UAE Princess slams Sudarshan TV's Suresh Chavhanke over Tweet on secularism
Says, learn from the religion of peace how to be respectful of others
Dubai: Sheikha Hend bint Faisal Al Qasimi, a princess from the royal family of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), responded strongly to a tweet by Sudarshan TV's Editor-in-chief, Suresh Chavhanke, regarding secularism. Chavhanke claimed that passengers were left waiting outside a bus in the UAE because the Muslim driver was performing prayers.
Chavhanke, known for his far-right extremist ideology, alleged that passengers had to endure the heat while the Muslim driver prayed inside an air-conditioned bus. In response, Sheikha Hend bint Faisal Al Qasimi shared a tweet from the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) that clarified the incident. According to the RTA, the bus was outside its operational hours at the time, and for safety reasons, no one is allowed to enter the bus before or after the scheduled trip.
Sheikha Hend bint Faisal Al Qasimi strongly criticized Chavhanke, emphasizing that the UAE is not a secular country and urged him to have accurate information. She supported the bus driver, stating that he was praying after work hours in a Muslim country that embraces religious tolerance. She further highlighted that the driver was not engaging in harmful actions such as evicting people from their homes or businesses, unlike certain neo-Nazis who continue to perpetrate such acts. She concluded by advising Chavhanke to learn how to respect others who do not share his religion or political beliefs, drawing from the principles of peace in her own faith.
Chavhanke has a history of making Islamophobic remarks, amounting to hate speeches, on his television channel and other public platforms. His inflammatory statements have the potential to incite disharmony and communal tension.
He was praying after work hours in a bus he is responsible for in a Muslim country that is tolerant of other religions. The Emirates is NOT a secular country, just to remind you to get your facts straight. He was not killing and kicking out people from their homes and shops like… pic.twitter.com/Unohz4BWJN
— Hend F Q (@LadyVelvet_HFQ) June 13, 2023
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Teacher from Maharashtra's Kalyan dies in Indonesia due to accident during school tour
Thane, May 11 (PTI): A female teacher from a school in Maharashtra's Thane district has died in an accident in Indonesia's Bali during the tour of her school to the archipelagic country, the authorities of the educational institute said on Sunday.
Teacher Shweta Pushkar Pathak of the B K Birla Public School located in Kalyan town died in the accident in the Indonesian province on Saturday, they said, adding that the process to bring her body back was underway.
"Shweta Pathak lost her life in an unfortunate accident in Bali. We are currently handling all formalities with local authorities to bring her body back to India," a source from the school said.
The school also posted a message on its official website.
"It is with deep sorrow and heavy heart that we inform our school community of the untimely and tragic demise of our beloved colleague, Ms Shweta Pushkar Pathak, in an unfortunate accident during a trip at Bali," it said.
"She was more than an educator. She was a guiding light to her students, a supportive colleague, and a kind-hearted soul whose presence brought warmth and inspiration to all who knew her. Her passion for teaching, her insightful contributions, and her unwavering dedication to her students and the school community have left an indelible mark on our hearts," it added.
School Principal Ranjna Jangra and Pathak's husband are currently in Bali coordinating with local officials to bring her body back to India, the statement said.
Further details are awaited.
Shweta Pushkar Pathak from Kalyan, Maharashtra, passed away in Bali, Indonesia, on 9th May 2025. Her mortal remains are at Payangan Hospital, Gianyar, Bali, Indonesia.
— Supriya Sule (@supriya_sule) May 11, 2025
Requesting Hon. @DrSJaishankar Ji, @MEAIndia, @MEAMadad, and @IndianEmbJkt to kindly assist with the…
