‘Muslim women will be the last to benefit from the reservation bill’: MP Iqra Hasan. india news
Kairana MP Iqra Hasan Chaudhary. (file image)
New Delhi: One of just two Muslim women in the 543-seat Lok Sabha, Kairana MP Iqra Hasan Chaudhary voted against the amendment to fast-track women’s reservation on April 17. She said she did not reject the idea of a women’s quota, but questioned who her particular version of it would actually work for.“Muslim women, especially poor, rural, OBC and minority women, will be the last to benefit,” she said. times of India On Wednesday. “By linking reservation to delimitation and census, you are making women’s representation hostage to a political calculation that has rarely favored our communities.
One of two Muslim women in the House – along with Trinamool Congress’s Sajda Ahmed – Choudhary, who represents Kairana in western UP, said her doubts about who the bill would actually reach were not principled. “There is no clarity on OBC or minority women. If the most marginalized are still missing, what are we really achieving?”Almost two years have passed since his first term Samajwadi Party The MP and SOAS University of London postgraduate said the entire debate had, at its core, become “a studio-polished metropolitan conversation” that had “barely touched” the constituency she represents.Ambition itself is a function of reach, he said. “Only women with advantages – family, connections, in politics – are capable of thinking like that.”Even where quotas already exist, at the “prime level”, the pipeline is narrow and pre-reserved. “Because of panchayat reservations, women can at least assume local leadership. But you still won’t see new faces – without the support of a husband or a family already in politics, that doesn’t happen.” She said that some women started as someone’s daughter or sister and made their place. “But we are still a deeply patriarchal society. A dedicated space should be created deliberately.” He said, it was the ground reality – not parliamentary procedure – that shaped his vote.“I come from a political family. Still, it took time for people to accept that women can lead,” the Kairana MP said. The threshold for Muslim women in Indian politics has hardly risen, she said. In the entire history of the Lok Sabha, only 18 Muslim women have been elected. Today, there are two.Its structural alarm is “delimitation link”. “The 2023 redistricting has reduced the number of Muslim-dominated seats, raising fears of reduced Muslim representation. Delimitation is not neutral”, he said, pointing to Assam.She said she sees the “same politics” in triple talaq too. “It criminalized a civil matter – even in the name of helping Muslim women.” Both moves, in her reading, “come wrapped in the language of women’s liberation while serving a completely different purpose. “It’s about playing with minds rather than giving women a voice.”He said the opposition was not even “properly” consulted on the issue of women’s reservation in Parliament. “Reform of this scale requires broad consensus. They didn’t have the numbers, so they didn’t try.”
Murder of IRS officer’s daughter: Accused arrested from Dwarka, Delhi. india news
New Delhi: News agency ANI reported that the accused of murder of IRS officer’s daughter was arrested by Delhi Police on Wednesday. He has been taken into custody after he was traced to a hotel in Dwarka.Earlier in the day, a 22-year-old woman was murdered in south Delhi’s Amar Colony area. Investigators suspect that she was probably strangled using a mobile phone charging cable recovered from the scene.According to Delhi Police, the main suspect, identified as Rahul, had initially absconded, prompting multiple teams to conduct raids to trace him. During the investigation, officers reached his residence in Alwar, where it emerged that he was allegedly involved in a molestation incident in his locality just a day before the murder.
