under IPC Sections 153 (Wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 353 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and 506 (Punishment for criminal intimidation), Superintendent of Police Ravi Channannavar said.

“It is a provocative statement. I will ask the police to inquire into it. If it is true, they will definitely take action,” Siddarmaiah had said earlier.

Asked about state BJP leaders not reacting to such statements, saying those were being made by “fringe elements”, he said, “BJP people are known for it. That is why we are opposing them.”

“If I say I will eat, how will it harm majority community? Don’t we eat other kinds of meat?,” the CM said.

“…food habit is an individual’s choice and should be left to them; no one should interfere with it. Interfering and attacking one’s rights is not correct. It is against the Constitution. It is against individual liberty, it should not be done…”

At a general body meeting of the Karnataka Youth Congress last week, Siddaramaiah had reportedly said, “Till date I have never eaten cow meat. But if it suits my palate and if I want to eat beef, I will eat it. Nobody can stop me.”

Slamming the controversy over beef eating, he had raked up the Dadri lynching incident, and spoken about “growing intolerance” in the country, blaming right-wing outfits for it.

Siddaramaiah’s remarks had come under attack from BJP, with its state unit president Prahlad Joshi saying that cow is revered and worshipped by a majority of the people of the state and the Chief Minister had made the comments just to gain votes of a particular community.

(PTI)

Adityanath compares Shah Rukh Khan with Hafiz Saeed

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Yogi Adityanath

New Delhi: Controversial Bharatiya Janata Party MP Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday compared Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan with Pakistani terrorist Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of Mumbai carnage, over his “extreme intolerance” comment.

This is the second attack on the actor by a BJP leader in as many days, sparking condemnation.

Hitting out at the actor two days after he added his voice to the protest by the intelligentsia against the ’climate of intolerance’, Mr. Adityanath also suggested that he go to Pakistan.

Mr. Adityanath, the MP from Gorakhpur, said Shah Rukh Khan should remember that if a “huge mass” of people in the country would boycott his films then he would also have to wander on streets like a “normal Muslim“.

On Tuesday, senior BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya triggered a controversy when he painted Shah Rukh as an “anti-nationalist.” In a series of tweets, he said the actor’s “soul” is in Pakistan though he lived in India.

Under fire for the remark, Mr. Vijayvargiya, a BJP general secretary, on Wednesday withdrew his controversial tweets but asserted that had there been intolerance in India, Shah Rukh Khan would not have been the most popular actor after Amitabh Bachchan. He, however, refused to apologise for his remarks.

The attack against Shah Rukh Khan by BJP leaders came notwithstanding the refrain of BJP’s top brass in the recent weeks that partymen avoid sensitive comments.

Claiming that in the name of secularism some artists and authors with radical views have started speaking as “anti-nationals”, Mr. Adityanath said “unfortunately”, Shah Rukh Khan has also matched their voice and lent his support.

According to Mr. Adityanath, this was not for the first time that Shah Rukh was doing this “Shah Rukh Khan should remember that if a huge mass in society would boycot his films, he will also have to wander on streets like a normal Muslim….I am saying these people are speaking in a terrorist’ language. I think there is no difference between the language of Shah Rukh Khan and Hafiz Saeed,” he said.

“We welcome that people go there [Pakistan], at least people who defame India will understand their own originality,” he added.

The Congress reacted to Mr. Adityanath’s statement, saying it was condemnable and would cause tension.

“This is a condemnable statement and nobody can send an individual to Pakistan,” Congress leader Tom Vadakkan said.His party colleague P C Chacko feared such comments would create tension.

“If you have views against the dispensation of this country you go to Pakistan… anybody wants to tweet something he has to go to Pakistan.. Are they trying to promote Pakistan tourism?,” asked Mr. Vadakkan.

Sadhvi Prachi, controversial Hindutva leader, also hit out at Shah Rukh Khan on Tuesday, dubbing him a “Pakistani agent” for his comment on Monday when he turned 50 that there was “extreme intolerance” in the country.

(PTI)

Sadhvi Prachi calls Shahrukh Khan a ‘Pakistani Agent’ for talking about religious tolerance

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Sadhvi Prachi

New Delhi: Sadhvi Prachi, a VHP leader triggered another controversy by calling Superstar, Shah Rukh Khan a “Pakistani agent” for his remarks on “intolerance” yesterday.

She also slammed the actor for saying that religious intolerance in the country won’t let it grow and become a superpower. She said that for his statement, SRK should be charged with sedition and sent to Pakistan.

SRK on his 50th birthday said that he is ready to surrender his Padma Shri award.

(Agencies)

Some in Mumbai Police work in tandem with Dawood: Chhota Rajan

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Chhota Rajan

Bali: Underworld don Chhota Rajan Tuesday alleged that “some members” in the Mumbai Police have links with wanted terrorist Dawood Ibrahim and said he will keep on fighting against him.

“Some members of the Mumbai Police are working in tandem with Dawood. I will keep on fighting against terrorism and Dawood. I am not scared of Dawood,” said Rajan, a close confidante-turned-rival of Dawood, the prime accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case.

