SRINAGAR: Celebrity chef and television host, Gordon Ramsay found himself in controversy after he tried his hands on rogan Josh, a mutton dish that traces its origin to Kashmir.
Rogan josh is a staple of Kashmiri cuisine and is one of the main dishes of the Kashmiri multicourse meal (the wazwan).
“Introducing the new, fragrant Lamb Rogan Josh from @breadstreetkitchen – served with saffron rice and warm garlic naan!” the chef wrote as he shared a video on his instagram on March 12.
Chef Ramsay can be seen plating lamb rogan josh that he served with naan.
The video has garnered millions of views since being posted on the social media with people criticising Ramsay for ‘ improperly’ cooking the mutton delicacy.
Awww Ramsey! Looks nothing like a rogan josh, instagram users quipped.
A Kashmiri instagram user was quick to point out the problems in this dish and wrote, “That’s not rogan josh. The cut of the meat is wrong. The gravy is wrong. Even the naan is wrong. Being a Kashmiri who cooks and loves rogan josh, I can’t accept this dish, especially the gravy.”
“If I am served this I will just leave. You are not even close to Rogan Josh. The consistency makes me feel sick,” wrote another user pointed out.
One of the users reminded Gordon Ramsay of not using microgreens in Rogan Josh, “This is not rogan josh. This is mutton served in gravy. Also,authentic Kashmiri Rogan Josh is never garnished with microgreens.”
Some even accused the chef of “whitewashing” their cuisine.
Another netizen said, “Rogan literally means the pool of oil in which the dish is cooked and at the end of the cooking, it is supposed to float on top of the dish when served. The one shown here looks like some generic gravy made with tomato.”
Traditionally, rogan josh is made with lamb, mutton, or goat meat and is coloured and flavoured primarily by alkanet root and Kashmiri chilies. It is one of the signature recipes of Kashmiri cuisine.
SRINAGAR: Taking a jibe at the mainstream parties that ruled JK over the past seven decades, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Monday said that those who gave jobs to militants and their family members have no right to talk about “fair recruitment.”
Addressing the function regarding laying of foundation stones of various projects related to Jammu Smart City at Jammu Convention Centre, LG Sinha said that many people don’t want fair recruitment to take place in the UT.
“Those who gave jobs to militants and their family members are raising fingers at the ongoing recruitment processes. These people have no right to do so,” the LG said, adding that “one lakh backdoor appointments were made by these people have made it difficult the administration.”
The LG said that the SSB recruitment issue was raised and complaints were found true after which the administration handed over the case to the country’s premier investigating agency—CBI.
“CBI is still probing the case and so far many arrests have been made. No matter how influential the people involved in the fake recruitments and irregularities, they won’t be spared at all,” he said.
He said that people should remain assured that strict action will be taken against those who are found in irregularities or any other misconduct in the SSB exams.
“Gone are the days when jobs were sold on roads and shops. Jobs will be given to those who have competence and the process of all recruitments will be fair and transparent,” the LG said.
He said that if anyone feels or sees any sort of misconduct in any exam or recruitment process, the same should be brought to the notice of the administration. “I assure a very strict action will be taken against those found involved,” he said.
He said a series of developmental projects are being taken up in Jammu under the Smart City Project. “The face of Jammu will change and the people of Jammu will feel a great and big change in the days and months ahead. The life of Jammuites will be made safe, secure and hassle free through the huge developmental activities that are under way at present,” he said. (KNO)
SRINAGAR: Protests against JKSSB gained momentum after a massive online campaign against JKSSB and Aptech trended for days all over social media.
Scores of job aspirants hit the streets for the second consecutive day on Thursday to protest against the hiring of the blacklisted Aptech by JKSSB for conducting written examinations for recruitment to various posts.
Job spirants assembled at the Press Enclave and raised slogans against Aptech and the JKSSB.
“Why is JKSSB adamant on giving contract to a tainted company. We just want our future to be in safe hands and for that there should be a blanket ban on Aptech,” the protesting students said.
Meanwhile, hundreds of aspirants from Jammu on Wednesday assembled at Dogra Chowk and protested against the notification and issuance of admit cards even as the matter of JKSSB is still pending before the court.
The protesting students who were demanding a ban on Aptech were lathi-charged and some of them were detained.