‘Mamata’s digital address is digital’: Amit Malviya takes a jibe at CM with ‘PAY2TMC’ post on corruption allegations. india news
New Delhi: BJP’s IT cell chief Amit Malviya launched a scathing attack on Wednesday Trinamool Congress chairman Mamata Banerjee‘#PAY2TMC’ and ‘Tolabaazi’ taunts were used to target his party over alleged corruption and cash-for-service politics ahead of the assembly elections.In a post on X, he referred to the party’s alleged cash-for-service culture and digital campaign message, writing: “Mamata Banerjee’s ‘Tolabaazi’ now has a digital address: #PAY2TMC.”He further claimed that the posters on the walls in Kolkata reflected public anger against the ruling party, alleging that slogans like ‘Rashan Hok Ba Chakri…Skan Korun’ exposed the ‘true nature’ of the TMC government. “The walls of Kolkata are echoing the absolute hatred of the masses. He wrote, ‘The ‘Rashan Hok Ba Chakri… Scan Korun’ posters expose the real DNA of the TMC government, where every fundamental right comes with a ‘cut-money’ price tag.’ Expanding his attack, Malviya alleged widespread corruption under “TMC’s decade of plunder”, claiming irregularities in recruitment and public distribution systems. Citing the recruitment process of the School Service Commission and the Public Distribution System as examples, he alleged that merit and ration benefits were ’emptied’ through corruption networks.He also said that the situation reflected deep public anger in West Bengal, claiming that “the writing is virtually on the wall” and that the youth and poor of the state have been “blindly looted” for years.Malviya continued his attack on the ruling party, saying, “The countdown to the end of this corrupt, extortionate regime will start tomorrow from Phase 1. Press the button to permanently log out TMC!”Voting will take place in West Bengal in two phases, on April 23 and April 29.
Gujarat: 6 people died after van overturned in Valsad district. india news
New Delhi: At least six people were killed and several others injured when a pickup van overturned in Gujarat’s Valsad district on Wednesday evening. According to the police, the van was carrying around 30 people to a wedding from Girnara village. Inspector DN Wanja of Karpara police station said the vehicle overturned after the driver lost control, killing three children, two women and a man, news agency PTI reported. Police said the injured were taken to a nearby hospital.This is a breaking story…details awaited
Evening News concludes: SC criticizes Mamata’s ‘interference’ in I-PAC raids; Rajnath’s stern warning to Pakistan on the anniversary of Pahalgam attack and much more. india news
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Supreme Court SlammedMamata Banerjee It allegedly interfered in the ED raid on I-PAC and termed it a threat to democracy. - On the anniversary of Pahalgam attack,
-Rajnath Singh Highlighting India’s military strength, Pakistan was warned of strong retaliation. - An Indian student reportedly created a viral AI influencer targeting American conservatives, but the account was later removed due to concerns over fraud and misinformation.
- Independent MP Pappu Yadav came under severe criticism after defending the gender comment and sent a notice to the Bihar State Women’s Commission.
- There has been a shortage of Diet Coke in Indian cities amid supply disruptions and rising demand.
Here are the top 5 stories of the day
‘Endanger democracy’: Supreme Court criticizes Mamata’s ‘interference’ I-PAC raid Case
The Supreme Court strongly criticized Mamata Banerjee for her alleged interference during the Enforcement Directorate raid related to I-PAC. The court described it as an “extraordinary situation”, saying that their actions, which included entering the raid site and allegedly removing evidence, endangered democracy. Meanwhile, the ED has said that the investigation was routine and not politically motivated. Read the full story
‘Only one neighbor is a problem’: Rajnath gave stern warning to Pakistan
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh gave a stern warning to Pakistan on the first anniversary of the Pahalgam terror attack, saying that if provoked again, India will give a strong response. Speaking in Germany, he highlighted the country’s military strength and growing defense exports. Singh said all the neighbors were peaceful “except one”. Read the full story
Indian student-run AI ‘MAGA Influencer’ attracts millions before takedown
An Indian medical student reportedly created a viral AI-generated Instagram influencer, “Emily Hart”, targeting conservative American audiences with political and lifestyle content. The account quickly gained popularity, attracting thousands of followers and millions of views. The creator monetized it through merchandise and subscription platforms, earning thousands monthly. However, the account was later removed for fraudulent activity. Read the full story
’70-80% politicians see…’: Pappu Yadav creates another controversy by defending gender remarks
Independent MP Pappu Yadav has sparked fresh controversy after defending his previous sexist remarks, claiming that 70-80% of politicians watch porn. Responding to a notice from the Bihar State Women’s Commission, she challenged officials to search her phone. Her first statement alleging that most women needed to enter politics to enter politics sparked outrage. Read the full story
Can-Spiracy? Diet Coke disappears from store shelves
