"Aren't muslims citizens of this society?,” Rizwan Arshad challenges BJP
Bengaluru: Congress legislator Rizwan Arshad strongly criticized BJP leaders in the Karnataka Assembly, questioning their remarks on the state budget.
"Aren't Muslims citizens of this country? Aren't they part of this society? If not, let them declare that we are animals, unfit to live in this society," he said, taking a dig at the Opposition.
Participating in the budget debate on Thursday, Arshad pointed out that BJP leaders, including Opposition Leader R. Ashoka, had labeled the budget presented by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah as a "Muslim budget," "appeasement budget," and "halal budget."
"But tell me, which Muslims in this country and state do not pay taxes? Does our tax money not go to the treasury? Do we not have the right to demand our share in that tax? Do we not have the right to live in this society? Out of the ₹4.10 lakh crore budget, ₹4,100 crore has been allocated to minorities, and that is not just for Muslims," Arshad stated.
Refuting communal allegations, Arshad asserted, "We did not come from anywhere else. Understand first that we are your brothers. We are the people of this country, the children of this soil. Many of us may have converted from backward classes or Dalits at some point in history. Yet, there is no sympathy for us," he said, lashing out at the BJP.
At this point, BJP leader Basanagouda Patil Yatnal interrupted, accusing, "You are the ones who throw stones. You are the ones who fight. You are the ones who drove Hindus out of Pakistan." His statement triggered a heated exchange between ruling and opposition members in the House.
Later, Rizwan Arshad referenced Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement that Muslim youth should hold a "Quran in one hand and a computer in the other." "Contrary to Modi’s vision, BJP leaders have criticized Siddaramaiah’s budget," he said.
Highlighting that minorities make up 16% of Karnataka’s population, Arshad questioned the BJP’s opposition to government support for their welfare.
"What is wrong if the government provides funds for the development of these communities? BJP leaders are misleading the public with unnecessary criticism," he remarked.
He further accused BJP leaders of "sowing the seeds of hatred" in society through divisive statements. "What will happen to Karnataka’s reputation because of such rhetoric? What message will be sent internationally? Shouldn’t we think about this?" he asked.
Asserting that the current budget allocation for minorities was insufficient, Arshad urged the government to provide more funds for the community’s welfare.
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`Murdered' woman returns home; four accused still in jail
Mandsaur, Mar 21 (PTI): A woman believed to have been murdered sometime in September 2023 returned safe to her home in Madhya Pradesh's Mandsaur district a few days ago, even as four men arrested for the supposed killing continue to be in prison.
The story of Lalita Bai (35), resident of Navali village, is stranger than fiction, or a film script.
A case was registered for her `murder' at Thandla town in Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh in September 2023, days after her family reported that she had gone missing from Gandhi Sagar area of Mandsaur.
Her relatives even identified the body of a woman with her head crushed as Lalita Bai, said Gandhi Sagar police station in-charge Taruna Bharadwaj.
So imagine their surprise when Lalita Bai returned home on March 11, safe and sound.
According to her, she left home on her own with one Shahrukh and travelled to Bhanpura.
There, without her knowledge, he `sold' her to another person, also named Shahrukh, for Rs 5 lakh, Lalita Bai told police.
The second man took her to Kota in Rajasthan, where she stayed with him for nearly 18 months.
"However, as soon as I got the opportunity, I ran away and came back," Lalita told PTI Videos.
"I do not have a mobile phone, so I was unable to contact my family members," she said.
"After we had filed a missing person report, Thandla police informed us about the recovery of a woman's body with her head crushed. We went there and identified it as the body of our daughter on the basis of a tattoo and a black string tied around her leg. We performed the last rites too," Lalita's father Nanuram Banchhada said.
Police, meanwhile, arrested four men including Shahrukh who had allegedly lured her away.
After her return, her father took her to the Gandhi Sagar police station, and informed the officials that she was very much alive.
Gandhi Sagar police then informed their counterparts in Thandla about the development.
As to the fate of the four men who are in prison, it is for the Thandla police to take necessary action, said Mandsaur Superintendent of Police Abhishek Anand.
Jhabua SP Padmavilochan Shukla told PTI that the local court has sought information about the matter.
"We will first conduct a medical examination and DNA test of the woman, and also record afresh the statements of witnesses," he said.
Only after a thorough investigation the police would be able to state conclusively that the woman who turned up at Gandhi Sagar police station earlier this month is the same woman who was thought to have been murdered, Shukla said.
