BJP leaders object to participation of poetess Shabeena Adeeb in 'mushaira'
Meerut (UP) (PTI): An RLD leader on Saturday claimed that poetess Shabeena Adeeb could not participate in a 'mushaira' here following objections from some BJP leaders.
Adeeb had to take part in the recitation at the annual All India Mushaira held at the Nauchandi fair here on Saturday.
Former minister and general secretary of Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), a BJP ally, Mairajuddin Ahmed, who is the head of the managing committee for the event, said, "As part of a conspiracy, an old video of Shabeena Adeeb reciting a shayari was circulated. She was stopped from performing at the event which is very bad.
"Later, Adeeb also agreed and did not come to perform saying her health was not good."
City president of BJP Suresh Jain told reporters that they objected to her participation due to fear of communal tension.
"Shabeena Adeeb recites poems which are not good for communal harmony. This could lead to tensions. When we came to know about it, we requested the administration not to invite her to perform here," he said
Ahmed said the poem to which the BJP leaders were objecting was recited 20 years ago. He also claimed poets who were not invited to perform at the mushaira could have been behind the move to stop her from taking part in the event.
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Assam: 23,000 people affected by urban floods as IMD forecasts more rain
Guwahati (PTI): More than 23,000 people have been affected by urban floods in Assam as rains lashed several parts of the state, while the IMD warned of more showers, official sources said on Friday.
The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), in its bulletin, said urban floods have been reported from the three districts of Kamrup (Metropolitan), Sribhumi and Cachar.
Four revenue circles and 12 villages have been inundated in these districts, affecting 23,619 people.
The worst-hit has been Cachar district, where 15,617 people have been affected, followed by Sribhumi with 8,002 flood-hit people, according to the bulletin.
There were no reports of deaths or people missing in the urban floods in the last 24 hours, the ASDMA said.
Fifty-three marooned people and three animals were rescued by a State Disaster Relief Force boat in Sribhumi district.
Meanwhile, the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Guwahati, has issued an 'orange alert' for the four districts of Sribhumi, Hailakandi, Cachar and Dima Hasao for the next 24 hours.
An 'orange alert' implies 'be prepared to take action' and is sounded when thunderstorm and lightning accompanied with gusty wind reaching wind speed 30 to 40 kmph, with heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur at isolated places.
'Yellow alert' to be on 'watch/be updated' has been issued for 20 districts -- Dhubri, South Salmara-Mankachar, Goalpara, Kokrajhar, Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Bajali, Tamulpur, Nalbari, both Kamrup districts, Udalguri, West Karbi Anglong, Sonitpur, Biswanath, Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Charaideo, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia.
Some of the districts on 'yellow alert' are likely to continue receiving heavy rainfall along with thunderstorms for the next couple of days, as per the RMC forecast.