Pertinently, the Jammu and Kashmir administration headed by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha last year cancelled the selected list of 1,200 police sub-inspectors, 1,300 junior engineers and 1,000 finance account assistants (FAA) following allegations of paper leak and malpractices.
After scrapping recruitment lists, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha announced fresh exams and promised a transparent and fair recruitment process, however, the contract with Aptech again brought the students on streets, halting the exam process.
Meanwhile, the protesting aspirants from all over the UT have drawn immense support from political class who continuously are posting in favour of the aspirants on their Twitter Handles.
The political class is demanding for an immediate action against Aptech and has strongly condemned the use of force against students in Jammu.
Former chief minister Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah took to Twitter and wrote, “I condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the use of force & lathi charge against students & JKSSB aspirants. These youngsters were exercising their democratic right to protest against the recent decision to engage a blacklisted firm #Aptech by JKSSB.”
Speaking to reporters in Shopian, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said, “Many job aspirants are on protest both in Srinagar and Jammu. They were lathi-charged and I condemn that in strongest possible terms,” she said.
“Strongly condemn the use of force against students protesting APTECH. Using force against students shows how alienated the administration is. Who would order use of force against young students. Have some shame. U would probably have children at home, of same age group,” People’s Conference chairperson Sajjad Lone wrote on his Twitter handle.
SRINAGAR: Former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah on Wednesday came out in support of the protesting JKSSB aspirants and condemned the use of excessive force against them.
Taking to microblogging site Twitter, Omar Abdullah wrote, “I condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the use of force & lathi charge against students & JKSSRB aspirants. These youngsters were exercising their democratic right to protest against the recent decision to engage a blacklisted firm #Aptech by JKSSRB.”
“What is the point of black listing a company if they are going to be awarded plum contracts. This contract is even more dangerous because it puts at risk the future of scores of aspirants who rely on JKSSB to conduct recruitment exams,” Omar said.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the foundation day event of Apni Party at Sanat Nagar, President of the party, Altaf Bukhari urged LG Administration to intervene and take immediate action the infamous agencies involved in various scams on Jammu and Kashmir.
“I request LG Sinha to look into the concerns of protesting aspirants on the occasion of holi and fill their lives with colour and scrap the contract with the infamous Aptech immediately,” Bukhari said.
PDP Chief, Mehbooba Mufti while taking a dig at CBI, expressed her astonishment over CBI’s message asking people not to pay any bribe to government employees.
“Amusing to receive a message from CBI to report bribes. A blacklisted company like APTECH is given contracts repeatedly to wreak the future of JK youth. Hope CBI takes note of the APTECH recruitment scam. Lets see how many heads roll.” Mehbooba wrote on her Twitter handle.
Notably, scores of JKSSB aspirants assembled at Press Enclave to register their protest against the purported grant of contract to APTECH Ltd. to conduct various exams in Jammu and Kashmir.
Abandoned many times in the recent past, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has started the process of imposing a property tax that is estimated to fetch Rs 150 crore and augment the resources of the urban local bodies. The move triggered a chain reaction, Khalid Bashir Gura reports
Within days after bulldozers halted the high-pitch anti-encroachment drive, Manoj Sinha-led Jammu and Kashmir administration issued property tax notifications on February 21, 2023, triggering another row. However, this is restricted to urban areas where according to the 2011 census, Jammu and Kashmir’s 27 per cent of population lives. The Housing and Urban Development has notified that it will
assess and collect property tax at five per cent of Taxable Annual Value (TAV) for residential properties and six per cent for commercial properties within the jurisdiction of urban local bodies (ULBs) from April 1, 2023.
Unlike the rest of the country, no property tax was ever imposed in Jammu and Kashmir. There were some efforts between 2010 and 2018 but the stiff opposition frustrated the idea.
Months after reading-down Article 370, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in October 2020 allowed the UT administration to impose a property tax. Well before it could trigger a crisis, Lt Governor insisted that “there is no proposal to impose the property tax in Jammu and Kashmir”. In June 2021, the Badami Bagh Cantonment Board (BBCB) started levying property tax in areas under its jurisdiction in Srinagar but it was not collected.
