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India 'best neighbour', doing everything to ensure communal harmony in B'desh: Religious Affairs Advisor (IANS Exclusive)

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India 'best neighbour', doing everything to ensure communal harmony in B'desh: Religious Affairs Advisor (IANS Exclusive)

Dhaka, Aug 15 (IANS) Calling India Bangladesh’s “best neighbour” which had helped the country “immensely” in gaining independence, Abul Fayez Muhammad Khalid Hossain — who was recently appointed as the Advisor for Religious Affairs in the interim government — said on Thursday that “work has begun” to initiate strict action against the criminals involved in several incidents of violence and vandalism against the minority communities, especially Hindus, since Sheikh Hasina resigned as the Prime Minister on August 5.

“India is our neighbour, and we want to maintain peace and tranquility in our country with its goodwill,” Hossain told IANS in an exclusive interview, even as the interim government headed by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus continues to receive a massive flak from all corners for failing to provide security to the minorities, majorly Hindus.

Excerpts from the interview:

IANS: Horrendous acts of violence have been committed against the Hindu community in Bangladesh since August 5. What is your ministry and the interim government doing to control the situation and punish the guilty?

AFM Khalid Hossain: Some criminals are trying to take advantage of the anti-discrimination student movement by attacking the houses of minorities. The Religious Ministry has already set up a hotline number for the victims of such attacks. Those involved in these heinous attacks on places of worship are criminals, and strict action will be taken against them.

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We will make an announcement from the Mnistry to set up an inquiry committee. We have directed the Deputy Commissioners of the districts to send us detailed reports on incidents of vandalism, attacks, and persecution of minorities as early as possible.

We got our country back after great efforts and people from all religions sacrificed and shed their blood in the movement during Bangladesh’s liberation. We cannot let it go to waste. We are a secular country, and we have to nurture this spirit and ensure communal harmony in Bangladesh.

We are taking full measures and there is no communal violence now, although there could be some isolated incidents. Our government is careful to retain communal harmony in the country. We have also directed the Imams of mosques to talk about the riots against non-Muslims and to push for preserving their places of worship. They have been told to give sermons and motivational speeches. The work has already begun.

Students are also guarding the places of worship. I saw this myself while visiting the Dhakeshwari Mandir earlier this week. We are ready to support our minorities so that they live peacefully in Bangladesh. Our Chief Advisor also visited the Dhakeshwari Mandir and spoke to religious leaders.

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Our country is non-communal and everyone has a right to follow and preach various religions – the rights of Hindus, Muslims, and Christians are equal. There is no religious discrimination. Some miscreants are indulging in vandalism of places of worship. We are ready to fight against all such people.

IANS: What have the investigations revealed so far? Who are the people behind this continuing violence against the minorities?

AFM Khalid Hossain: We are investigating the matter. We have issued letters to various DCs to send us detailed reports on attacks and vandalism.

IANS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also expressed his concerns over the ongoing violence in Bangladesh. How does the interim government plan to maintain a steady relationship with India?

AFM Khalid Hossain: Prime Minister Modi sent a message of felicitation to the interim government. India is our neighbouring country and we want to maintain peace and tranquility in our country with the goodwill of India. India is our best neighbour which had helped us immensely during our liberation war. We want to grow the relations between the two countries.

IANS: What is your take on former PM Sheikh Hasina’s first statement after leaving Dhaka, as she also expressed deep concerns over what is currently happening in Bangladesh?

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AFM Khalid Hossain: Our Foreign Minister has already said that the statement of former PM Hasina reflects negative intent, and will only spoil relations between India and Bangladesh.

IANS: Do you see any foreign hand in the entire turn of events in Bangladesh over the past many weeks?

AFM Khalid Hossain: No, it was purely a student movement and there was no foreign intervention. It was a student uprising against the former government.

IANS: Hindu organisations in Bangladesh have submitted various demands, including full security for the upcoming festival season. Has the interim government given any assurance to them?

AFM Khalid Hossain: Our Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has spoken to the leaders of Hindu, Christian and Buddhist communities and assured them that we are taking measures to secure the temples, businesses and houses of the minority communities. We have had a meeting and are ready to help the affected people.

IANS: Minorities in Bangladesh, including Hindus, fear for their lives right now. They are even being threatened to leave the country. Do you think that Bangladesh’s image has been badly dented?

AFM Khalid Hossain: Pujas and Rozas are held together in Bangladesh for a long time. It was only a political movement, and not a religious one. We have said that we are ready to help the minorities.

–IANS

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Defence Ministry: Year 2025 will be year of reforms

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rajnath singh with armed forces chief

On Wednesday, the Defence Ministry announced that 2025 will be designated as the “Year of Reforms,” with a primary focus on establishing integrated theatre commands to enhance collaboration among the three branches of the military.

These reforms are aimed at transforming the armed forces into a technologically advanced, combat-ready force capable of executing multi-domain integrated operations, the ministry stated.

The initiative will emphasize emerging domains such as cyber and space, alongside cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, hypersonics, and robotics.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described the “Year of Reforms” as a pivotal milestone in the modernization of the armed forces.