Rajan, who was arrested in this popular tourist town on his arrival from Australia on October 25, is expected to be produced before a court soon where the Indonesian police will submit details of the cases for which he is wanted in India.

He is likely to be deported to India soon. “The entire process is likely to be completed in next two-three days,” an Indian official had said yesterday.

“The government can keep me anywhere – Delhi or Mumbai. But there should be no injustice done to me. All cases against me are false,” Rajan, who is wanted in over 75 heinous crimes ranging from murder, extortion to smuggling and drug trafficking, told reporters when asked whether he was afraid of returning to Mumbai.

“Mumbai police has been unjust to me. Delhi government taking note of that should do justice to me,” he said.

An Indian team has been working with its Indonesian counterparts to take over Rajan’s custody.

The Indian team, comprising officers from CBI, Mumbai and Delhi police, arrived here on Sunday and they came along with a detailed dossier on 55-year-old Rajan and his involvement in various crimes in India.

The team for the first time questioned him yesterday in the presence of Indonesian police at the detention centre where he has been lodged for the last 10 days.

(PTI)

Uber cab driver gets jail for life for raping woman executive

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Photo illustration of logo of car-sharing service app Uber on a smartphone over a reserved lane for taxis in a street in Madrid

New Delhi: An Uber cab driver was today sentenced to life imprisonment till his natural death for raping a woman executive in his taxi 11 months ago by a Delhi court.

The court awarded the maximum sentence for the offence which endangered the life of the 25-year-old woman.

32-year-old Shiv Kumar Yadav was given the life imprisonment by Additional Sessions Judge Kaveri Baweja who held that the convict while raping the victim abducted her with an intent to compel her for marriage.

“Convict (Yadav) is sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for life which shall mean imprisonment till his remaining natural life for the offence under section 376 (2)(m) (committing rape causes grievous bodily harm) of the IPC,” the judge said and also imposed a fine of Rs 21,000 on him.

The court also directed the Delhi Legal Services Authority to give compensation to the victim and to take care of the family of the convict.

Moments after pronouncement of the judgment, Yadav, his wife, father and two minor daughters started crying inconsolably.

His wailing wife also fainted in the courtroom.

According to the prosecution, the incident took place on the night of December 5 last year when the victim, a finance executive working in Gurgaon, was heading back to her house at Inderlok in Central Delhi.

The accused was arrested on December 7, 2014 from Mathura. The prosecution had produced 28 witnesses in the case.

(PTI)

Will behead Siddaramaiah if he eats beef in Shivamogga, says BJP leader

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SN Channabasappa

Shivamogga: A local BJP leader has dared Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to eat beef at Gopi Circle here but gave an ominous warning: if he did so, he would be beheaded.

“Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is behaving like a dictator. He has stated he would eat beef if he chooses to do so and nobody could stop him. Let him eat beef at Gopi Circle in Shivamogga. If he does so, he will be beheaded,” S N Channabasappa, a former president of the erstwhile Shivamogga City Municipal Council, said on Monday at a protest organised by the BJP against the chief minister’s remark on beef.

“We won’t think twice about that. By making such a statement, the Congress leader has hurt the sentiments of Hindus. We have all grown up drinking cow’s milk,” he added.

M Shankar, spokesperson for the BJP’s Shivamogga district unit, said Siddaramaiah was talking like the owner of a meat shop. “If he eats beef, then Congress workers will eat dog, fox and so on to appease him and get the posts of chairmen of boards and corporations.”

(Agencies)

Manmohan, Sonia, Rahul Pay Tributes to Indira, Patel

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Sonia-Gandhi

New Delhi: Former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party vice president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday paid tributes to former prime minister Indira Gandhi and India’s Iron Man Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

They paid tribute to Indira Gandhi on her death anniversary at the Shakti Sthal memorial site dedicated to her.

“We pay tribute to Indira Gandhi today (Saturday). A leader with courage and compassion. She protected the poor and died for India,” Rahul Gandhi tweeted.

Indira Gandhi was assassinated on October 31, 1984 by her bodyguards a few months after the Indian Army took action in the Golden Temple in Amritsar to remove militants from there as part of a move to counter the insurgency in Punjab.

President Pranab Mukherjee and Vice President Hamid Ansari also visited Shakti Sthal to pay floral tributes to Indira Gandhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute and said: “Tributes to former prime minister Indira Gandhi on her death anniversary.”

She was born on November 19, 1917.

She held the office of prime minister from January 1966 to March 1977. She also became the prime minister from January 14, 1980 till her death.

The three Congress leaders also paid tribute to India’s first home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary.

Sardar Patel, known as India’s Iron Man, played a major role in the country’s struggle for independence and subsequently guided its integration into a united, independent nation.

Patel was born on October 31, 1875 in Gujarat’s Nadiad town. He died on December 15, 1950.

In his tweet, Rahul Gandhi said: “My tribute to Sardar Patel on his birth anniversary. One of the founding fathers of our nation, a patriot and a great Congressman.”

“His contribution to unifying India and guarding against fundamentalist forces will always inspire us,” he said.

Rahul Gandhi said Sardar Patel was truly India’s Iron Man as he believed in a strong, united India where every Indian is equal.

(IANS)

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