Now, when almost all districts across Jammu and Kashmir have started working on the notification, almost everybody from Kanak Mandi in Jammu to Old Town in Baramulla is seeking the withdrawal of the notification. Being seen as “arbitrary and undemocratic and anti-people,” trade, politics and lawyers have all opposed the idea.
Property Tax
All municipal bodies across the world levy a property tax. It is already in vogue in the rest of India. Officials in Jammu and Kashmir expect to raise Rs 150 crore in 2023-24 and pump the funds into moribund municipal bodies currently managed by people who were “elected” to the office by controversial elections. Interestingly, the municipal corporations in Srinagar and Jammu have rejected the idea insisting the proposal was supposed to be mooted from them.
Officials said the tax collections will enhance the resources of urban local bodies, which have not been able to deliver as the revenue from other sources accounted for less than 15 per cent of their operational expenses. The property tax policy will enable urban local bodies (ULB) to get enhanced central devolutions and improve their services.
The tax will be 5-6 per cent of the taxable annual value (TAV) of the properties, a base calculated on basis of nine variables – the type of municipality, built area, land value in line with the J&K Preparation and Revision of Market Value Guidelines Rules, 2011, as on the first day of the block, the number of floors, usage type, construction type, age of the property, given slab of the area, and the occupancy status. It will be in vogue for three years and will be calculated annually with a 1000 sq ft area exempted from the tax.
As per Act, 10 per cent rebate can be availed by early submission of property tax. A person liable to the property tax shall be liable to give to the officer authorised in this behalf particulars of property and tax due by May 30 financial year and the second instalment of tax shall be furnished by November 30 along with proof of receipt of the first instalment.
All places of worship, cremation and burial grounds stand exempted. No tax will be levied on vacant land not attached to a structure or building; or municipal property. The properties owned by the government of India and the J&K government are also exempted. But a service charge at three per cent of the TAV will be payable in respect of such properties.
According to the notification, in case of failure to pay tax, a penalty of Rs 100 or one per cent will be imposed as the maximum amount shall not exceed Rs 1000. “Failure to file return in due time, unless prevented by sufficient cause, will result in a penalty of Rs 100, or 1 per cent of the tax due, whichever is higher, for every month of default, without prejudice to the interest due for the delay in payment,” it reads.
Land Costs
In the evaluation of the land value, the rates that are fixed under the law for particular areas will be fundamental. Many years back, the government felt a serious requirement of having a basic ceiling for the value of the land resource in urban as well as rural areas. Every few years, the top officials in a district sit and evaluate the costs of land on basis of its real market worth for residential as well as commercial purposes. These costs are basic. Once a property is changing hands, the purchaser has to pay the stamp duty strictly as per the minimum prices set by the committee. This process has improved the stamp duty collections.
The growth of revenue in the stamp duty collection has shown a steep hike of 56.12 per cent as the total collection made has reached Rs 425 crore in 2021-22 against Rs 272.22 crore recorded during 2020-21. It is expected to be better by the end of the current fiscal.
These land rates will now be basic to the evaluation of property tax the same way as it has been for the registration of immovable assets for requirements of stamp duty.
Reactions
The decision triggered a row as political parties opposed the move tooth and nail and have demanded its immediate withdrawal. The common refrain across political classes is that it is untimely and its legitimacy in absence of an elected government is a question mark. They justify the opposition to the idea on basis of the economic downturn after 2019, owing to various factors including Covid19, political instability, inflation, and unemployment.
NC and Congress, now vehemently opposing the move, initiated the bills for the imposition of property tax in 2010 and managed its passage in the erstwhile assembly. A subsequent bill for setting up the property tax board was cleared in 2013. However, the process was binned as the government feared the move will have serious fallout on the electoral prospects in the 2014 Lok Sabha and assembly polls.
“No taxation without representation, why should people in J&K pay state taxes, including the proposed property tax, when we have no say in how our government is run and no say in the decision-making of J&K?” Omar Abdullah, in whose era the bills were initiated, said in a tweet. “We are expected to be mute spectators to all unjust decisions by Raj Bhavan.”
NC’s Jammu president, Ratan Lal Gupta terms the tax as Jaziaand insists the peoples’ paying capacity has dipped to an all-time low. He sees it as the move to “impoverish” and make “lives miserable”. He said for allaying the distress of the people, there should be elections and decisions on property tax will be taken by representatives of the people.
