Prime Minister Imran Khan has offered to have a televised debate with his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, to resolve differences between the two neighbours. “I would love to debate with Narendra Modi on TV,” PM Imran told Russia Today in an interview, adding that it would be beneficial for the billion people in the subcontinent if differences could be resolved through debate.
A social media post by Gujarat unit of the BJP that depicted Muslims hanging by a noose was made unavailable on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, a day after it sparked massive outrage. The post by BJP Gujarat read, “Satyamev Jayate. No pardon to the terror spreader”. Twitter confirmed it had proactively taken action against the post.
Renowned scholar Professor Noam Chomsky on Thursday said that Islamophobia has taken a “most lethal form” in India, turning some 250 million Indian Muslims into a “persecuted minority”. Chomsky also said that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s right-wing Hindu nationalist regime has sharply escalated the “crimes” in Indian-occupied Kashmir (IoK).
French football star, Paul Pogba voiced his support for Muslim girls under persecution in India for wearing Hijab. Pogba shared a story on Instagram that showed a mob of Hindu nationalists harassing young Muslim girls in India for protesting against the ban of Hijab in colleges. He previously raised his voice against the atrocities of Israel in Palestine.
A court in the southern Indian state of Karnataka told students on Thursday not to wear any religious clothing until it delivers a verdict on petitions seeking to overturn a ban on hijabs, headscarves used by Muslim women. The court in Karnataka state is considering petitions filed by students challenging a ban on hijabs that some schools have implemented in recent weeks.
The Pakistan Air Force’s latest jets equipped with near-stealth features, can easily dodge India’s advanced tracking system. The PAF expects to add 50 JF-17 fighter jets built jointly with China to replace old aircraft and upgrade capability against India’s missile defense system. A rollout ceremony was held in December and the new JF-17 jets will fly at the national day military parade on March 23.
Extremism in India has reached new heights, after the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) leader accused Shahrukh Khan of spitting at Lata Mangeshkar’s funeral. Khan paid tribute to the legendary singer by reciting a dua [prayer] but when he lowered his mask to blow air on her — a customary act known as phoonkna — some people claimed he spit on her.
Faisal Edhi, son of celebrated philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi and chairman of the foundation, offered help to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as India struggles with a devastating second wave of Covid-19. In his letter to PM Modi, Edhi offered a fleet of 50 ambulances along with other services that may help in curbing the spread of the coronavirus disease and improve current health conditions.
Pakistan’s blind cricket team defeated arch rival India in the final of a tri-nation T-20 tournament played in Dhaka and won the series. Pakistan played first and set a target of 175 runs in 15 overs, which its bowlers easily defended. Pakistan’s skipper scored 69 runs off 50 balls with the help of 7 fours and remained the top scorer.
India’s status as a free country has been downgraded to “partly-free” in a recently issued report by a US think tank, Freedom House. The report, titled “Freedom in the World 2021 – democracy under siege”, notes that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government and allies “encouraged the scapegoating of Muslims, who were disproportionately blamed for the spread of the virus and faced attacks by vigilante mobs”.