New Delhi [India], July 15 (ANI): Former Vice President Hamid Ansari has again asserted that he "never knew or invited Pakistani journalist Nusrat Mirza to any conference" amid fresh claims that they had attended an event against terrorism organised by Jama Masjid United Forum in 2009.

New Delhi [India], July 15 (ANI): In a fresh twist to the controversy over the BJP asking former Vice President Hamid Ansari to come clean on claims of a Pakistan journalist which were rubbished by him and the Congress, Dr Adish Aggarwala, Chairman, All India Bar Association, has said that they "chose not to disclose" about an international conference on terrorism and the government should initiate a probe into the matter as it "relates to national security and espionage".

New Delhi Jan 28 PTI The external affairs ministry on Friday reacted strongly to comments by former vice-president Hamid Ansari and four US lawmakers over the human rights situation in the country saying India is a robust and vibrant democracy and does not require certification from others and attacked them for their biases and political interests The track record of the event organisers is as well known as the biases and political interests of the participants MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said while responding to queries regarding the comments made by Ansari and others during a virtual panel discussion organised by the Indian American Muslim Council on WednesdayDuring the event Ansari had saidemergence of trends and practices that dispute the well-established principle of civic nationalism and interpose a new and imaginary practice of cultural nationalism triggering a controversy with Union ministers and the BJP attacking the former vice-presidentalso a former diplomatWe have seen reports on this event India is a robust and vibrant democracy It does not require certification from others Bagchi said and asserted that the claim that others need to protect our constitution is presumptuous and preposterousDuring the panel discussion Democratic Senator Ed Markey who has a history of taking anti-India stands had said As the Indian government continues to target the practices of minority faiths it creates an atmosphere where discrimination and violence can take root In recent years we have seen an uptick in online hate speeches and acts of hate including vandalised mosques torched churches and communal violence Participating in the discussion from India Ansari expressed his concern over the rising trend of cultural nationalismIn recent years we have experienced the emergence of trends and practices that dispute the well-established principle of civic nationalism and interpose a new and imaginary practice of cultural nationalism It wants to distinguish citizens on the basis of their faith give vent to intolerance insinuate otherness and promote disquiet and insecurity he allegedThe three other Congressmen who spoke during the panel discussion -- Jim McGovern Andy Levin and Jamie Raskin -- have traditionally taken anti-India stands irrespective of the governments in power in New DelhiHitting out at Ansari for his remarks the BJP said the madness of bashing Prime Minister Narendra Modi has turned into a conspiracy for India bashingLaw Minister Kiren Rijiju also hit out at the former vice-president saying what he has said is wrong and as a member of the minority community he can proudly say that India is the safest nation PTI ASK PYK PYK

New Delhi [India], January 28 (ANI): Two days after four US lawmakers and former Vice President Hamid Ansari expressed concern about India's recent record on protecting human rights and civil liberties, the External Affairs Ministry on Friday said it had seen reports about the online event and that the track record of organisers is as well-known "as the biases and political interests of participants".

New Delhi Jan 28 PTI Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday hit out at Hamid Ansari for his remarks over Hindu nationalism saying what the former vice president has said is wrong and as a member of the minority community he can proudly say that India is the safest nationAt a virtual panel discussion organised by the Indian American Muslim Council on Wednesday Ansari and four US lawmakers had expressed concern over the current human rights situation in IndiaWhat Hamid Ansari ji said is wrongI belong to a minority community and I can proudly say that India is safest nation Minorities facing trouble in any of our neighboring countries prefer to seek refuge in India because India is safe Lets be grateful to our great nation Rijiju said in a series of tweetsParticipating in the panel discussion from India former vice president Ansari had expressed his concern over the rising trend of Hindu nationalism In recent years we have experienced the emergence of trends and practices that dispute the well-established principle of civic nationalism and interpose a new and imaginary practice of cultural nationalism It wants to distinguish citizens on the basis of their faith give vent to intolerance insinuate otherness and promote disquiet and insecurity he had allegedCountering Ansari Rijiju said some isolated incidents do take place at individual-community level but Indian culture is always inclusive Prime Minister Narendra Modi jis mantra is sabka saath sabka vikas sabka vishwas sabka prayasBefore 2014 communal riots and violence were regular but India is more peaceful now the Union minister saidWhy some people who enjoy the best freedom and privilege in India join the anti-India propaganda peddled by foreign based anti India forces Whats the satisfaction that they acquire by defaming India At least people in remote villages without facilities are loyal to motherland Rijiju said in a dig at Ansari PTI NAB ANB ANB