Jammu and Kashmir is without an elected government since 2018 summer – almost 56 months.
Congress president Vikar Rasool sees the tax as an “injustice” for people who are battling high rates of inflation, unemployment and low business due to government policies. It is like an emergency, he added.
“The people of Jammu and Kashmir are being oppressed and are distressed economically and politically. There is terrorism in J&K unlike in the rest of the country. There should be elections and such decisions should be left to elected governments,” Congress spokesperson Ravinder Sharma said. “
It is like a dictatorship procedure. Taxation is not new to Kashmiris as we have been paying taxes in different shapes since Maharajas times. But this time the economy is derailed and the orders come from the top which renders ULBs useless,” added GA Mir, former JKPCC president.
Former Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti said the tax was part of the BJP’s larger agenda of impoverishing the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“These tactics are to keep people of Jammu and Kashmir under never-ending stress and trauma so that they can’t focus towards their genuine demands,” PDP spokesperson Mohit Bhan said. “Imposition of local taxes is the prerogative elected representatives of Municipal Corporation or Panchayats and such arbitrary orders prove the administration has no regard for any institution and they just want to bulldoze everything which comes in their way.” Bhan said the government orders are like earthquakes and floods.
People’s Conference president Sajad Gani Lone alleged the government of perpetrating economic euthanasia. “Property tax in aftermath of -an year lost post-2019, a couple of years lost in Covid is – seems determination to turn every stone that can be turned to ensure economic euthanasia. Governments have pumped billions worldwide to bump start ailing economies,” Lone tweeted. His party colleague Basharat Bukhari regretted that while in the rest of the world, governments are offering packages and creating employment opportunities post-pandemic, it is completely vice versa in Jammu and Kashmir.
Apni Party said the “unprecedented and big decision” should not be taken by LG administration and should ideally be left to an elected government.
“This is a return gift by the BJP to the people, who voted for them,” Harsh Dev, who returned to his Panthers Party said. “It has imposed so many taxes in the past like GST and created inflation in the country as the security situation is adverse, the unemployment in J&K is the highest in the country, and the economy is in shambles.”
Terming the decision as “arbitrary and undemocratic,” CPI (M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami said levying property tax in the absence of an elected government is quite unconstitutional. “Whatever elected formations exist on the ground, they have to decide. Why are they depriving these ULBs of their own legitimate rights of decision-making? The process of collecting tax and deciding the values of the tax is the sole prerogative of these institutions. How does an officer in Raj Bhavan know the terrain in Habba Kadal,” Tarigami said as he demanded elections in the UT if according to government claims, all is well.
The newly formed Democratic Azad Party (DAP) also voiced its concern about taxation and questioned the timing. There is a need to understand that for the past three decades, the people in Jammu and Kashmir have suffered in every aspect due to militancy, Azad said. This has triggered unemployment and weakened the economic condition. “I can only say that the time is not apt for the move because of the economic conditions of the people here,” he said.
BJP state spokesman Altaf Thakur said that tax is being paid in every city of India. “In J&K it was in vogue during 1962 and 1982 when these regimes were ruling who are vehemently opposing it. However, we are also requesting LG to defer its imposition as the UT has been going through a bad phase due to militancy for the last three decades which weakened UT’s economy,” he said as it is not the right time.
Bar Associations
The political class apart, other sections of society reacted to the development as well. There were protests in certain towns. Normally, the lawyers were the first to come to the streets. The reaction was vocal in Jammu, unlike Kashmir.
Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association’s outgoing president MK Bhardwaj asked the administration to withdraw the notification.
Terming it “tax terrorism”, the president asked the administration to stop pursuing “anti-people” policies in Jammu and Kashmir. “Jammu and Kashmir can’t be equated with other UTs or states in the matter of taxations, especially when no facilities of the like are available here,” he said urging the government to raise the economic status of people first. The bar association at Jammu suspended work for a day. “We have an anti-encroachment drive where the people in possession of land for over decades together are deprived of their land,” they said.
Trade followed the lawyers. Newly appointed Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry President, Javid Ahmad Tenga said, the trade body is assessing property tax. However, he said it is not the right time to impose it as people’s financial conditions are not good. Jagmohan Singh Raina, who is also part of the KCCI body said, as central laws are being applied to J&K, the process is being carried out without local consensus.
