Kiren Rijiju criticises Congress, issues 'warning' to Muslims
New Delhi: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has hit out on the Congress party and accused them of dividing Hindus and appeasing Muslims for electoral gains. Rijiju, who serves as the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, alleged that the Congress party uses Muslims as a vote bank.
Sharing a clip of his interview with news agency IANS on X on Sunday, the Union Minister for Minority Affairs wrote, “My warning to the Muslims: Do not become the vote bank of the Congress. My warning to Hindus and others: Do not become the victims of divide and rule policies of the Congress Party.”
“During elections, the Congress says its 15 per cent vote share (Muslim) is reserved. This reflects the mindset of the party. It's quite well known that the Congress views Muslims as its vote bank. That's a huge loss for the Muslims,” Rijiju remarked.
He said the Congress believes that Muslims will always vote for it. "How can the Muslim community develop amid such a thought process?” he questioned.
Additionally, he took a dig at Rahul Gandhi, stating that the Congress leader lacks understanding of the challenges faced by Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes. “Rahul Gandhi does not even know the ABCD about the problems and issues faced by the people belonging to the SC, ST and OBCs. Yet, he keeps talking about SC, ST, and OBCs all the time,” alleged Rijiju.
My warning to the Muslims: Do not become vote bank of the Congress!
— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) October 6, 2024
My warning to Hindus & others: Do not become the victims of divide & rule Policies of the Congress Party. pic.twitter.com/hOL345qdYx
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Sambhal violence: Protesters to pay for damage to property, posters of 'stone pelters' to be put up
Lucknow (PTI): The Uttar Pradesh government will make protesters involved in the Sambhal violence pay for damage to public property while posters of "stone pelters" will be displayed at public places, an official said on Wednesday.
Four people died and scores, including police personnel, were injured in Sambhal on Sunday after a confrontation erupted over a court-ordered survey of the city's Shahi Jama Masjid in Kot Garvi area, following a petition claiming that a Harihar temple once stood at the site.
"The UP government is adopting a firm stance against the individuals involved in the Sambhal violence. Posters of the stone pelters and miscreants will be displayed publicly, and recovery of damages will be sought. A reward may also be announced for information leading to their arrest," an official spokesperson said.
In a similar initiative, the government had previously put up posters of individuals linked to vandalism during the anti-CAA protests in 2020. These posters were displayed across several locations, including the state capital, but were later removed following a court order.
The violence in Sambhal erupted on Sunday when a large crowd gathered near a mosque and began chanting slogans as a survey team resumed its work. The situation escalated when the protesters clashed with security personnel, set vehicles on fire, and pelted stones.
So far, police have arrested 25 individuals and registered seven FIRs, which include charges against Zia-ur-Rehman Barq, the Samajwadi Party MP from Sambhal, Sohail Iqbal, son of the party's local MLA Iqbal Mehmood, and over 2,750 unidentified suspects.
A magisterial probe is underway, and Superintendent of Police Krishna Kumar Vishnoi stated on Monday that the situation was now under control. He assured that "strict action will be taken against those responsible for the unrest."