New Delhi Jan 28 PTI After former vice-president Hamid Ansari and four US lawmakers expressed concern over the human rights situation in India the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday said India is a vibrant democracy which does not require certification from others and the track record of the events organisers was as well known as the biases and political interests of the participantsAsked about the virtual panel discussion organised by the Indian American Muslim Council on Wednesday during which Ansari and the US lawmakers expressed concern over the current human rights situation in India MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said We have seen reports on this event India is a robust and vibrant democracy It does not require certification from others The claim that others need to protect our constitution is presumptuous and preposterous he saidThe track record of event organisers is as well known as the biases and political interests of the participants Bagchi said PTI ASK ASK ANB ANB

New Delhi [India], January 28 (ANI): Union Minister of Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju on Friday countered former Vice President Hamid Ansari's latest controversial statement on the atmosphere of intolerance and insecurity for Muslims in the country and said that before 2014, communal riots and violence were regular, but India is more peaceful now.

New Delhi Jan 27 PTI The BJP on Thursday denounced former vice president Hamid Ansari for his remarks on cultural nationalism saying that the madness of bashing Prime Minister Narendra Modi has turned into conspiracy for India bashingSpeaking at a virtual panel discussion organised by the Indian American Muslim Council on Wednesday Ansari said in recent years there has been emergence of trends and practices that dispute the well-established principle of civic nationalism and interpose a new and imaginary practice of cultural nationalismAnd it wants to distinguish citizens on the basis of their faith give vent to intolerance he addedTaking on Ansari for his remarks Union minister and BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said on a day when the country was celebrating Republic Day and the tricolour was unfurled at Srinagars Lal Chowk at the same time someone who occupied a constitutional post criticised our country speaking at a platform provided by an organisation that has worked against India and conspired to tarnish its imageNaqvi claimed that the Indian American Muslim Council has links with ISI and all such organizations which are engaged in conspiracy to disturb peace and harmony of the whole worldHe said that the madness of Modi bashing is turning into conspiracy for India bashing therefore such remarks are made The people who used to exploit minority votes are now anxious about the positive atmosphere in the countryHe said the country always follows the principle of tolerance and secularism and asserted that the BJP and the government firmly believe in cultural nationalism PTI JTR ZMN ZMN

Patna Jan 27 PTI Former Vice-President Hamid Ansaris veiled criticism of the BJP regime in the country at an online event organised by a US body on Friday met with a stinging rebuttal from senior party leader Syed Shahnawaz HussainAccording to media reports the former career diplomat who served two consecutive terms as the vice-president had expressed his reservations about new and imaginary practice of cultural nationalism that sought to present electoral majority in the guise of a religious majority and monopolised powerAddressing a press conference here Hussain asserted that for Muslims of the country there could be no better nation than India no better leader than Narendra Modi and no better friend than the HindusThe Bihar minister was of the view that Ansari should not have agreed to join the online event organised by Indian American Muslim Council which is known for anti-India propaganda Even as vice-president Ansari had stirred controversies for which people of the country have not forgiven him Hussain who is among the few Muslim leaders of prominence in the BJP said without elaborating Ansari had also reportedly said that recent manifestations of the political atmosphere were chilling and reflect poorly on our claim to be governed by the rule of lawThe online event which was also attended by some US lawmakers was titled Special Congressional Briefing on Protecting Indias Pluralist Constitution and co-hosted by bodies like Amnesty International US Genocide Watch and Hindus for Human Rights PTI NAC NN NN

नई दिल्ली: पूर्व उपराष्ट्रपति हामिद अंसारी अमेरिका में भारत विरोधी सांसदों के साथ एक कार्यक्रम में भाग लेने और भारत के राजनीतिक वातावरण पर अपनी टिप्पणी से विवादों में आ गये हैं। भारतीय जनता पार्टी (भाजपा) और विश्व हिन्दू परिषद (विहिप) ने इसकी तीखी आलोचना करते हुए कहा है कि एक व्यक्ति की आलोचना का […]