“We have for long being governed by bureaucrats,” Shakeel Qalander, a former FCIK president said. “They don’t consider the reality on the ground while formulating policies. Even though this property tax is being imposed everywhere, we are an exception as we had to unlike others grapple with turbulences for decades as well natural disasters like floods and pandemic.”
Unlike Kashmir, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Jammu was vocal. “Chamber is of the firm opinion that this order of imposition of property tax should be withdrawn by the government to give a sigh of relief to the people of Jammu and Kashmir”, Chamber President Arun Gupta said. “If the government fails to understand our feeling than we shall have no other option but to go for a bandh call by consulting civil societies, bar association and others”.
Last year, Gupta said the idea of imposing the tax was mooted but the Chamber opposed it and the idea was shelved.
Miffed Mayors
Srinagar’s Mayor, Junaid Azim Mattoo said that the decision was not approved by elected ULBs and thus the SMC will explore ways to contest this ‘arbitrary move’.
“Imposition of Property Tax in J&K is ironically violative of municipal empowerment as this has neither been deliberated upon, nor approved by elected ULBs. While SMC will explore ways to contest this arbitrary move, I am writing to the Hon’ble LG seeking a withdrawal of the SO,” Mattoo tweeted
Similarly, his deputy, Parvaiz Ahmad Qadri urged people not to panic over property tax. “People need to understand that the proposal has to be first passed by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation. We are rejecting it even before its arrival. It won’t get the consent of corporators. People should not panic,” he tweeted.
Qadri said the tax was not implemented since 2000 despite being a law in vogue. “Why do we need to take money from people? If the UT had been developed then we may have asked for taxes but even the basic amenities like sanitation, drainage, and street lights are not even working,” he rued.
Asked that the tax collections are supposed to add to the ULB resources, the deputy mayor said that there is no dearth of funds but bureaucrats lead the resources lapse. “Last year, only 30 per cent of funds could be utilized in the city and the rest lapsed. The files in which we had proposed plans gathered dust till March. They give approval at the eleventh hour when we have no time to meet a deadline,” he claimed.
Unlike his counterparts in Srinagar, the mayor in the winter capital termed it as a reformative move.
Jammu Mayor, Rajinder Sharma said that it has been imposed across the country except for Jammu and Kashmir and local body institutions need their revenue generation resources. “Our grants are linked to this resource. If we do not get property tax, the centre will not fund us liberally. The Centre has funded crores of rupees to each ward, unlike the past. We must now get independent,” Sharma said. “The Property Tax has been imposed by the Administrative Council of the Union Territory and not by the JMC. In a democratic set-up, the Administrative Council has superseded us and they have the power to do so.”
Progressive Taxations
In response to the widespread reaction, Jammu and Kashmir Housing and Urban Development Secretary, H Rajesh Prasad talked to the media in Jammu. He indicated the expected Rs 150 crore collection will improve municipal services. He said the residents were imposed the least tax slabs if compared to the rest of the country.
“Better municipal services are expected to attract more investment and encourage more people to set up businesses in Jammu and Kashmir. Revenue generated from Property Tax will be used to improve infrastructure, build new parks and playgrounds and maintain the already existing facilities which will significantly enhance the services provided by municipal bodies,” Prasad said.
Prasad said that tax rates are notified in such a way that its implications are progressive in nature with minimum implication to small businesses and households as according to him, it is to be levied annually and can be paid in two equal instalments, it will not be burdening common citizens.
A day after issuing the notification, the government said the tax rates were one of the lowest in the country – almost half that of Himachal Pradesh, and one-fourth to one-sixth, overall, of other states such as Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Delhi.
The tax rates are 25 per cent lower in the municipal councils and 50 per cent in municipalities. “Residential property with built-up area up to 1500sftare also discounted ensuring relief from Lower Income Group and Middle Income Group category residential houses. Similarly, small commercial establishments especially shops up to the size of 100sqft and 200sqft are also provided relief with very minimal tax implications,” the spokesman said.
