Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: The Indian National Congress on Wednesday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Madhya Pradesh of shielding a party leader accused of assaulting a woman, following the circulation of a video allegedly showing the incident.&nbsp;In a post on X, the Congress said the incident took place in Nagod in Satna district and involved&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/opposition-slams-indias-ruling-bjp-after-attack-on-christian-pastor" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">BJP&nbsp;</a>mandal president Pulkit Tandon.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 698px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2016485157079761076&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=9c73833bd4df316d92757f2ad9eeb8579b8cea1d&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2016485157079761076">&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>In its post, the Congress alleged that Tandon was seen in the video chasing and brutally beating a woman, even after she fell onto a pile of rods.&nbsp; The party claimed that he continued to thrash her mercilessly and later threatened the woman and her daughter to force a quiet settlement, allegedly saying that no one could take action against him.&nbsp; Opposition demands immediate arrest&nbsp;The Congress further alleged that local residents said Tandon claimed to be a close confidant of the Chief Minister and senior ministers, and described him as a source of terror in the area.&nbsp; The opposition party demanded his immediate arrest and strict action, accusing the BJP government of being indifferent to atrocities against women, Dalits and tribals. Meanwhile, Indian media reported on Thursday that Tandon has been booked for allegedly assaulting a young woman and her mother following a late-night altercation in Satna district.&nbsp; The incident reportedly occurred on Tuesday night at the warehouse of Tandon&rsquo;s trading shop. As per the complaint, the woman, who runs a beauty parlor, alleged she was called to the warehouse under the pretext of attending to a customer.&nbsp; She told <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/indian-opposition-slams-police-for-discriminatory-practices-after-bareilly-birthday-party-attack" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">police </a>she received a phone call from RK Namdev, described as Tandon&rsquo;s servant, who later connected her to Tandon.&nbsp; Assault and abuse&nbsp;The woman claimed that when she reached the warehouse, she found Tandon consuming alcohol.&nbsp; She alleged that when she tried to leave, Tandon grabbed her hand, pushed her to the ground, slapped and assaulted her, while verbally abusing her. The woman&rsquo;s mother and brother intervened, and the brother&rsquo;s mobile phone was allegedly smashed when he attempted to record the incident. Both women sustained injuries and were hospitalized.&nbsp; CCTV footage of the incident later surfaced and went viral.&nbsp; Police registered an FIR under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.&nbsp; BJP has issued a notice to Tandon seeking an explanation, while police said further investigation is underway, the Indian media report said.

India

In a post on X, Congress shares BJP leader Pulkit Tandon’s video, purportedly chasing and brutally beating a woman, even after she fell onto a pile of rods. 

