Zakir Hussain in critical condition; Family issues clarification after reports of his demise
San Francisco: Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, renowned for his extraordinary talent, is in critical condition at a hospital in the United States due to severe heart-related ailments. His manager, Nirmala Bachani, confirmed his hospitalisation in San Francisco.
Amidst widespread reports of his demise, Hussain's family issued a clarification, stating that he is alive but critically ill. "He is still breathing, but very critical. Please pray for him," said his sister, Khurshid Aulia.
Earlier, several Union Ministers and Chief Ministers mistakenly paid tributes to the legendary percussionist on X (formerly Twitter). The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting also had to delete its condolence post after the clarification. Hussain’s nephew, Ameer Aulia, also appealed on X, urging people to avoid spreading misinformation and to pray for his recovery.
Born in Bombay as the eldest son of legendary tabla player Ustad Allah Rakha, Zakir Hussain began his illustrious career at the age of 13. Over the decades, he collaborated with global icons, blending Indian classical music with jazz through pioneering projects like Shakti in 1973.
The Padma Vibhushan awardee has enthralled audiences worldwide with his virtuosity and innovative artistry, earning a place among India’s most celebrated classical musicians.
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Supreme Court to decide if shouting "Jai Shri Ram" inside mosque constitutes an offence
New Delhi: An appeal has been filed before the Supreme Court challenging the Karnataka High Court's decision, which ruled that shouting "Jai Shri Ram" inside a mosque does not amount to the offence of outraging religious feelings under section 295A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The case arose after two individuals, Keerthan Kumar and Sachin Kumar, allegedly entered the Badriya Juma Masjid in Kadaba Taluk of Dakshina Kannada district, shouted the slogan, and threatened the local Muslim community. They were booked by the police under various provisions of the IPC, including sections 295A (acts intended to outrage religious feelings), 447 (criminal trespass), and 506 (criminal intimidation).
On September 13, the Karnataka High Court quashed the criminal proceedings, stating that shouting "Jai Shri Ram" did not meet the threshold for section 295A, and did not disturb public order. The court noted that the area had a history of Hindu-Muslim harmony and emphasized that acts lacking a detrimental effect on public peace could not be considered an offence under this section.
However, the complainant has now approached the Supreme Court, arguing that the High Court's approach was overly narrow and contrary to Supreme Court rulings. The complainant contends that the allegations, when viewed in their entirety, point to the commission of cognizable offences. Additionally, the plea argues that the High Court’s ruling could encourage antisocial elements to misuse religious slogans for inciting violence, referencing the potential misuse of such chants in mob lynchings and attacks on minorities.
The matter is scheduled for hearing before a Bench of Justices Pankaj Mithal and Sandeep Mehta on December 16.