The debate is on. Deputy Commissioners have started the process of implementation of the notification. Some Deputy Commissioners said most of the towns in their jurisdiction will be impacted by the new tax to less than half indicating that Srinagar and Jammu cities will be the major source for Property Tax collections. LG Sinha also reacted. His last statement on the issue was a question: “In Jammu and Kashmir, people pay to use internet data, buy I-phones and play videos; I wonder why there is a hue and cry over the imposition of property tax?”
Post Script
Lt Governor Manoj Sinha spoke on the issue of property tax after fierce reaction against the idea from political class and the business in Jammu and Kashmir.
“This is the lowest property tax rates that are being imposed,” Sinha told reporters on the side-lines of a function at SKICC on February 27, 2023. “It is almost one-tenth of what is in vogue in Shimla, Dehradun and other places.”
Offering statistics, Sinha said there are 5,20,000 residential structures in Jammu and Kashmir’s urban space. Of them, 206000 have a built-up area of 1000 sq ft which are already exempted. In 203600 residential structures which are built above 1000 sq ft but below 1500 sq ft will have to pay Rs 1000 a year. Of these 203600 houses, he said in almost 80 per cent of the structures, the owners will be paying no more than Rs 600 a year.
Sinha said there are 101000 shops across Jammu and Kashmir and 46 per cent of them fall under a 100 sq ft area and will have a minimum of Rs 700 a year. There are only 30000 shops which are spread over less than 2000 sq ft. These will be paying Rs 2000 a year.
“Nearly 75 to 80 percent of the population of JK will be exempted from the Property Tax. Those who are falling under the purview of Property Tax are trying to create chaos and confusion among the common masses”, the Lieutenant Governor reiterated on March 2.
Sinha said the citizens across the country are paying Property Tax. Property Tax proposed for Jammu and Kashmir is one-tenth of Shimla-the capital of neighbouring Himachal Pradesh”, he said and pointed out that on an average Rs 900 to Rs 1000 to be paid annually as Property Tax.
LG said that aim of proposing this tax is to develop the cities of Jammu and Kashmir. “Every year government grants funds worth Rs 900 crores to the urban local bodies of JK. Property Tax will be directly deposited to the concerned urban local bodies for the overall growth and development of the area,” he added.
Former Supreme Court judge Rohinton Fali Nariman on Thursday criticized the government’s decision to ban the controversial BBC documentary on PM Modi and subsequent IT ‘survey’ at the broadcasting branch offices in India.
Speaking at the inaugural Jitendra Desai Memorial Lecture on the topic, ‘Freedom of Speech: Contemporary Challenges’, in Ahmedabad, he termed the decision to ban the documentary as ‘futile’ and IT ‘survey’ as ‘unfortunate’.
He also expressed concerns over the media not criticizing the government as it used to do earlier and the lack of worthy opposition.
BBC documentary banned
Earlier, the central government imposed restrictions on BBC Documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
On January 21, directions were issued for blocking multiple YouTube videos and Twitter posts sharing links to the controversial BBC documentary.
Apart from it, India has denounced the controversial documentary series and described it as a “propaganda piece” that is designed to push a discredited narrative.
IT ‘survey’ at BBC’s Delhi, Mumbai offices
Later, Income Tax officials conducted ‘survey’ operations on the Indian offices of the British public broadcaster BBC in both Delhi and Mumbai.
According to sources, the IT officials verified certain account documents in the finance department of BBC.
During the investigation, the mobile phones of all the employees present in the BBC office have been taken away by the Income Tax team. The data of the computer kept in the accounts and finance department was also scanned.
Karachi: Top Pakistani actress Ushna Shah who recently married golf player Hamza Amin was trolled for wearing a red bridal lehenga for the wedding. After her wedding photographs and videos got leaked online and she was slammed by netizens for dressing up like an Indian and Hindu bride. Her photos and videos were widely shared and she blamed a fashion blogger for leaking them. After facing the wrath of netizens, she finally announced to take a break from Instagram.
Ushna took to Instagram to share how she ‘worked very hard’ to keep her wedding private. The actress said that she has felt that her privacy was violated as photos and videos were shared online without her permission. She tried to clarify to trolls that she did not marry in a way which offends Pakistani culture. She said that she was ‘signing off’ from Instagram for a few days ‘for the sake of her mental health.’She also apologized for ‘letting down’ people with her wedding outfit.