Diet Coke is disappearing from stores in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune and parts of Delhi-NCR due to a shortage of aluminum cans due to disruptions related to the Iran war. The heavy reliance on cans, unlike rivals that use bottles, has made it more unsafe. Demand for sugar-free beverages has increased, further widening the gap. Read the full story
Kolkata ad raids: ‘Can’t close our eyes to realities’: SC criticizes Mamata’s ‘interference’ in I-PAC raids case | india news
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday came down heavily on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over her alleged interference during the Enforcement Directorate’s investigation at the I-PAC director’s residence in Kolkata.The top court described the socio-political environment in the poll-bound state as an “extraordinary situation”, while noting the CM’s entry into the premises amid the raids and the alleged removal of files related to I-PAC, which is said to be handling the TMC’s election campaign.The court described the situation as worrisome and said such actions by a sitting chief minister had put democracy at risk.“This is not a dispute between the state and the Union. We never thought that in this country, a day would come when a sitting chief minister would go to an office where there is an investigating agency. The Chief Minister of any state cannot jeopardize democracy by coming in the middle of an investigation and then say, ‘Don’t turn this into a dispute between the state and the Union.’ According to news agency ANI, the court said, this is indeed an act done by a person who is the Chief Minister by putting the entire democracy at risk.A bench of Justices PK Mishra and NV Anjaria told the lawyers arguing on behalf of the West Bengal administration, including CM Mamata Banerjee and other senior officials, that they can argue on abstract legal principles, but the court cannot close its eyes to the practical realities going on in the state.“This is an extraordinary situation. Before the second bench (referring to the siege in the SIR case), we have seen that many judicial officers have been held hostage. We cannot close our eyes to the realities. You can debate abstract legal principles, but we cannot lose sight of the practical situation prevailing in the state,” the court remarked.The ED raid became a political flashpoint when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stepped into the ongoing investigation and allegedly interfered in the proceedings by removing crucial evidence.The ED had conducted searches at several places including Kolkata and Delhi as part of its investigation into alleged financial irregularities linked to I-PAC.The agency has said the action is part of a routine investigation and is not politically motivated, adding that the search is evidence-based and is not targeted at any political establishment, no party office has been searched, and it is not linked to any elections.Mamata’s dramatic intervention came when she reached the residence of I-PAC co-founder Prateek Jain during the ED raid.According to the agency, she, along with associates and police personnel, “forcibly removed physical documents and electronic evidence” and later went to the I-PAC office in Salt Lake, where she was accused of similar actions.The visuals, known as Mamata’s “Green File”, sparked nationwide debate.
Rajnath Singh’s ‘dot, dot, dot’ warning to Pakistan on Pahalgam attack anniversary: ’Only a neighbor is going to trouble’ india news
New Delhi: On the first anniversary of pahalgam terrorist attackDefense Minister -Rajnath Singh On Wednesday, without naming Pakistan, it sent a clear message to it, warning it of “dot, dot, dot” if it again “tried to create trouble.” Reiterating India’s long-standing accusation against Germany, Singh said that except one, “all the neighbors are fine.”At an event with the Indian community, Rajnath Singh was heard giving a direct warning to Islamabad against recurrence of Pahalgam-like incidents in a video shared by news agency ANI. He said, “There is no need to tell you what our army has done.” Operation Sindoor. Our military power has also become stronger than before. India has never attacked any country in the world on its own behalf. But if any neighbor tries to create trouble, ‘dot, dot, dot’. All the neighbors are fine, only one is troublesome.”Highlighting India’s growing military capability, Singh said, “Earlier, when it came to defence, we were dependent on imports to meet our defense requirements, and our dependence was on imports. But there has been a big change. Now, instead of being an importer, we have become an exporter. You will be happy to know that this time we have exported defense items worth about Rs 39,000 crore…”His comments come weeks after Pakistani counterpart Khawaja Asif made inflammatory remarks, who while addressing journalists in Sialkot said, “If India attempts another false-flag operation, then, God willing, we will take it to Kolkata.”On April 22 last year, Pakistan-backed terrorists opened indiscriminate fire on civilians in Pahalgam, a scenic grassy town in Kashmir’s Anantnag district, killing 26 people.Days after the brutal attack in South Kashmir, India launched a strong retaliatory strike on May 8 in a show of military might under Operation Sindoor, which blew up 9 major terrorist launchpads in Pakistan, and destroyed 11 Pakistani airbases in targeted strikes a day later.
