AMU allows Holi celebrations at NRSC Hall after initial denial
Aligarh: The Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) administration has allowed Holi celebrations on campus after initially denying permission. The decision comes amid demands from students and pressure from various quarters.
A few days ago, the university refused to permit the Holi Milan Samaroh, scheduled for March 9 at the Non-Resident Students' Centre (NRSC) Hall, stating that "a new tradition cannot be introduced." Hindu students had urged the administration to allow the event, and the denial led to criticism from student groups and political leaders.
Following the controversy, Brij Bhushan Singh, provost of NRSC Hall, reportedly stated that students would be allowed to play Holi on March 13 and 14 at the NRSC Club. He added that the hall would remain open for two days for students to celebrate with colours and gulal.
The administration's decision to allow the celebration is said to have been influenced by student sentiments. Hindu organisations and political figures had also raised concerns over the initial denial. Some students had even alleged discrimination and threatened to escalate the matter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
According to sources, permission for the Holi Milan was initially sought on February 25, followed by a formal request to senior university officials.
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Trump pauses Project Freedom, claims great progress for final agreement with Iran
Washington (PTI): President Donald Trump has suspended “Project Freedom,” to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, claiming progress in negotiations with Iran toward an agreement to end the war.
In a post on Truth Social on Tuesday, Trump said, “Great progress has been made toward a complete and final agreement with representatives of Iran.”
“Based on the request of Pakistan and other Countries, the tremendous Military Success that we have had during the Campaign against the Country of Iran and, additionally, the fact that Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran, we have mutually agreed that, while the Blockade will remain in full force and effect, Project Freedom (The Movement of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz) will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed," Trump said.
Project Freedom was launched on Monday to escort ships, stranded due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, out to safety. Trump had announced the operation on Sunday and the US Central Command began implementing it the next day.
However, the Project led to friction in the vicinity of the narrow seaway, a key route for transporting one-fifth of the global oil supplies, with the UAE claiming that its ships were attacked by Iran. The US also claimed to have destroyed several Iranian small boats.
Trump’s statement on Truth Social came hours after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that Operation Epic Fury, launched on February 28, had concluded as its objectives have been achieved.
"Operation Epic Fury is concluded. We achieved the objectives of that operation. We're not cheering for an additional situation to occur. We would prefer the path of peace. What @POTUS would prefer is a deal... that is, so far, not the route that Iran has chosen," Rubio told a press conference at the White House on Tuesday.
On Project Freedom, Rubio said the goal was to rescue almost 23,000 civilians from 87 different countries who were trapped inside the Persian Gulf and left for dead by the Iranian regime.
"This is not an offensive operation. This is a defensive operation, and what that means is very simple: there’s no shooting unless we're shot at first. We’re not attacking them, but if they're attacking us or they’re attacking a ship, you need to respond to that," Rubio said.