Image Source: Ushna Shah Instagram Stories
In a series of Instagram Stories before deactivating her account, she said that she had received ‘hundreds of thousands of messages’ after she married in her ‘own way’. She further wrote, “I apologized to AB (a fashion blogger) only to save him from trolling and I am getting mercilessly bullied for getting married my way.”
She continued to write, “For desperately trying to keep my shaadi (wedding) my own. For being upset that my nikkah (wedding ceremony) got interrupted by a drone and for feeling violated. Hundreds of thousands of messages. This is beyond cruel. Please forgive me for wearing what I wore and for trying to protect what was meant to be only mine. I did not sign up for any of this. I am bowing out of this narrative.”
Ushna Shah and her husband Hamza Amin (Instagram)
“I haven’t reacted to online trolling for years, but I am a human being at a very vulnerable time of my life. A new bride in a new home. From hiring photography teams, who signed NDAs to hiring security and (following) strict guest lists, I wanted to protect our union and only share what I was comfortable with. I worked very hard for this time to be private,” she added.
Ushna Shah took the decision of deactivating her Instagram account after she felt that trolls are not going to stop targeting her. She wrote, “I have read many of the comments, they don’t seem to stop. Please believe that I did not get married to offend our culture. That was not the intention, and if that is what people feel I have done then I apologise for letting them down. I am going to sign off from this platform (Instagram) for a few days for the sake of my mental health and to spend this precious time and energy on my wonderful husband and my new family, who are a blessing. I am also questioning if I am cut out for this job. Thank you for the love and prayers.”
Ushna Shah claimed her outfit was traditional Pakistani while netizens allege that her wedding outfit resembles Indian and Hindu attires.
The emergency services collect several corpses on the coast of the town of Cutro, in Calabria. / Reuters
NGOs and rescue experts believe that the death of 62 people could have been avoided if rescue teams had been sent in time
While the search work at sea continues -there are already 62 deaths in the shipwreck-, the controversy ignites in Italy due to the lack of response from the rescue teams to one of the biggest migratory tragedies in recent years in the Mediterranean . As confirmed by Matteo Piantedosi, Minister of the Interior in the Government of
“The Mukaab” — a huge cube-shaped structure project in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has given rise to controversy on social media platforms for its resemblance to the ‘Kaaba’ which is Islam’s holiest site in Makkah.
The controversy began after Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, announced the launch of the New Murabba Development Company on Thursday, February 16, which aims to develop “the world’s largest modern downtown in Riyadh”.
The huge golden cube, which has a capacity of 20 buildings the size of New York’s Empire State Building, plans to integrate residential units, entertainment spaces, hotels and restaurants into the city of the future.
However, the design caused an uproar online due to its cubic shape, with many saying it was an attempt by the Saudi authorities to take the focus away from the Kaaba in Makkah.
Some people allege that the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia is building “a separate Kaaba for himself, which is for entertainment.”
“Is Mohamed bin Salman building his own Kaaba in Riyadh? This is the design he has chosen for his latest project; a new “Kaaba” of entertainment!! Surely only a wretched individual would choose a holy design for such an unholy purpose!!” Author, Chairman of Almustakillah TV, Dr Mohammad al-Hachimi al-Hamidi, who is a PhD from the University of London tweeted.
“When Bin Salman stood on top of the holy Kaaba in Mecca in 2019, it was almost symbolic of his intention to subjugate the Islamic influences in #SaudiArabia. Today he has embarked on another symbolic challenge in announcing plans to build a new ‘Kaaba’ of entertainment”, Sami Hamdi, a commentator on MENA, tweeted.
“When Bin Salman stood on top of the holy Kaaba in Mecca in 2019, it was almost symbolic of his intention to subjugate the Islamic influences in #SaudiArabia. Today he has embarked on another symbolic challenge in announcing plans to build a new ‘Kaaba’ of entertainment” pic.twitter.com/lOCH7N3lH2
Intercept reporter Murtaza Hussain joined in questioning the choice of design, saying, “Building a new Kaaba exclusively devoted to capitalism is a little too on the nose.”
The user also claimed that Saudi Arabia tries to minimize reverence and respect for other buildings by creating such structures.