CP Radhakrishnan: ‘Don’t differentiate between terrorists and terrorists from terrorism’: VP Radhakrishnan criticizes Kharge over remarks on PM Modi | india news
New Delhi: Vice President CP Radhakrishnan criticized on Wednesday Congress chairman Mallikarjun Kharge His “terrorist” remarks were targeted Prime Minister Narendra ModiHe said the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha sometimes fails to differentiate between “black and white” or “terrorist from terror”.‘Sometimes Kharge ji does not differentiate between black and white, or terrorists… and terrorists do not differentiate between terror,’ the Vice President said while addressing a gathering, where Kharge was also present.The Vice President was speaking at the Amrit Mahotsav ceremony of Dr. Basavalinga Pattadevaru Mahaswamiji of the Hiremath Institute at Sri Channabasavashram in Bhalki, Bidar. The Vice President’s comments come a day after he was criticized by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge during the final phase of the Tamil Nadu election campaign. AIADMK to keep up with BJP And targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Kharge reportedly called PM Modi a “terrorist who does not believe in equality”.Responding to the controversy, Kharge said, “I clarified my statement in Chennai.”Earlier today, a BJP delegation including Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal met. Election CommissionDemanded action against Kharge on his remarks.Kiren Rijiju said no political party has ever shown as much disrespect as the Congress, with the delegation urging the Election Commission to take “strict action” and asking the Congress president to apologize to the country.“Today a high level delegation of BJP met the Election Commission. We have met the Election Commission with sadness and anger because generally we meet the Election Commission for work related to the election process but today our delegation had gone for the derogatory remarks made by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is not the issue of BJP but the issue of the entire country. By calling the PM of the country a terrorist, you can understand how low Congress has reached in terms of respect for an individual and democracy. The level has been touched. Rijiju was quoted by ANI as saying, I don’t think any political party has ever used such derogatory remarks against any PM.
‘It is possible’: Rajnath says India can ‘play its role’ in bringing peace to West Asia. india news
New Delhi: Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday indicated that New Delhi can play its role in ushering in peace in West Asia amid the ongoing crisis between Iran and the United States.When asked whether India has any role in the West Asia crisis, Rajnath said, “It is possible that the time may come tomorrow when India will play its role in it and also achieve success.”
“The Prime Minister has appealed to both sides to end the war. Our Prime Minister has a very balanced approach in diplomatic matters,” he said.This comes as the second round of peace talks scheduled in Pakistan between Iran and the United States have been stalled following disagreements over Iran’s nuclear enrichment programme.Earlier in the day, US President Donald Trump announced a two-week truce with Iran amid relentless efforts to bring the two sides back to the negotiating table.Hours after announcing that he was “looking forward to bombing”, the US President said he would extend the ceasefire unless Iranian negotiators presented a proposal for peace.“Based on the fact that the government of Iran is seriously fragmented, not unexpectedly so and at the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif, we have been asked to halt our attack on the country of Iran until their leaders and representatives come up with a unified proposal,” he wrote on his Truth social platform.Meanwhile, Iran rejected the ceasefire extension as “a ploy to buy time for a surprise attack”, and said “the time has come for Iran to take the initiative”.“The losing side cannot dictate terms,” Mahdi Mohammadi wrote on social media. “A military response should be given if the siege continues.”