“It will set the stage for significant advancements in the nation’s defense capabilities, ensuring the security and sovereignty of India in the face of 21st-century challenges,” he said.

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A 3.2 magnitude tremor struck Gujarat’s Kutch district on Wednesday morning

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A 3.2 magnitude tremor struck Gujarat’s Kutch district on Wednesday morning, according to the Institute of Seismological Research (ISR).

The district administration reported no casualties or property damage following the quake.

The tremor occurred at 10:24 am, with its epicenter located 23 kilometers north-northeast (NNE) of Bhachau, as per the Gandhinagar-based ISR.

Last month, the region experienced four seismic events exceeding a magnitude of 3, including a 3.2 magnitude tremor just three days ago, with its epicenter also near Bhachau.

Earlier tremors in the area included a 3.7 magnitude earthquake on December 23 and a 3.2 magnitude event on December 7, according to ISR reports.

Kutch was also jolted by a 4.0 magnitude earthquake on November 18, 2024. On November 15, a 4.2 magnitude quake hit Patan in north Gujarat, based on ISR data.

Gujarat is considered a high-risk earthquake zone, having experienced nine major earthquakes over the past 200 years, according to the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA). The 2001 earthquake in Kutch, which occurred on January 26, was the third-largest and second-most destructive in India in the last two centuries, according to the GSDMA.

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Diljit Dosanjh faces legal action over concert songs

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Singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh’s much-anticipated New Year’s Eve concert in Ludhiana faced legal hurdles after a complaint was filed by Punditrao Dharenavar, an assistant professor from Chandigarh.

Following the complaint, the Deputy Director of the Women and Child Department, Government of Punjab, issued a formal notice to Ludhiana’s District Commissioner, urging them to prohibit Dosanjh from performing specific songs during his live show on December 31, 2024.

The notice specifically targets songs accused of promoting alcohol, including Patiala Peg, 5 Tara Theke, and Case (Jeeb Vicho Feem Labbiya), even if the lyrics are slightly modified. The complaint points to previous warnings issued to Dosanjh by various commissions advising against performing these controversial tracks.

Despite these warnings, the singer allegedly continues to perform the songs with minor alterations. Dharenavar raised serious concerns about the influence of such music on young audiences, especially when minors are present at live events.

Adding to the controversy, Dharenavar referenced a 2019 Punjab and Haryana High Court ruling, which directed law enforcement to ensure that songs promoting alcohol, drugs, or violence are not played at public events, including concerts. This ruling underscores the legal basis for the complaint and has further intensified the scrutiny surrounding the event.

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UP Minister’s convoy overturns, 5 person injured

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UP Minister’s convoy overturns, 5 person injured

Five people sustained injuries when a vehicle in the convoy of Uttar Pradesh Minister and Nishad Party chief Sanjay Nishad overturned into a ditch near Januan village in the Khejuri Police Station area of Ballia district late last night.

Sanjay Nishad shared details of the incident, stating that the accident injured five party workers, including four women.

“I was traveling with the convoy to participate in the Constitutional Rights Yatra organized by the party on Tuesday night. Near Januan village in the Khejuri area, one of the vehicles following the convoy lost control while trying to avoid an animal and overturned into a ditch,” Nishad explained.

The injured individuals have been identified as Rakesh Nishad, Ramrati, Usha, Geeta, and Iravati Nishad.

Senior police and administrative officials quickly arrived at the scene following the incident to oversee the situation.

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Suchir Balaji’s mother alleges Murder

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Suchir Balaji’s mother alleges Murder

The mother of Suchir Balaji, a 26-year-old former OpenAI researcher found dead after accusing the company of copyright violations, has alleged that her son was “murdered” and called for a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) probe.

Poornima Rao, Suchir’s mother, claimed her son’s death was a “cold-blooded murder” that authorities wrongly ruled as suicide. She further disclosed that a private autopsy report conflicted with the findings of the initial police investigation.

Rao alleged that her son’s apartment had been “ransacked” and cited evidence of a struggle in the bathroom, including bloodstains that suggested he had been assaulted.

“We hired a private investigator and conducted a second autopsy to uncover the truth. The private autopsy does not confirm the cause of death stated by the police. Suchir’s apartment was ransacked, there were signs of a struggle in the bathroom, and it appears he was hit based on blood spots. This is a cold-blooded murder being misclassified as a suicide. Lobbying in San Francisco won’t deter us from seeking justice. We demand an FBI investigation,” Rao wrote on X.

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Elon Musk reacted to Rao’s post, commenting, “This doesn’t seem like a suicide.”

Balaji was discovered dead in his San Francisco apartment months after accusing OpenAI of violating copyright laws during the development of ChatGPT, as reported by Fox News. Despite these claims, the San Francisco Police Department found no evidence of foul play and ruled the death a suicide.

On October 24, shortly before his death, Balaji voiced doubts about the “fair use” defense in generative artificial intelligence. “I recently participated in a NYT story about fair use and generative AI, and why I’m skeptical ‘fair use’ would be a plausible defense for a lot of generative AI products,” he wrote on X.

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