Uttarkashi Mahapanchayat: Hindutva groups protest alleged illegal mosque
SP transferred after he denied permission for Mahapanchayat
Uttarkashi witnessed a mahapanchayat organised by Hindutva groups on Sunday under heavy police deployment. The event, initially denied permission, was later allowed with strict conditions. The district's Superintendent of Police, Amit Srivastava, was transferred shortly after stating that such a gathering would not be permitted in a public space.
Protesters announced a district-wide agitation against a mosque in the region, claiming it was built illegally.
Key speakers, including Telangana BJP MLA T Raja Singh, called for strong measures to counter alleged "land jihad" and urged the state government to emulate Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's approach. Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) state president Anuj Walia declared plans for further protests, including another mahapanchayat in a month.
The Muslim community in Uttarkashi expressed concerns but vowed to continue their legal battle, maintaining that the mosque was built legally. Earlier investigations had found no evidence of encroachment, but demands for demolition persist.
The event also saw Gangotri MLA Suresh Singh Chauhan advocating a ban on meat and liquor shops in the town to preserve its religious character. Meanwhile, tensions remain high as a High Court hearing on the issue is scheduled for December 5.
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Trump says EU has until July 4 to approve last year's trade deal or it will face higher tariffs
Washington (AP): President Donald Trump has said in a social media post that goods from the European Union would face higher tariff rates if the 27-member bloc fails to approve last year's trade framework by July 4.
The announcement on Thursday appeared to be a deadline extension after the president said last Friday that EU autos would face a higher 25 per cent tariff starting this week. Trump made the updated announcement after what he described as a "great call" with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Still, the US president was displeased that the European Parliament had yet to finalize the trade arrangement reached last year, which was further complicated in February by the US Supreme Court ruling that Trump lacked the legal authority to declare an economic emergency to impose the initial tariffs used to pressure the EU into talks.
"A promise was made that the EU would deliver their side of the Deal and, as per Agreement, cut their Tariffs to ZERO!" Trump posted. "I agreed to give her until our Country's 250th Birthday or, unfortunately, their Tariffs would immediately jump to much higher levels."
It was unclear from the post whether Trump was implying that the tariff rates would jump on all EU goods or the increase would only apply to autos.
His latest statement indicates he might be backing away from his earlier threat on EU autos by giving the European Parliament several more weeks to approve the agreement.
Under the original terms of the framework, the US would charge a 15 per cent tax on most goods imported from the EU.
But since the Supreme Court ruling, the administration has levied a 10 per cent tariff while investigating trade imbalances and national security issues, aiming to put in new tariffs to make up for lost revenues.
