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Fatwas don’t scare teenage idol Afrin

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Nahid Afrin

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]16-year-old singer ready to face the music, Twitter stands with her

By Sucheta Dasgupta

India’s progressives are standing up for what they believe in. And this time, a youngster is leading the way.

This week, as many as 46 Muslim clerics ganged up on teenager and reality TV singing star Nahid Afrin, asking her to stop performing in public in view of a show slated for March 25 which was to be held in Udali Sonai Bibi College in Lanka, Assam. The venue is incidentally in the vicinity of a mosque and graveyard and a leaflet, written in Assamese, states that musical nights are “anti-Sharia”.

However, the spunky girl has refused to bow to pressures and has declared her intention to continue with her musical career.

The Class X student, who lives in Biswanath Chariali, a town in northern Assam, has been quoted in the media as saying, “I am speechless. I think my music is God’s gift to me. I will never bow down to it (such rulings) and never leave singing.” Understandably, though, she had broken down in tears on hearing news of the “fatwa” (at least, she was told that it was one, before Scroll later reported that it was just an open letter).

Afrin, who has many fans in her state for her beautiful renditions of the verses composed by the Vaishnavite saint Srimanta Sankardeva, was first runner-up in the musical reality TV show, Indian Idol Junior. She made her Bollywood debut in 2016, becoming the voice of Sonakshi Sinha in the film, Akira.

Many, including The Times Of India, believe Afrin incurred the wrath of the clerics by singing against Islamic State terrorism.

Afrin’s stance drew support from Muslim intelligentsia on Twitter.

“Nahid Afrin is a brave girl. All of us should raise our voice in her support! Down with Fatwa-espousing irrelevant Radicals,” BJP leader Shazia Ilmi tweeted. The writer and feminist, Taslima Nasreen, too, stood by her. “After getting fatwa from 46 mullahs in Assam, 16-yr-old Nahid Afrin said she’ll never bow down and will never leave singing. Bravo girl!” she wrote.

Perhaps, their vocal support caused the following semi-retraction. 

“Even though Shariat does not allow singing and dancing, the ulema should think their approach towards the issue. If someone is doing something that is against the shariat, declaring fatwas only complicate the issue and lead to misunderstanding,” cleric Umer Ilyasi said.

And now, Scroll reports that the purported fatwa is, in fact, just an open letter signed by 46 office bearers of the Assam State Jamiat Ulama and teachers from various madrassas around the state. The secretary of the Assam State Jamiat Ulama, Maulvi Fazlul Karim Qasimi, was quoted by the website as saying that no fatwa has been issued in this case. 

NDTV, too, apologised for reporting the unverified news.

Notably, Afrin’s stand is a departure from that of actor and Dangal star Zaira Wasim, also 16, who apologised on Twitter and Facebook for essaying the role of Indian wrestling icon Geeta Phogat in the movie, and for ‘acting’ ‘in Bollywood’, in face of opposition from Kashmiri separatists and Islamic fundamentalists, this January.

Afrin’s mother is also backing her daughter’s decision. “The organisers of the musical night told us that the programme on March 25 will not be cancelled,” she told the media. The state CM has expressed his government’s support for her career and police said Nahid and her family would be provided security cover during the event, and that’s good to hear.

So let’s contemplate a slightly different question. A Twitter user has written, “#Padmavati and #NahidAfrin cases prove that no matter which religion it is, India is not a country for artists. #RIPIndianArt.” Thoughts, anyone?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

India News

Swati Maliwal reacts to viral video, refers accused as political hitman

The Rajya Sabha MP added that the political hitman is getting his people to tweet and play videos without any context.

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Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal has reacted to the viral video, allegedly shot at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence. The video shows the Rajya Sabha MP in a heated confrontation with the staff. 

Reacting to the viral video on X, formerly Twitter, Swati Maliwal said that like every time, this political hitman has started efforts to save himself.  She was apparently referring to Bibhav Kumar, whom she accused of assaulting her. 

The Rajya Sabha MP added that the political hitman is getting his people to tweet and play videos without any context. She added that the truth will be revealed to everyone as soon as the CCTV footage of the house and the room is checked.

She concluded that he may fall to whatever level he can, but God is watching everything, and one day everyone’s truth will come out in front of the world. Earlier, Swati Maliwal has alleged that she was assaulted by the Chief Minister’s personal assistant, Bibhav Kumar, when she sought time to meet the Chief Minister that day. 

In the viral video, shared across the social media platforms, Swati Maliwal can be seen engaged in a heated exchange with staff members who are requesting her to exit the drawing room. 

