Using power to create Hindu-Muslim rift not in state or country's interest: Rahul on Sambhal clashes
New Delhi, Nov 25: A day after violence rocked Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Monday said the BJP's use of power to create a rift between Hindus and Muslims was neither in the interest of the state nor the country.
He also urged the Supreme Court to intervene in the matter as soon as possible.
Three people were killed and scores of others, including security and administration personnel, injured on Sunday as protesters opposing a court-ordered survey of a Mughal-era mosque in Sambhal clashed with police. A fourth injured person died on Monday.
In a post in Hindi on X, Gandhi said, "The biased and hasty attitude of the state government on the recent dispute in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, is extremely unfortunate. I express my deepest condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in the violence and firing."
The administration, without listening to all the parties, insensitively took action that vitiated the atmosphere further and led to the deaths of people -- for which the BJP government is directly responsible, he charged.
"The BJP's use of power to create a rift and discrimination between Hindu-Muslim communities is neither in the interest of the state nor the country. I request the Supreme Court to intervene in the matter as soon as possible and do justice," Gandhi said.
The former Congress chief also appealed for peace and mutual harmony.
"We all have to join together to ensure that India moves forward on the path of unity and constitution, not communalism and hatred," Gandhi asserted.
The district administration has already imposed prohibitory orders and barred the entry of outsiders till November 30 following Sunday's clashes.
Internet services were soon suspended in Sambhal tehsil for 24 hours and the district administration declared a holiday in all schools for Monday.
Violence broke out in the district as protesters opposing the survey of the Jama Masjid clashed with security personnel. The protesters torched vehicles and pelted the police with stones while the security personnel used tear gas and batons to disperse the mob.
Tension had been brewing in Sambhal since November 19 when the Jama Masjid was first surveyed on the court's orders following a petition claiming that a Harihar temple had stood at the site.
On Sunday, trouble started early when a large group of people gathered near the mosque and started shouting slogans as the survey team began its work.
District officials said the survey could not be completed on Tuesday and was planned for Sunday to avoid interference with afternoon prayers.
Deputy Inspector General of Police (Moradabad) Muniraj told reporters on Monday that Naeem, Bilal and Nauman -- the three men who died in Sunday's violence -- had been buried. All three were aged about 25.
He later confirmed the death of a fourth person.
Divisional Commissioner (Moradabad) Aunjaneya Kumar Singh said on Sunday, "Shots were fired by miscreants... the PRO of the superintendent of police suffered a gunshot to the leg, the circle officer was hit by pellets and 15 to 20 security personnel were injured in the violence."
A constable also suffered a serious head injury while the deputy collector fractured his leg, he had said.
The Congress on Sunday alleged that the Adityanath administration was squarely responsible for killing innocents and only the BJP-RSS was guilty of "setting fire" to peace and harmony in Sambhal.
The opposition party had said the videos of direct firing on the protesters depicted the horrifying result of a "well-planned conspiracy" by Adityanath and the BJP-RSS.
संभल, उत्तर प्रदेश में हालिया विवाद पर राज्य सरकार का पक्षपात और जल्दबाज़ी भरा रवैया बेहद दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण है। हिंसा और फायरिंग में जिन्होंने अपनों को खोया है उनके प्रति मेरी गहरी संवेदनाएं हैं।
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) November 25, 2024
प्रशासन द्वारा बिना सभी पक्षों को सुने और असंवेदनशीलता से की गई कार्रवाई ने माहौल और…
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Mhadei row: Goa CM asks Karnataka govt to follow cooperative federalism
Panaji (PTI): Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has invoked the "cooperative federalism" principle while targeting the Karnataka government amid the Mhadei river water sharing dispute between the two states.
"They (Karnataka) speak about stopping the supply of vegetables or tourism inflow (to Goa). We never use such language. India can go forward with cooperative federalism. We are Indians first and Goans later," the chief minister told the legislative assembly on Friday after opposition leader Yuri Alemao claimed that Karnataka had threatened to stop vegetable supplies to Goa.
Goa and Karnataka are embroiled in a dispute over sharing the Mhadei river water. The BJP-ruled Goa has accused the Congress-governed Karnataka of planning to divert the river water by constructing two dams.
Sawant had said that the Goa government would file a contempt petition in the Supreme Court against Karnataka for carrying out activities that are aimed at diverting the Mhadei river water.
After the House passed the demands for grants for agriculture, Sawant said Goa has reduced the horticulture import by 30-40 per cent, whereas horticulture commodities' export has gone up by 20 per cent.
He stated that the state-run Horticulture Corporation has been procuring vegetables and fruits from farmers in various states and selling them through stalls.
The chief minister mentioned about a young farmer, Varad Samant, who has been providing vegetables of Rs 50 lakh every year to the state horticulture department.
"I have met this young farmer who is in his 30s. He told me that he earns a net 60 per cent profit from the vegetable supply business," Sawant said.
He said the government has focused on the agriculture sector. Citing the Swayampurna Goa Scheme, he said millet production is being boosted.
Referring to the demands of the Opposition, the chief minister said, rather than increasing support price for various products, the government is contemplating the possibility of providing a hundred per cent subsidy to farmers involved in community farming.
"65,500 farmers are registered with the department. They are eligible for facilities like Krishi card and Kissan credit card. They can now walk into the bank and avail of loan up to Rs 1 lakh. If any bank refuses to lend, tell me. Because the guarantee of your loan is PM Modi's guarantee," he added.
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