Aurangabad, Nov 25: Taking a swipe at the BJP over a draft ordinance passed by the Uttar Pradesh government amid uproar over inter-faith marriages, AIMIM MP Imtiaz Jaleel on Wednesday dared the saffron party to "set an example and act" against its leaders Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Shahnawaz Hussain.
The draft ordinance aims to curb forcible or 'dishonest' religious conversions including those for the sake of marriage, which could land violators in jail for up to 10 years.
"The BJP has brought this law in Uttar Pradesh. We want to ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi who started 'love jihad'? Is 'love jihad' done by BJP minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi is valid? Is it valid if done by senior BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain? But if Imtiaz Jaleel does the same, then a law comes into force," the Aurangabad MP told reporters.
"The BJP should set an example for others by acting against Naqvi and Shahnawaz Hussain. The BJP can then tell others that it has put its own leaders behind bars. They can then say that the law is applicable for all," he said.
Jaleel said issues like inter-faith marriages are being raked up by the BJP and the RSS to divert attention from key issues like COVID-19 pandemic, unemployment, economic mismanagement etc, which are facing the county.
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.
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Monday said it will list for hearing on December 17 a plea related to worsening air pollution levels in Delhi-NCR.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pamcholi took note of the submissions of senior advocate Aprajita Singh, who is assisting it as an amicus curiae, that though the preventive measures are there in place but the key issue was of their poor implementation by the authorities.
Singh said till this court directs something, the authorities do not comply with the protocols which are already there.
“This is coming up before a three judges bench on Wednesday. It will come up,” the CJI said.
Another lawyer referred to an application relating to the health issue of children, and said schools, despite the earlier orders, are holding outdoor sports activities.
“Despite the order of this court, Schools have found ways and means to have these sporting activities.. it is taking place. The CAQM (Commission for Air Quality Management) is again citing the order of this court,” the amicus also said.
“We know the problem and let us pass orders which can be complied with. There are some directions which can be forcibly imposed. In these urban metropolitan cities people have their own lifestyle. But the poor…,” the CJI said.
The amicus said the poor labourers are the worst ones to suffer.
Earlier the bench had said the plea against air pollution cannot be treated as a "customary" case to be listed only during the winter months only.
It had said the case will be taken twice in a month to find out short and long-term solutions to the menace.
Delhi on Monday choked under a thick blanket of smog, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) settling at 498, which falls in the higher spectrum of 'severe' category.
The air quality was 'severe' at 38 stations while it was 'very poor' at two stations. Jahangirpuri, which recorded an AQI of 498, recorded the worst air quality amongst all 40 stations.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board, an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered 'good', 51 to 100 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 'moderate', 201 to 300 'poor', 301 to 400 'very poor', and 401 to 500 'severe'.
The AQI in Delhi had climbed to 461 on Sunday and marked the city's most polluted day this winter and the second-worst December air quality day on record, as weak winds and low temperatures trapped pollutants close to the surface.