In the footage, Bibhav Kumar, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s former PA implicated in the assault allegations, is seen present in the room while other staff are speaking with Swati Maliwal. Additionally, MP Swati Maliwal is also heard issuing a threat to one of the staff members, vowing to ensure their job termination. However, the authenticity of the video remains unverified.

In the formal complaint lodged with the Delhi Police, Swati Maliwal detailed a disturbing sequence of events, alleging that Bibhav Kumar subjected her to multiple instances of physical violence. Maliwal alleged that Bibhav Kumar repeatedly slapped her at least seven to eight times while she continued to cry. She also said that she was dragged and kicked in the chest, stomach, and pelvis area.

The complaint stated that when she entered the office and attempted to reach the Chief Minister’s PA, Bibhav Kumar, she was unable to find him. She then entered the residence and was told to wait in the drawing room, when Bibhav Kumar suddenly entered, shouting and abusing her. The alleged assault took place on May 13, when she visited the Civil Lines residence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. 

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India News

ED names Arvind Kejriwal, AAP as accused in Delhi excise policy case

Arvind Kejriwal was taken into custody on March 21. The Supreme Court last Friday granted him interim bail.

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Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been named toady as a prime accused by the Enforcement Directorate in a new supplemental chargesheet in the money laundering case pertaining to the now-scrapped Delhi liquor excise policy 2021–2022.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has been identified as an accused in the case by the central inquiry agency.

In the excise policy case, the ED informed the Supreme Court that it had found conversations between Arvind Kejriwal and hawala operators about the purported profits of crime.

The organization said that since Kejriwal declined to provide the password to his devices, the chats were retrieved from the hawala operators’devices.

Kejriwal filed a plea contesting the legality of his arrest by the EnforcementDirectorate, and the top court has reserved its decision. It allowed the Delhi Chief Minister to petition the trial court for bail without compromising his legal rights and appeals before the Supreme Court.

The CM filed a plea contesting the legality of his arrest by the EnforcementDirectorate, and the top court has reserved its decision. It allowed the Delhi Chief Minister to petition the trial court for bail without compromising his legal rights and appeals before the Supreme Court.

After the Delhi CM ignored nine summonses from the ED, he was taken into custody on March 21. The Supreme Court last Friday granted him interim bail. Last month, bail was granted for Sanjay Singh, his party colleague. Two other leaders of the party, Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain, remain incarcerated.

On August 22, 2022, the ED filed a money laundering case in response to a CBI FIR that had been filed on August 17, 2022, in order to investigate suspected anomalies in the DelhiExcise policy of 2021–2022.

Following Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena’s recommendation for an investigation into purported irregularities in the formulation and execution of the liquor policy, the CBI had filed a FIR.

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2024 Lok Sabha Elections

Rahul Gandhi says Congress will give 10kg free ration if elected to power

He also recalled that during the UPA government, the Congress has given legal status to the right to food through the Food Security Act.

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Ahead of the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha election, Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said that the Congress will provide 10 Kg free ration to the poor families if elected to power. He added that 10 Kg ration along with Rs 8500 per month will promote education and self-employment among millions in the country.

Taking to social media platform X, formerly Twitter, Rahul Gandhi said that Congress has taken another big decision for the poor families of the country. He promised that his party will give 10 Kg free ration, instead of 5Kg. He also recalled that during the UPA government, the Congress has given legal status to the right to food through the Food Security Act. and that 10 Kg free ration will be the next step in the direction.

Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of running a government of Adani, and making 20-25 billionaires, the senior Congress leader said that Congress will make crores of millionaires and run the government of Indians. Earlier, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also promised to provide 10Kg free ration if voted to power.

Meanwhile, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Thursday slammed BJP’s 5Kg ration policy at an election rally in Uttar Pradesh’s Raebareli, where Rahul Gandhi is contesting. She said that 5Kg ration will not make one self-reliant, but employment will. She explained the electorates need to understand that political parties whose ideologies make people dependent is not right. She concluded that voters will choose employment over 5Kg ration that BJP promises.

Along with 10Kg free ration, Congress has also promised to start recuitment process for 30 lakh government post by August 15. The Party also vowed to provide the youth their first job of Rs 1 lakh per year. It also guranteed better working conditions, pensions and social security for the work force of the gig economy.

Furthermore, the Congress also promised start-up funds for young entrepreneurs at district levels from the national funds of Rs 5000 crore. The party also pledged to give National minimum wage of Rs400 per day, including all MGNREGS workers, and stop contractualisation of employment in core government functions.

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