Gurugram (Haryana) [India], May 8 (ANI): National Commission for Minorities Chairman Iqbal Singh Lalpura on Saturday said that the commission has sought report from Punjab chief secretary "within seven days" on allegations that BJP leader Tajinder Singh Bagga was not allowed to wear turban while being arrested by Punjab Police from his New Delhi residence.

Srinagar Apr 21 PTI National Commission for Minorities NCM member Syed Shahzadi on Thursday said the panel will submit a report to the government on the communal violence in Delhis Jahangirpuri area and recommend appropriate actionThe chairman of the NCM and other members visited Jahangirpuri she saidEight police personnel and a local were injured in stone-pelting and arson after clashes broke out between two communities in Jahangirpuri during a Hanuman Jayanti procession on April 16 Some vehicles were also torchedA report will be submitted to the Centre and the Union home ministry If there is anything which warrants action then we will surely recommend action If there is anything the minority commission will definitely respond Shahzadi said at a press conference hereAsked about a report by the US-based Genocide Watch warning that a genocide of Muslims could take place in India the NCM member said the foreigners are totally wrongHad it been like that then we would not have been here This is totally wrong and some people want to destroy this country their thinking is like that only Our country is united our country is India and we are IndiansSome people want to create a wedge between us communities but we should not pay heed to the issue Rather we should focus on our development she saidShahzadi alleged some minority organisations and foreign powers do not want Muslims to prosperEverything is fine she saidResponding to a question about attacks on the minority community in Kashmir Shahzadi said those who do anything wrong be it Hindus Muslims Christians or Sikhs should be punishedPeople from every religion are important to maintain peace in society The country cannot develop if there is development of Hindus only or Muslims only The country will develop only when we all stay together and work by understanding each other she said PTI SSB DIV DIV

New Delhi Apr 19 PTI A National Commission for Minorities delegation led by chairperson Iqbal Singh Lalpura has visited the Jahangirpuri area where violence took place during a Hanuman Jayanti procession and it called upon the administration to quickly nab the culprits while ensuring that no innocent person is booked in the matterClashes broke out between two communities during the procession at Jahangirpuri on Saturday leaving eight police personnel and a local resident injuredAccording to police there was stone-pelting and arson during the clashes and some vehicles were also torchedNational Commission for Minorities NCM chairperson Lalpura along with NCM members Rinchen Lhamo and DJ Gunde visited Jahangirpuri where the clashes took place on April 16The team took stock of the situation from the North West Delhi deputy commissioner of police and was informed that the procession on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti which didnt have permission was being organised by VHP-Bajrang Dal an NCM statement saidThere was a minor scuffle between two groups which later turned violent and police immediately rushed to the spot and controlled the situation the statement saidThe commission appreciated the role of the district administration in containing the rising tension between the two communities it saidThe NCM noted that eight of the nine persons injured during the incident were police personnelThe commission advised the administration to quickly nab all the culprits and take necessary steps so that this kind of incident do not happen in the future the statement saidNo innocent person should be booked in this process the NCM assertedThe commission also had a joint meeting with representatives of both communities and they were advised to conduct Aman peace committee meetings regularly PTI ASK ASK ANB ANB

Islamabad [Pakistan], April 3 (ANI): Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Sunday termed Prime Minister Imran Khan as a "tiny dictator" who attempted a coup in the country by dissolving National Assembly.

Islamabad [Pakistan], April 3 (ANI): After weeks of political mudslinging, name-calling, and claims of an international conspiracy, Imran Khan is set to face the no-confidence vote on Sunday in Pakistan's National Assembly.