Mallikarjun Kharge: ‘People will punish Congress’: BJP delegation meets EC over Kharge’s ‘terrorist’ remarks on PM Modi | india news
New Delhi: A high level delegation of Bharatiya Janata Party met on Wednesday Election Commission over Congress chief Mallikarjun Khargecommented against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Talking to journalists after the meeting, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said that till date no political party has touched the level of disrespect like Congress. Rijiju said the delegation demanded “strict action” from the Election Commission and asked the Congress president to apologize to the country.Rijiju said, “A high-level delegation including senior ministers, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, myself, Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal met the Election Commission. We addressed the derogatory language used by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge against the Prime Minister. This is a national issue, a democratic issue. Calling the Prime Minister a terrorist is a crime.”He said, “No political party has ever used such abusive language against the Prime Minister.” We have requested the Commission that if any political party in the country uses such language, it is not a matter of our party or government, but a despicable act against democracy and weakens it in many ways. We demanded that strict action should be taken and Congress party’s Mallikarjun Kharge should apologize to the people of the country.
Rijiju also said that under the leadership of the PM, all terrorists will be eliminated, while the Congress will be punished by the people.After listening to us, the Election Commission has said that it will take appropriate action. The Union Minister said, we have full confidence in this. Rijiju confirmed, “The investigation that the Election Commission has to do is different. But the terrorists who fight against our country will end up being called terrorists under the leadership of the same PM Modi. The public will punish the Congress, just like PM Modi will punish the terrorists.”Earlier on Tuesday, the BJP filed a “strong complaint” against Kharge, alleging that the statement made by Kharge during the Tamil Nadu Assembly election campaign was a gross violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).“We have filed a strong complaint against Congress President Shri @Kharge ji for his shocking and derogatory remarks calling Honorable Prime Minister Shri @NarendraModi ji a “terrorist”. This is not only derogatory, it is a dangerous and unprecedented attack on democratic institutions. Gross violation of model code of conduct. Immediate action cannot be compromised,” Rijiju posted on Twitter.The party argued that the remarks, widely circulated in digital and print media, had “substantial potential to vitiate the electoral environment” and undermine the standards of civil discussion.This has come to light after Kharge created controversy on the last day of election campaign in Tamil Nadu.Highlighting opposition unity during the delimitation bill debacle, which was also linked to the passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill, the Congress president criticized the AIADMK for supporting the BJP and termed PM Modi as a ‘terrorist who does not believe in equality’.“I also thank the people of Tamil Nadu who gave us MPs, that is why we were able to fight and defeat the bill. This is the land of scientific thinking and ideals of Periyar, Dr.” Ambedkar, Annadurai, Mahan Kamaraj and Karunanidhi. These people stood for women’s reservation, justice, equality and brotherhood. Modi is not in favor of these principles and one more thing I want to tell is that these AIADMK people who put up the photo of Annadurai himself, how can they associate with Modi who is a terrorist and who will not believe in equality, his party will not believe in equality and justice and these people are associating with them, it means they are weakening democracy, they are weakening the philosophy of Annadurai, Kamaraj, Periyar and Karunanidhi and Baba Saheb Ambedkar. Are doing. The Congress-DMK alliance will continue to provide welfare, inclusive growth, quality education and accessible healthcare.”When questioned on his choice of words, Kharge immediately defended himself, claiming that what he meant to say was that the PM was terrorizing his political opponents.Kharge said, “He (PM Modi) is terrorizing people and political parties. I never said he is a terrorist… I mean, I want to clarify that Modi always threatens. Institutions like ED, IT and CBI are in his hands. He also wants to take delimitation into his hands.”