Govt vows to fulfill demands of Muslim community: Assurance from Ministers, CM's Political Secretary
Honouring ceremony held by DK District Waqf Advisory Committee, DK Honouring Committee
Mangaluru: Government officials and politicians, including State Housing, Minority Welfare, and Waqf Minister B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan, State Municipal Administration, Hajj Minister Rahim Khan, and Chief Minister's Political Secretary Naseer Ahmed, have pledged their commitment to addressing the challenges faced by the Muslim community and fulfilling their various demands. This assurance was made during an honorific event organized by the D.K. District Honouring Committee and D.K. District Waqf Advisory Committee at Town Hall.
Speakers at the event expressed their concern about the difficulties and oppression suffered by the Muslim minority community over the past few years under the BJP rule and emphasized the importance of a peaceful and secular government in power. They highlighted the need to correct injustices and inequalities faced by the community, particularly in areas such as scholarships and awareness schemes.
Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan stated, "The previous BJP government committed numerous injustices regarding scholarships and awareness schemes for Muslims. Our government is dedicated to rectifying these injustices. The Congress party has always upheld the principles of fairness and equality among all communities, and we will continue to do so."
Minister Rahim Khan revealed that the government has allocated 10 crore rupees for the construction of a Haj Bhavan in Mangaluru, and the foundation stone for this project will be laid soon. He asserted that public servants, regardless of their positions, are committed to serving the common people and empowering the community.
Naseer Ahmed, the Political Secretary to the Chief Minister, stressed the significant contributions of the Muslim community to the state and highlighted the importance of improving communication within the community. He mentioned that various schemes, including a 1 crore rupee loan scheme, which was previously reserved for SC/ST communities, have been extended to backward and minority communities. Naseer Ahmed encouraged the proper utilization of these schemes, including government guarantees, by the Muslim community.
The leaders pledged to work towards achieving social and economic empowerment for the Muslim community in Karnataka and ensuring equal opportunities for all.
Continuing the spirit of unity and community development, State Legislative Assembly Speaker U.T. Qadir Fareed expressed his gratitude for the support and blessings he received from the people. He emphasized the government's commitment to addressing the community's demands and called for collective efforts to foster development and harmony in the DK district.
Udupi Samyukta Qazi Al-Haj M Abdul Hameed Musliyar Mani, who inaugurated the program, reminded everyone that positions of power are not permanent and stressed the importance of showing compassion to all, regardless of caste or faith. He encouraged those in power, including the minister, to work towards the welfare of both the community and society.
President of the felicitation committee, Dr. Yenepoya Abdulla Kunhi, presided over the program and acknowledged the significant contributions of the honourees. He hoped that the event would inspire them to continue serving the people in the future.
D.K. Qazi Alhaj Al-haj Twaka Ahmed Musliyar offered prayers during the event. Distinguished guests included D.K. President of Udupi District Muslim Central Committee Haji K.S. Muhammad Masood, KPCC General Secretary Inayat Ali, former State Waqf Board Chairman Maulana NKM Shafi Saadi, and former Legislative Council Member Ivan D'Souza.
The Honouring Committee's Convener, S.M. Rasheed Haji, extended a warm welcome, while District Waqf Advisory Committee Chairman B.A. Abdul Nasir Lucky Star provided introductory remarks. Shanti Prakashan Manager Muhammad Kunhi delivered a felicitation speech, and young scholar Dr. Abdur Rashid Zaini Kamil read the felicitation letter. Mumtaz Ali, a member of the Honouring committee, expressed gratitude in the vote of thanks. Motivational Speaker Rafiq Master comperred the program.
During the event, several significant demands were put forward by the community members. These demands include:
- Scholarships for All: The request for scholarship facilities for all students belonging to the Muslim community in the district, along with an additional grant allocation for this purpose.
- Financial Support for Self-Employment: The call for the announcement of special financial assistance programs aimed at promoting self-employment opportunities among the community.
- Education Accessibility: Advocating for more accessible rules and regulations, particularly for students pursuing higher education and those studying abroad.
- Recall of Transferred Officials: The appeal to recall Muslim officials who held important positions in the district and were deliberately transferred during the previous government's tenure.
- Honorarium for Madrasa Teachers: The proposal to establish a system for providing honorariums to madrasa teachers.
- Simplified Grant Rules: Simplification of grant regulations, specifically for Muslim women patients through the Waqf Board.
