Mangaluru: SSF, SYS stage protest against media houses that framed Abdul Rauf as 'terrorist'
Mangaluru: In the wake of a recent incident wherein a Belthangady Madrasa employee Abdul Rauf was telecasted as “Terrorist” by some of the major media houses of the region, Sunni Students Federation (SSF) and Sunni Yuvajana Sangam on Monday staged protest outside Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner’s office at State Bank here.
The protesters raised slogans against the media houses while also calling such incidents as “Media Terrorism”.
SYS Karnataka Chief G. M Mohammed Kamil added that the protest was not against all the media houses but only against those who ‘misuse their freedom of press’ to harass ordinary citizens of the country by labelling them anti-national.
Mohammed Ali of SSF Dakshina Kannada remarked that the media had tarnished the image of innocent man Abdul Rauf by showing him as a terrorist on TV. “These media houses are the dark spots of the media and journalism industry” he said while further criticizing them for their irresponsible and questionable reporting.
Adding that the media’s irrensponsible and biased attitude will hurt the secular fabric of the country, he said “The society will not accept such media houses and they will lose their credibility if they keep attacking one single religion”.
SSF District President Ibrahim Sakafi stressed that a media house should work as a force to secure democratic and secular values in the country. He called upon the police to take action against the media houses spreading fake news while also noting that the organisation will continue protesting in state and national capital if action is not initiated against these media houses.
Victim Abdul Rauf Musliyar, SSF District Secretaries Hafil yakub Saidi, KP Sirajuddin Sakafi and Ashraf Kinara and others were present during the protest.
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India & Israel elevate ties to special strategic partnership, vow to soon conclude free trade deal
Jerusalem (PTI): India and Israel on Thursday elevated their "time-tested" relationship to a special strategic partnership and agreed to soon firm up a "mutually beneficial" free trade deal even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly backed the Gaza peace initiative, asserting that humanity must never become a victim of conflict.
Following talks between Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, the two sides inked a plethora of agreements to expand cooperation in areas of trade, agriculture, energy, cyberspace and digital payment.
India and Israel also vowed to expand their already close defence partnership by working towards joint development and joint production of military hardware under the framework of the transfer of technologies.
In his media statement, Modi said India's security interest is linked to peace and stability in the Middle East, adding that New Delhi fully supports the Gaza Peace Initiative.
"India's stance is clear: humanity must never become a victim of conflict. A path to peace has been created through the Gaza Peace Plan. India has fully supported these efforts," he said.
"In the future as well, we will continue dialogue and cooperation with all countries," he said.
PM Modi landed in Israel on Wednesday on a two-day visit. It is his second visit to Israel in nine years.
In his remarks, the prime minister said India and Israel have a united view that there is no place for terrorism in the world and both sides stand shoulder-to-shoulder in countering terrorism and its supporters.
"Our relationship is founded on the strong bedrock of deep trust, shared democratic values, and human sensitivities. Our bond has stood the test of every trial of time," he said.
"Today, we have taken the historic decision to elevate our time-tested partnership to the status of a 'Special Strategic Partnership'," he said.
The prime minister also announced the establishment of an India-Israel critical and emerging technologies partnership to impart a new momentum for cooperation in areas of artificial intelligence, quantum, and critical minerals. "I am pleased that an agreement has been reached for the use of UPI in Israel," he said.
The prime minister, referring to the threat of terrorism, said India and Israel will continue to confront the menace unitedly.
"India and Israel are completely clear that there is no place for terrorism in the world. In any form, in any expression, terrorism cannot be accepted," he said.
"We have stood shoulder-to-shoulder in opposing terrorism and its supporters, and we will continue to do so," he added.
India and Israel also discussed the implementation of the India-Middle East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and cooperation under the framework of I2U2 (India-Israel-UAE-USA).