New Delhi Mar 25 PTI Officiating chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities Syed Shahezadi on Friday said the Bhagavad Gita is not a religious book but one on philosophy days after the Gujarat government announced making it a part of school syllabus The Gujarat government last week announced in the state Assembly that the Bhagavad Gita would be a part of the school syllabus for Classes 6 to 12 across the state from the academic year 2022-23 A few days later Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said a decision on introducing the Bhagavad Gita in school curriculum would be taken after discussions as he maintained that the scripture imparts moral values Asked about the Gujarat governments move and other states talking about introducing the Bhagavad Gita in school curriculum Shahezadi said in her personal opinion it is not a religious book it is a philosophy book It can be looked at from the point of view of philosophy Studies are also being done on it abroad she said at a press conference at the NCM headquarters here Asked why the Quran or other religious texts were not being proposed to be introduced in school curriculum the officiating chief of the NCM said We do not stop anyone We want that respect for each others religion should increase We want books made available from all religions We have made many recommendations to the Education Ministry In my personal opinion we did not tell anyone to read Bhagavad Gita or dont read Quran it depends on the individual We can look at it from the point of philosophy also something that is related to the country and its identity Shahezadi said Asked about the Hijab issue she said The country does not run on yours and my sentiments it runs on the Constitution The court has given an order and we have to follow it There is a court judgement and it has to be accepted she added Her remarks come a day after the Supreme Court refused to accord urgent hearing on the pleas challenging the Karnataka High Court verdict which dismissed the petitions seeking permission to wear hijab inside the classroom and stated that the headscarf is not a part of the essential religious practice in Islam PTI ASK SMN

New Delhi Mar 25 PTI The National Commission for Minorities will seek a report from the West Bengal chief secretary over the Birbhum violence that claimed eight lives earlier this week following which it will send a team to the state its officiating chairperson Syed Shahezadi said on FridayEight people including two children were charred to death in Bogtui village of the states Birbhum district in the suspected fallout of a TMC panachayat officials murderAsked about the issue at a press conference Shahezadi said What is happening in Bengal is saddening It is a matter of Constitution violation of human rights Be it any party or any ideology humanity should not be set aside We commissions team will go there and before that will write to chief secretary to send us a report and then we will visit We do not want to do politics on the issue she saidThe Calcutta High Court on Friday ordered a CBI investigation into the Birbhum violenceMiscreants had on March 21 set 10 houses on fire in Bogtui killing the eight people The victims were from a minority community PTI ASK ASK ANB ANB

New Delhi [India], January 16 (ANI): The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) on Saturday took suo-motu cognizance of the January 11 Alwar rape case and sought a report from the Rajasthan Chief Secretary by January 24.

New Delhi Dec 31 PTI National Commission for Minorities NCM Chairman Iqbal Singh Lalpura has instructed the Ambala administration in Haryana to ensure that people of the minority communities get the benefits of the schemes under the Prime Ministers 15-point programme This came during a meeting chaired by Lalpura in Ambala on Thursday to review the status of the Prime Ministers 15-point programme for the welfare of the minority communities and various schemes related to education and employment the statutory body said in a statement on Friday The meeting attended by the Ambala district administration discussed the issues pertaining to equal treatment of minorities it said The NCM chairman also appreciated the Haryana Police for arresting those allegedly involved in a recent incident of vandalisation at the Ambala Cantonment Holy Redeemer Church the statement added The Chairman instructed the officers in the meeting that while working at the ground level it should be ensured that the people of minority communities get the benefit of the scheme with proper guidance it said While giving instructions to the officials Lalpura underlined that the main objective of the setting up of the Commission was to create awareness among the minority communities about their rights higher education and employment All religions are equal Along with the minority communities everyone has to work together to take the country forward the statement quoted Lalpura as saying at the review meeting He NCM chief appreciated the police department as well as the district administration for arresting the accused involved in the incident at Ambala Cantonment Holy Redeemer Church it said Lalpura also met eminent personalities from minority communities at the Panchayat Bhawan auditorium in Ambala and discussed the issues and problems of the minority communities it said He inquired about their suggestions it added Prime Ministers New-15 point Programme is an initiative launched by the central government for the welfare of minorities in the country PTI PK AQS AQS

New Delhi [India], September 15 (ANI): The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) on Wednesday took cognizance of a complaint regarding not allowing a candidate to wear 'Karah' in the NEET 2021 examination in Chandigarh.