BJP ally JD(U) joins Opposition leaders in urging centre to halt arms supply to Israel
New Delhi: The Janata Dal (United), a key ally of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, has joined Opposition leaders in calling on the Indian government to cease the supply of arms and ammunition to Israel amidst its ongoing conflict with Gaza. The appeal was led by JD(U) General Secretary KC Tyagi, who, along with other Opposition leaders, met with Mohammed Makram Balawi, Secretary General of the League of Parliamentarians for Al Quds, in Delhi on Sunday.
The League of Parliamentarians for Al Quds is an independent institution that coordinates global parliamentary efforts in support of the Palestinian cause, in line with United Nations resolutions and efforts to maintain peace in West Asia.
Tyagi said that the JD(U) has historically supported the Palestinian cause, a stance echoed by the Indian government, including during the tenure of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He stressed the importance of ending the violence against civilians in Gaza and upholding UN resolutions related to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Following the meeting, Tyagi and other leaders issued a joint statement urging the Union government to refrain from supplying arms to Israel. The statement condemned the "Zionist aggression and the heinous genocide of the Palestinian people" and asserted that India's complicity in the conflict would be contrary to its longstanding commitment to justice and human rights.
The signatories of the statement include Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh, Samajwadi Party Rajya Sabha MP Javed Ali Khan, Congress spokesperson Meem Afzal, and other prominent figures from various political parties.
Reports have surfaced earlier this year suggesting that India may have been supplying drones and other military equipment to Israel, although the government has neither confirmed nor denied these claims. This issue has drawn international attention, particularly following Spain's refusal to allow an Israel-bound ship carrying arms from Chennai to dock at its port in line with its ban on arms exports to Israel since the conflict began.
The ongoing conflict escalated on October 7 when Hamas launched an incursion into southern Israel, resulting in significant casualties. In response, Israel has conducted extensive air and ground strikes on Gaza, leading to widespread devastation and a significant loss of life.
India has traditionally supported a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, advocating for direct negotiations aimed at establishing a sovereign and independent state of Palestine coexisting peacefully alongside Israel.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Stripped to identify religion, ears cut off: Muslim hawker from Bihar dies a week after lynching
Police deny religious angle in the case
Patna: Mohammed Athar Hussain, a 55-year-old Muslim cloth vendor, tragically died on Friday, a week after sustaining severe injuries in a horrific lynching, reported The Print.
Hussain, who made his living by selling clothes on a bicycle in the rural areas of Nawada for the last decade, is survived by his wife, Shabnam Parveen, and three children.
Before his death at a government hospital, Hussain recorded a video statement.
In the video, which is doing rounds on social media platforms, Hussain alleged that four men initially locked him in a room. They later returned late at night and, stripped him to find out his religion, identifying him as a "miyan ji" (a Muslim). He claimed the assailants then poured petrol on him, branded him with a hot iron rod, and used pliers to cut off his ear.
Furthermore, he stated, "The assault continued as some were beating with sticks, while others were using pliers to cut off my fingers and ear."
Speaking to The Print, his brother, Mohammed Shaqib, described the shock of seeing his elder brother's picture injured, telling that the family had been dealt a blow from which it would never recover.
No mention of lynching in FIR
Meanwhile, quoting Nawada Sadar SDPO Hulas Kumar, The Print reported that while the victim made serious allegations, his wife did not document the specific claim that her husband was stripped to determine his religion in her initial police complaint, dated December 6.
Furthermore, a senior police official in Patna denied this was a religious lynching, instead terming it a case of "mistaken identity" where the deceased was assaulted under suspicion of theft.
Bihar Director General of Police (DGP) Vinay Kumar confirmed that both the murder case against the assailants and a separate theft complaint, filed by one of the accused against Hussain, are being probed to reach a logical conclusion.
The DGP told The Print that while the theft case is being investigated, the focus is clearly more on the lynching case.
Following Hussain's death, Nawada Police upgraded the charges, adding Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with the offense of murder.
According to reports, police have successfully arrested nine people in connection with the assault, including four individuals specifically named in the FIR filed by Hussain’s wife.
One of the nine accused, Sikandar Yadav, is the same man who accused Hussain of theft, claiming that this accusation led to the assault.
The statements given by arrested suspects, including Sree Yadav and Ranjan Kumar, reportedly led police to the remaining five accused.
Further probe in this regard is underway.
