Mindset of those targeting Muslims, Kashmiri students similar to terrorists: SP MP Afzal Ansari
Ballia (UP), May 1 (PTI): SP MP Afzal Ansari condemned the targeting of Muslims and Kashmiri students in several parts of the country following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, alleging that those "government-backed" people spreading hatred share the same mindset as terrorists.
Talking to PTI on the sidelines of a family function at the residence of Ballia MP Sanatan Pandey on Wednesday, Ansari said, "The Pahalgam incident is a failure of the Narendra Modi-led central government.
"The site of the attack is 150 kilometres away from the Pakistan border. How did terrorists gain the courage to reach so deep into Indian territory? This is the time for a strong response. If there is no internal complicity, India must retaliate and reclaim Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) as its own."
Condemning attacks on Muslims and Kashmiri students across the country, the Samajwadi Party leader cited an attack on Kashmiri students by members of right-wing groups in Patiala, Punjab, and vandalism of Muslim-owned shops in Haryana.
He claimed similar incidents have taken place elsewhere as well.
"Terrorists who come from Pakistan to kill innocent civilians and those who try to spread hatred in India in the name of religion and caste have the same mindset. The people of this country have started recognizing them," the SP leader said.
He further alleged that while foreign terrorists attack from across the border, "government-sponsored and trained hateful and disruptive elements" are indulging in violence and intimidation domestically.
"The government is patronising such elements due to which they are doing hooliganism in the name of religion and caste. While Kashmiri students and Muslims are being harassed in some places, dalit MP Ramji Lal Suman is being threatened,” he added.
Emphasising the need to reclaim PoK, Ansari said, "The entire country is united on this. It is the right time to integrate Pakistan-occupied Kashmir into India. They must be punished for their crimes, and what belongs to India must return to India."
He also claimed that the central government’s decision to conduct a caste-based census was the result of pressure from SP chief Akhilesh Yadav.
"In the coming times, the government will have to grant rightful entitlements to the deprived sections of society, based on the results of the caste census," he added.
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Two workers trapped after wall of opencast coal mine collapses in Jharkhand
Hazaribag (PTI): Two workers have been trapped after the wall of an opencast mine collapsed on a truck in Jharkhand's Hazaribagh district, police said on Sunday.
The accident occurred around 11 pm on Saturday in the command area of Central Coalfield Limited (CCL) under the Urimari Police Station limits when the highwall of the mine caved in on the coal-loading vehicle, a senior officer said.
A highwall in mining is the face of exposed overburden and coal in a mine, and its stability is important for safety of miners and equipment, experts said.
The trapped coal workers, who were on the truck when the accident occurred, were identified as Sunil Yadav (30) and Raju Paswan (50), Barkagaon sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Pawan Kumar said.
"A rescue operation is underway for the two workers. Another person has already been rescued from the accident site and admitted to a hospital here," he added.
The trapped workers could not be rescued on Saturday night due to darkness, fog and a protest by coal workers there, the SDPO said.
The labourers at the opencast mine stopped their coal extraction activities after the accident, he added.