حكّام السعودية رفعو البناء من حول #الكعبة المشرّفة ودفنوها بين رموز الحداثة والرأسمالية، ويعتزمون بناء هيكلهم الجديد ليبسطوا ويصغّروا حوله كلّ بناءٍ تعظيماً وإجلالا..#المكعب قِبلةُ المُستَعبدين القادمى. pic.twitter.com/jPiDaoIb4w
مكعّب ترفيهي في الرياض على شكل الكعبة! في منطقة أُطلق عليها اسم “داون تاون”، وهي كلمة تعني وسط المدينة باللغة الأميركية! لماذا يشبه الكعبة؟ ولماذا “داون تاون”؟ pic.twitter.com/WWLJuWRdTk
However, other social media users, including those from Saudi Arabia, responded to the criticism. “Why are foreign Muslims so easy to manipulate?” asked one user.
“If every cubic-shaped building is ‘a new Kaaba’, you will find millions of kaabas in Riyadh, because we have a lot of cubic-shaped buildings.”
Why are foreign Muslims so easy to manipulate? If every cubic shaped building is “a new kaaba” then you will find millions of kabaas in Riyadh since we have alot of building in a cubic shaped(including my house lol) starting from the criminal court & the mosque in malia and more https://t.co/bVtgrJMfDi pic.twitter.com/cWdwfmuBNS
It’s very telling that a cubed building in Riyadh is sending shockwaves in journalistic spheres, is generating bickering amongst Saudiphobes on social media, and even causing preposterous accusations of a “new Kaaba”!
In any case, we have much more in store 😉🇸🇦
— Saud Salman AlDossary | سعود بن سلمان الدوسري (@999saudsalman) February 18, 2023
As per a report by Arab News, in July 2006, a story in Arabic was shared that someone is deliberately mocking Islam by building another Kaaba in New York, only the cube-shaped building will not be not for the God-fearing devotees, but a 24-hour nightclub 24/7 which – according to translated stories – would be “Makkah” for visitors to New York.
Later it became clear that the building was neither a nightclub nor a replica of the Kaaba. It was, however, the iconic cube-shaped Apple flagship store on New York’s 5th Avenue.
Because earlier images showed that the glass sides of the cube-shaped shop covered with a protective black layer caused an absolutely false story to spread like wildfire, due to the colour resemblance of the actual Kaaba.
“There’s a fascinating plot twist when you compare the two stories – the Apple Store versus The Mukaab. In the second, the land of this so-called diabolical plot is no longer “the infidels” United States of America, but the Kingdom which is the cradle of Islam,” Arab News reported.
It is reported that the reasons for these claims are, of course, an attempt to discredit and cast doubt on the huge and impressive reforms of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Raipur: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Friday attacked Samajwadi Party leader Swami Prasad Maurya over his controversial remarks on ‘Ramcharitmanas’.
Baghel said, “Whatever controversy is going on regarding the Ramcharitmanas, it is all for votes. The controversy is pleasing the Samajwadi Party (SP) as well as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). It is pleasing SP leader Maurya as well as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.”
He further said, “Even if one pronounces Mara, Mara repeatedly then also ‘Ram Ram’ will appear from its mouth. Some speak Mara and some say Ram, what difference does it make? You call him (Lord Ram) by any name, even if one talks against him, his name is there.”
“I would like to speak about the Ramayana that Vinoba Bhave had said a very good thing in this matter. There is a need to read Ramcharitmanas in depth, there is no need to argue on it. Good things should be accepted. There should not be a dispute about two or four couplets. Everything cannot be right for every person, every person has his own choice as some like bitter gourd, some don’t,” Baghel said.
Last month, SP leader Maurya sparked a controversy after he demanded the deletion of “insulting comments and sarcasm” targeted at particular castes and sects in Ramcharitmanas, a poem based on the epic Ramayana. Maurya further claimed that in the Ramcharitmanas, which was composed by Tulsidas, there are words hurting the sentiments of the Dalit community.
Besides, CM Baghel once again threw lights on the union budget 2023 which was presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday, February 1.
He said that there were a few important points in the budget which he would like to mention.
“Inflation is at peak, Fiscal deficit is at peak, current deficit is at peak, unemployment is at peak and debt burden at all time high three times in eight years. This is the conclusion. The budget is very disappointing for farmers, labourers, women, lower class, middle class and this is the truth of the so-called Amrit Kaal,” Baghel said.