Congress accuses BJP of shielding leader accused of assaulting woman 

ISLAMABAD: A fresh Hindu-Muslim controversy has emerged in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh after Muslim residents in Dhar District alleged that Friday congregational prayers were effectively denied at the historic Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex, despite a Supreme Court order allowing <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/indian-lawmaker-threatens-to-throw-pork-outside-mosques-in-kanpur" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">namaz </a>at the site.&nbsp;The dispute revolves around whether genuine Friday prayers were permitted or whether the district administration staged a symbolic and limited prayer to claim compliance with the court&rsquo;s directions, Indian media reported on Saturday.&nbsp;Allegations of denial and detentionResident Imran Khan said Muslims were prevented from entering the disputed complex despite prior assurances from authorities.&nbsp; In a video message, Khan claimed that he and others were taken under police escort on Thursday night and informed they would be allowed to offer <a href="http://pakistantv.com/article/indian-lawmaker-threatens-to-throw-pork-outside-mosques-in-kanpur" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Friday prayers</a> between 1pm and 3pm, the time window specified by the Supreme Court. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-3" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 873px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-3&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2014782688859979875&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2F&sessionId=0e21ac2c8a86dfeac10cc212f28b5185305f1798&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> &ldquo;We were kept under constant watch. When the prayer time was about to end, we were told to go back home. Later, the administration said namaz had taken place &mdash; but that was not us,&rdquo; he alleged.&nbsp;Residents further claimed that Deputy Collector Roshni Patidar and DSP Anand Tiwari detained several people at the Kamal Maula Mosque for nearly 16 hours, effectively preventing them from reaching the Bhojshala complex.&nbsp;&lsquo;Dummy namaz&rsquo; controversyTensions escalated after videos circulated on social media showing a small group of around 15 to 17 men offering prayers in a rear portion of the mosque complex.&nbsp; Local Muslims questioned the authenticity of the gathering, saying the individuals were not known worshippers and did not represent the <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/muslim-man-beaten-stripped-and-paraded-in-india-case-registered" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">local community.</a> Another video showed people wearing yellow volunteer jackets entering the mosque premises, raising further questions about whether the administration arranged a symbolic prayer to demonstrate compliance with the Supreme Court order. Posting on X, Team Rising Falcon (@TheRFTeam) alleged that despite clear court directions, namaz was not allowed in practice and that a &ldquo;dummy prayer&rdquo; was conducted by unidentified individuals. Another account, @TheMuslim786, reported protests by Muslim women, who said Friday prayers were denied at the site.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 560px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 560px; height: 316px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2014969609821290799&lang=en&maxWidth=560px&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2F&sessionId=0e21ac2c8a86dfeac10cc212f28b5185305f1798&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Residents also questioned how a Friday congregation, traditionally attended by large numbers, could be reduced to just 15-17 worshippers.&nbsp;Administration&rsquo;s responseAccording to an NDTV report, the district administration rejected the allegations. Dhar Collector Priyank Mishra said prayers were held with community consent and dismissed claims of wrongdoing.&nbsp;&ldquo;With the consent of the community, 15-17 Muslim men offered namaz at the designated location inside the complex between 1pm and 3pm, in line with the Supreme Court&rsquo;s order,&rdquo; Mishra said.&nbsp;A senior police officer, quoted by Indian media, also claimed that worshippers were escorted in a protected vehicle and allowed to pray without interruption.&nbsp;Claims of unequal implementationMuslim residents argue that while namaz was reduced to a symbolic act, Hindu rituals were allowed in full scale.&nbsp; They pointed out that Basant Panchami celebrations and Hindu rituals at the Bhojshala complex reportedly continued with hundreds of participants, raising concerns of selective implementation of the court&rsquo;s ruling.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 560px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 560px; height: 560px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2014757693307994591&lang=en&maxWidth=560px&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2F&sessionId=0e21ac2c8a86dfeac10cc212f28b5185305f1798&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>The Supreme Court had earlier ruled that both Hindu rituals and Muslim prayers could continue side by side at the site until a final decision is reached.&nbsp;Hindu group&rsquo;s stanceA right-wing Hindu group has defended the administration&rsquo;s actions.&nbsp; The Hindu Network Foundation (@hindufund_) said Basant Panchami puja and yajna were conducted under Supreme Court&#39;s directions.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 897px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2014947004284338252&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2F&sessionId=0e21ac2c8a86dfeac10cc212f28b5185305f1798&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>The group claimed that Bhojshala was originally built by Raja Bhoj of the Parmar dynasty as a temple dedicated to Saraswati, a Hindu goddess, and was later converted into a mosque, arguing that its architectural features reflect Hindu origins.&nbsp;&ldquo;Why should a centuries-old mandir be reduced to permission-based worship?&rdquo; the group said, calling on Hindus to &ldquo;lawfully reclaim&rdquo; the site.

Bhojshala and Kamal Maula mosque site, Dhar Madhya Pradesh. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Locals say Muslims were prevented from entering the disputed complex despite prior assurances from the authorities.

Friday prayers denied at historic mosque in Indian state despite SC order

ISLAMABAD: In India, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled states such as Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan received a disproportionately high share of central tax devolution between 2020-21 and 2024-25, even though they contribute far less to the nation&rsquo;s total tax collections, according to an Indian media report. The data shared by the Ministry of Finance with the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) shows that Uttar Pradesh accounted for 4.6% of the total tax collected in the country between 2020-21 and 2024-25, but received 15.8% of the taxes shared by the center during this period. Bihar&rsquo;s share in devolution exceeded its contribution to total taxes by 8 percentage points, Madhya Pradesh&rsquo;s by 5.5 pp, and Rajasthan&#39;s by 3.55 pp. &lsquo;Fiscal discrimination&rsquo;&nbsp;Tamil Nadu, where the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party is in government, has in the past blamed the central government for discrimination. In September, Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu accused the center, or Union, government of practicing &ldquo;fiscal discrimination against opposition-ruled states,&rdquo; warning that such bias was undermining the spirit of cooperative federalism. According to Indian media, he argued that partisan policies were depriving states such as Tamil Nadu of their legitimate financial allocations and turning cooperative federalism into coercive federalism. Thennarasu alleged that the ruling BJP discriminated against states governed by opposition parties. &ldquo;Just because we belong to the opposition, we are not treated on par with BJP-ruled states. When it comes to the matters of fiscal issues, there must be cooperative federalism, it must be in true spirit.&quot; Six criteria&nbsp;Meanwhile, the Indian Ministry of Finance has clarified that States&rsquo; contributions to central taxes are not a criterion considered by the 15th Finance Commission when it formulated its devolution formula for the period 2020-21 to 2025-26. &ldquo;Devolution to States during the last five financial years was based on the inter-se percentage worked out by the 15th Finance Commission on the basis of six criteria &mdash; population, area, income distance, demographic performance, forest &amp; ecology and tax &amp; fiscal efforts. Contribution to the Central Exchequer was not adopted by the 15th FC as a criterion,&rdquo; Minister of State for Finance Panka Chaudhary said in his reply.

Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan received disproportionately high central tax devolution between 2020-21 and 2024-25, while contributing less to national taxes; opposition-ruled Tamil Nadu has in the past alleged ‘fiscal discrimination.’

Articles tagged with "Madhya Pradesh"

Congress accuses BJP of shielding leader accused of assaulting woman

Friday prayers denied at historic mosque in Indian state despite SC order

Multiple BJP-ruled Indian states receive higher tax devolution despite lower contributions