Congress misleading Muslim community on CAA: Union Minister Pralhad Joshi
Bengaluru, Dec 22: Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Sunday accused the Congress of inciting violence by misleading the Muslim community over the CAA as it was 'unable' to accept the "phenomenal rise" of the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's stature.
The Citizenship Amendment Act was all about giving citizenship to six religious minorities of the three Islamic Republics of Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan and not take away the citizenship of anybody in India, he told a press conference here.
The arrogant Congress, which thinks that ruling the country is its birth right, cannot accept the phenomenal rise of the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's stature. Hence, the Congress is misleading the Muslims community on the issue of CAA. But this won't work, he said.
Rejecting criticism against the law, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister said This (CAA) is inclusive and is in right spirit of Sabka Saath; Sabka Vikas; Sabka Vishwas. But the Congress and the Left Parties, TMC and some so-called intellectuals have raised a hue and cry over a non-issue."
Joshi challenged Congress to prove one negative point in the newly-enacted CAA and claimed that none of its leaders, either in the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha, could raise any substantial and logical issues over the legislation.
The law had been enacted specifically to those six religious minorities who are persecuted on religious grounds in the three neighbouring countries, he said in apparent reference to questions why Muslims had not been included under its ambit.
"In those three countries, Muslims are not religious minorities and they are not persecuted, Joshi explained.
The minister said anybody from any part of the world can apply for Indian Citizenship which would be taken up for consideration under the existing Indian Citizenship Act of 1955 but not under CAA.
Singer Adnan Sami, writer Tasleema Nasreen and 500 Muslim families have been given citizenship under the 1955 Act. Naturalisation is yet another process through which one can obtain citizenship.
"But the only reason why Congress party is inciting violence by provoking Muslim Community is because of its frustration, Joshi alleged.
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South African police arrest suspect in mass shooting that killed 12, including 3 children
Johannesburg (AP): A 32-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with a mass shooting which claimed the lives of 12 people including three children at an unlicensed pub earlier this month, South African police said on Monday.
The man is suspected of being one of the three people who opened fire on patrons in a pub at Saulsville township, west of South Africa's capital Pretoria, killing 12 people including three children aged 3, 12 and 16.
At least 13 people were also injured during the attack, whose motive remains unknown.
According to the police, the suspect was arrested on Sunday while traveling to Botlokwa in Limpopo province, more than 340 km from where the mass shooting took place on Dec 6.
An unlicensed firearm believed to have been used during the attack was recovered from the suspect's vehicle.
“The 32-year-old suspect was intercepted by Limpopo Tracking Team on the R101 Road in Westenburg precinct. During the arrest, the team recovered an unlicensed firearm, a hand gun, believed to have been used in the commission of the multiple murders. The firearm will be taken to the Forensic Science Laboratory for ballistic analysis,” police said in statement.
The suspect was arrested on the same day that another mass shooting at a pub took place in the Bekkersdal township, west of Johannesburg, in which nine people were killed and 10 wounded when unknown gunmen opened fire on patrons.
Police have since launched a search for the suspects.
South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world and recorded more than 26,000 homicides in 2024 — an average of more than 70 a day. Firearms are by far the leading cause of death in homicides.
The country of 62 million people has relatively strict gun ownership laws, but many killings are committed with illegal guns, according to authorities.
According to police, mass shootings at unlicensed bars are becoming a serious problem. Police shut down more than 11,000 illegal taverns between April and September this year and arrested more than 18,000 people for involvement in illegal liquor sales.