- Haj Bhavan Construction: Urging the prompt laying of the foundation stone for the construction of Haj Bhavan.
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Putin meets Iran's FM Araghchi, says Russia ready to do its best to help bring peace to West Asia
Moscow (PTI): Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Monday met Russian President Vladimir Putin, who hailed the Iranian people for fighting bravely and heroically for their sovereignty and said Moscow is ready to do its best to help bring peace to West Asia as soon as possible.
Araghchi, who held talks with Omani and Pakistani leadership before arriving in Russia, met Putin in St. Petersburg and thanked him for supporting Iran, state-owned TASS news agency reported.
"Russia is ready to do everything in its power to ensure that peace in the Middle East is achieved as soon as possible," Putin said during his meeting with Araghchi, which was also attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Revealing that he received a message from Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei last week, Putin asked Araghchi to convey his "gratitude for this message and best wishes for his health and well-being."
He praised the Iranian people for fighting "bravely and heroically" for their sovereignty, Iran's state-run PRESS TV reported.
"We really hope that, based on the courage and desire for independence, the Iranian people, under the guidance of the new leader, will weather this difficult period of trials and peace will come,” Putin said.
He also stressed that Russia “intends to maintain” its strategic relations with Iran.
Araghchi said that the world witnessed Iran’s strength in countering the US during the recent war, and that the Islamic Republic is a "stable and powerful establishment."
"With their courage, the Iranian people succeeded in resisting the US aggression and will be able to endure it,” he said.
He said that it became clear that Iran has “great friends and allies” like Russia, and conveyed “warmest greetings” from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian to the Russian leader.
Araghchi said relations between Moscow and Tehran represent a “strategic partnership at the highest level” and will continue to develop "regardless of circumstances."
"We are grateful to you for the solid and strong positions in support of the Islamic Republic of Iran," he said.
Foreign Minister Lavrov said that the talks between President Putin and the Iranian Foreign Minister were "useful and constructive."
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov later said that Russia is "ready to provide any good offices, any mediation services that are acceptable to the parties."
"We will be ready to do everything so that ultimately peace ensues, guaranteed peace, and that there is no return to hostilities," Peskov was quoted as saying by TASS.
He was asked how Moscow can assist in future negotiations on the Iranian settlement.
Araghchi arrived in Russia after his whirlwind trip to Islamabad, which, according to him, was “very productive” and involved “good consultations" with Pakistan's Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, amid uncertainty over the second round of peace talks to resolve the war in West Asia.
"We held good consultations with our friends in Pakistan. The trip was successful. We assessed the outcome of our recent (meetings) and discussed in what direction and under what conditions talks can move on,” Araghchi said in a video posted on his Telegram channel upon his arrival in St Petersburg.
Referring to the second round of talks between the US and Iran to resolve the conflict in West Asia, Araghchi said: "Developments have taken place in the negotiations."
"Despite some progress in earlier rounds, the talks failed to reach their objectives due to the Americans' approach, the excessive demands they made, and the wrong approaches they adopted. Therefore, it was necessary to consult with our friends in Pakistan to review the latest situation,” Iran's official news agency IRNA quoted him as saying.
He said that the trip to Pakistan was a good opportunity to review developments related to the US-Israeli war against Iran, expressing confidence that “these consultations and coordination between the two countries will be highly significant.”
Araghchi arrived at St. Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport early Monday, where he was welcomed by Russian officials and Iran’s ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali, the report said.
The first round of peace talks between Iran and the US, held on April 11 and 12, failed to bring the desired result for the parties to the conflict.
The Iranian minister arrived in Islamabad for the second time on Sunday after a short visit to Oman, where he held talks with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said on security in the Strait of Hormuz and diplomatic efforts to end the Iran-US conflict.
After Araghchi left Pakistan for Oman on Saturday, President Donald Trump announced that US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would no longer be going to Islamabad for talks with Iran, contending that Washington held all the cards on the matter.
Trump on Sunday reiterated that the US and Iranian officials can talk by phone for a peace solution to the conflict.
On Tuesday, Trump extended the two-week ceasefire with Iran indefinitely to give Tehran more time to prepare a unified proposal to end the war, just hours before the truce was set to expire.
The war began when the US and Israel jointly attacked Iran on February 28, killing Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several top commanders. The retaliation by the Islamic Republic extended the war to the entire Gulf region.
