Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Dozens detained in India for disrupting Muslim prayers

Dozens detained in India for disrupting Muslim prayers

Dozens of people, many from Hindu right-wing groups, were arrested Friday in India for disrupting Muslim prayer gatherings, local media reported, in the latest sign of growing sectarian tensions in the country.

Hindu groups have been pressuring authorities for weeks in the northern city of Gurgaon on the outskirts of New Delhi to stop Muslims offering Friday prayers in open spaces.


On Friday police deployed several hundred extra officers and arrested at least 30 people as crowds of locals and Hindu groups chanted slogans, local media reported.

Critics have accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party of persecuting minorities, including India's 200-million-strong Muslim population.

Modi's government rejects having a Hindu agenda and insists that people of all religions have equal rights.

Haryana state, of which Gurgaon -- also called Gurugram -- is the capital, is ruled by the BJP.

It is not the first time such an incident has been reported in the city, home to scores of multinational companies.

In 2018, many from the majority Hindu community raised similar objections to Muslims praying in the open.

District officials mediated between the communities and identified around 35 open spaces for Muslims to offer Friday prayers.

Many of those detained on Friday held up placards that read "Gurgaon administration, wake up from your sleep", NDTV television channel reported.

Images on social media showed a group of mostly unmasked people demanding the prayers be stopped. Others chanted "Jai Shri Ram" (hail Lord Ram), a rallying cry for Hindu nationalists.

More For You

Yoga Day celebrated at UK Parliament

Yoga Day celebrated at UK Parliament

Mahesh Liloriya

The International Siddhashram Shakti Centre UK marked International Yoga Day with a spiritual and interfaith gathering at House of Commons. The event reflected the global theme, “Yoga for One Earth, One Health,” and was led by HH Shri Rajrajeshwar Guruji, global Sanatan Dharma and interfaith leader.

The programme began with a minute’s silence for the victims of the Air India tragedy, followed by prayers from Guruji, Pujya Rishi Ji Maharaj, Shri Niranjan Swami, and Pandit Shiv Puri Ji, with a Navkar Mahamantra chant by Samani Malay Pragya Ji and Neeti Pragya Ji.

Keep ReadingShow less
Tehran-Reuters

People attend a protest against the US attack on nuclear sites, amid the Iran-Israel conflict, in Tehran. (Photo: Reuters)

Reuters

Iran vows response as US hits nuclear facilities, Israel continues attacks

IRAN on Monday warned of “serious” consequences following US air strikes on its nuclear facilities, as its ongoing conflict with Israel entered the 11th day.

Despite international calls for de-escalation, aerial attacks continued. Air raid sirens were heard across Israel, and AFP reporters confirmed several blasts over Jerusalem.

Keep ReadingShow less
Air-India-Reuters

The DGCA’s latest action is not connected to the recent crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8 plane that killed all but one of the 242 people onboard. (Photo: Reuters)

Watchdog warns Air India over pilot duty violations

INDIA’s aviation regulator has warned Air India over repeated violations in scheduling pilots beyond the mandated flight duty time, according to government directives.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has directed Air India to remove three officials involved in crew scheduling – a divisional vice president, a chief manager of crew scheduling, and one planning executive – for lapses linked to two flights from Bengaluru to London on May 16 and 17 that exceeded the 10-hour flight duty limit, Reuters reported.

Keep ReadingShow less
Trump-Iran-attack-Reuters

Donald Trump delivers an address to the nation at the White House following US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities. (Photo: Reuters)

Trump says US air strikes destroyed Iran nuclear facilities

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump said on Sunday that American air strikes had "totally obliterated" Iran's key nuclear sites, as the United States entered the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. The move marked a major escalation in the regional crisis.

In a televised statement, Trump warned that the US would carry out more strikes if Iran did not agree to a peace deal soon. Hours later, Iran launched two waves of attacks on Israel.

Keep ReadingShow less
UK-Pakistan talks may allow deportation of Rochdale child abusers
Adil Khan (left) and Qari Abdul Rauf. (Photo credit: Greater Manchester Police)

UK-Pakistan talks may allow deportation of Rochdale child abusers

PAKISTAN may reconsider accepting two convicted leaders of the Rochdale child sexual abuse gang if direct flights between the UK and Pakistan are restored, a senior Pakistani official has said.

Qari Abdul Rauf and Adil Khan, both found guilty of serious child sexual exploitation offences in the UK, were stripped of their British citizenship nearly a decade ago.

Keep ReadingShow less